Apple 2TB Time Capsule Dual-Band

The reviews of the 1TB Time Capsule are simply awful because the device which is designed to back-up and protect seem to fail in about 1 year.
IF this happens to the 2TB device, it is equally useless - I will not know that for a year or two!

Mean time everything (excepting 5 small flaws - listed later) seems absolutely splendid and I love the product.

The GOOD news is:
a) Full function Time Machine (Mac Backup) service wirelessly!
b) Full remote data access from multiple Macs/Windows devices wirelessly!
c) Full wireless function allowing you to buy a really cheap ethernet only router (i.e. you don't need a wireless router
because you get wireless function from the Time Capsule) to connect to the internet.
- Equally, you can keep your old cheap wireless router and still get current high speed wireless from your Time capsule
eliminating the need to upgrade your old wireless router as the Time Capsule does Gigabit Ethernet / 802.11a/b/g/
AND it does 'n' - and all without a visible aerial!!!!
- When the Time Capsule is working on reduced power wireless, it provides a better signal in my home
than my O2 wireless router WITH an aerial!
d) THE KILLER SERVICE for me though is that this is ALSO A WIRELESS USB HUB!!!
I have bought two wireless hubs and returned them because they did not work as advertised
and on purchase of this Time Capsule I did not fully appreciate that the USB port in the Time capsule is designed to
work as a wireless hub - I think I believed it was only for a printer.
- Further, the manual explains that, you CAN attach a USB expansion hub to the Time Capsule hub which is what I did
and I have a 7 port USB hub plugged into the Time Capsule meaning I have 7 remote/wireless USB sockets!!! Yay!
This is presently running my printer and additional data storage USB HDD (I have not dared plug a second USB HDD into it)
e) It is nearly silent - as I place my ear to it right now as it sits connected and waiting, it IS completely silent.
- When it is backing up it is barely audible (again) even with my ear placed upon it.

Now, the BAD news/exceptions:
1) It is quite large - check the dimensions before you buy
2) It runs VERY hot - does not bode well for longevity :(
3) There ought to be an option to connect to the TC by USB (in addition to, or as and alternate to) the wireless/ethernet for those periodic massive backups of hundreds of gigs that one requires - e.g. the first full backup which takes hours and hours over the wireless network
4) There is a 'bug' that I believe is in the HP software that stops the Mac using an HP All-in-one (e.g. the HP C7280 in my case) as a scanner. This is acknowledged and regrettably ignored by HP which is sad and pathetic of them as this is NOT a limitation of the Time Capsule, it is a limitation of the HP software. VUEscan is able to use the scanner function of an HP device when connected to the Time Capsule (I tested it - it works fine) - but - VUEscan is a chargeable utility. Shame on HP! CLEARLY though, the Time Capsule is presenting the scanner in some 'imperfect way' so that the HP software is upset. If you have not HP scanner, then this is supremely irrelevant.
5) The Wireless USB hub does NOT seem to support/recognise an iPhone as far as my tests have revealed which is a disappointment, but not a fatal flaw for me.

Summary:
The data/backup/wireless service is itself value for money (if you calculated the cost of the separate components) BUT to have it smoothly operating AND looking great makes it splendid. The wireless hub function is an added bonus that makes this product FABULOUS (provided it does NOT fail like the 1Tb Time Capsules did - I will not know that until it is too late!)

Summary of the summary:
I love it (and hope it will not let me down)

Apple make great computers and in recent years have made significant in-roads in mass-marketing their products like iPods, IPads, iPhones etc. So one may be forgiven for thinking that ALL their products are good. Not so. I ordered this Time Capsule together with my iMac earlier this year, hoping to keep things simple for compatibility's sake.

