The creator shares their disappointing initial experience with the UG Green 4800 Plus NAS, which failed and became completely unresponsive within 12 hours of use despite multiple troubleshooting attempts. They plan to return the defective unit through Amazon and await a replacement, hoping for a better outcome while inviting viewer advice.
In this video, the creator shares their initial experience with the UG Green 4800 Plus NAS, a device that has been highly praised by many YouTubers. Unlike typical unboxing videos, the creator prefers to complete their evaluation before sharing insights, aiming to provide useful and informed opinions. They mention their history with other NAS devices, including QNAP, Synology, and Drobo, and express their interest in the UG Green 4800 Plus, which they purchased during Amazon Prime Day along with additional hardware like Western Digital Red Plus drives, 64GB of RAM, and M.2 SSDs for caching.
After setting up the NAS and starting to copy files, the creator initially found the device to be working fine. They installed the photos app and synced some pictures from their phone, using the NAS for about an hour without issues. However, after a break, they returned to find the NAS offline with blinking lights and no response from the power button. Attempts to log in failed, and the device seemed to require re-registration, which did not resolve the problem. The desktop app showed a non-functional files icon, and rebooting only resulted in 404 errors.
The creator tried various troubleshooting steps, including resetting the device using the control panel app (which they did not have), using the reset button with a paperclip for different durations, removing drives, and swapping memory sticks. Despite multiple attempts, the NAS remained completely unresponsive and unusable just 12 hours after unboxing. This unexpected failure led the creator to consider alternative NAS operating systems like Unraid or TrueNAS but expressed hesitation due to concerns about potential future issues.
Faced with a defective unit, the creator weighed their options between contacting UG Green’s support team or returning the device to Amazon. They leaned towards returning the NAS through Amazon’s excellent return policy, as engaging with support might complicate the return process. The creator reassured viewers that this problem likely affects only a small number of users and that they had already ordered a replacement unit at the same price to try again.
The video concludes with the creator inviting viewers to share any tips or advice before the new NAS arrives and the faulty one is returned. They express hope for a positive follow-up video once the replacement unit is tested. This candid account serves as a departure from their usual positive reviews, emphasizing the importance of honest first impressions and the realities of dealing with hardware issues.