The Time Capsule is touted by Apple as being both a wireless router and an external hard-drive. The first surprise upon unpacking it was when I found that there is no on/off switch. This would have been irrelevant if it had adequate cooling and ventilation. The truth is that it becomes very hot and one can't help thinking all that heat generated 24/7 can't be good for the innards of the thing. Indeed, the average life of a Time Capsule is 18 months according to web-sites actually dedicated to the demise of your valuable Time Capsule! Pulling the mains lead as a way of shutting it off is merely storing up trouble for the future, since this tends to create short-circuits and wear and tear on its hard drive. The adverts make a great play about its ability to back-up every hour. If you do not have it on all the time, it will alert you when you plug it in, that it wants to do a back-up from scratch which can be inconvenient as you have to have your computer on for a few days until the back-up finishes. It seems you can't turn it off without it starting backing up from scratch.

I also mistakenly assumed this Time Capsule (TC) would provide a medium for copying my iMac's hard drive onto. However, it provides only restoration of individual files and folders. So, for example, if you've accidentally deleted an important saved letter, you can retrieve it using TC. Another plus is that if you accidentally lose your internet settings, it is relatively easy to restore the TC without too much hassle.

But after six months use, I still haven't figured out how to use the TC as a stand-alone wireless router (addendum*: modem). I may be confused here. When I say wireless router, I mean like my Netgear wireless modem/router to which the Time Capsule is currently connected. I was under the impression I could use the Time Capsule to replace the Netgear router. Another misunderstanding ? I welcome any light shed on this subject.

With the acquisition of Apple's new operating system, Lion OS X, I desperately wanted to clone my Snow Leopard OS on to an external hard-drive in case of problems with the new operating system; I could re-install Snow Leopard if Lion proved problematic. After a bit of research, I got the Iomega minimax external hard-drive and with this to compare to the Time Capsule, I can honestly say TC is so much more inferior as a means of backing up. I can now back up my files on to the mini-max using Apple's time machine as well as cloning my entire iMac's hard drive. Since I've owned the Time Capsule for the last six months, I have managed to accidentally erase my back-ups on it with no sufficient warning(s) given and now it is 'hanging', trying to connect to my computer's hard drive. So it's become useless as a back-up. (I will try to get it up and running if only to make the most of whatever short life it has left.)

As a serious back-up machine, this model (2011) needs a lot of improvements and upgrading to match that of other manufacturers like Iomega. If I knew what I know now back in February '11 when ordering this Time Capsule, I wouldn't have included it with my computer. I'm sorry Apple, but as much as I love your other products, this falls far short of your usually high standards. Either make a better router/back up machine, or keep them separate. In conclusion as a consumer, you are much better off buying other superior (and cheaper) brands like Iomega if you just want a means to back-up your material.

*Update* 11/11/11. So I finally cleared up my confusion, ironically by (accidentally) buying a Belkin router WITHOUT a modem and as such needs connecting to a modem. And so I checked on Apple's online store and lo and behold the Time Capsule is a router only ! As a result, and because my wireless devices are operating successfully using the TC, I have uprated it to 3 stars. Where I've stated 'router' in my original review above, I have now inserted 'modem' as well. However, I still stand by the downsides as expressed which, in my view, still apply.

I'm a Mac man so when I wanted to upgrade what did I buy? An Apple 2TB Time Capsule of course.

It was easy to set up and for a couple of months I was chuffed to bits, then it went wrong, Oh! dear.

After a while I got it working again, lovely I thought, until it stopped working again.

Now I've got it working again, I think. Most of the time it works, some of the time is doesn't.

It's so unreliable, when I bin it, I really will bin it, I wouldn't dream of inflicting problem on someone else.

I bought it straight from the Apple Store, after sales ?????

I wish all Apple products were as good and reliable as Apple computers, I have 3 and they knock the spots off anything else.

My next job when I can afford it will be to re-use my Netgear router and buy a standard 2TB hard drive.

The only good things I can say are:
1. It's quiet
2. Cool even under load
3. Works continuously for 4 ½ days for approx. 10 pence, that's good

I don't expect the earth from a product, but for £349 I expected more than I got.