Wow now that is a nice interface

To redesign Frontview would take a long time. It'd be a massive job to do. So much of the way the ReadyNAS works revolves around Frontview that a huge amount of code would need to be rewritten.

It's important that they continue to add functionality, update packages etc. Whilst a redesigned Frontview would be nice there are more important things. Anyway the average user shouldn't need to use Frontview very often after the initial configuration of the NAS.

I guess a redesign will probably happen eventually but I have no idea when they'll do it. They're unlikely to give us much warning if any before releasing a redesigned Frontview.

define "more important things".

what is your list...

mdgm wrote:
Whilst a redesigned Frontview would be nice there are more important things.

I refer you back to page 1 of this thread: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=44514#p253855

Well 3TB drive support (now available in 4.2.16) and IPv6 (I don't use it yet, but will eventually, this is beginning to be supported in 4.2.16, but there's a long way still to go before it's fully supported) are a few. I'm sure there's plenty of other things NetGear wants to do in future firmwares too that's important.

I would think a redesign would be somewhere in their list of things to do, but it is important for them to prioritise (they don't have unlimited resources). Things like 3TB drive support and IPv6 just couldn't wait.

Personally I'd rather a dated interface and superior functionality, than a refresh of the GUI. One can think of AFP support (http://www.netafp.com/status-of-netatalk-and-afp-support-by-nas-vendor-322/) as one major area of functionality where NetGear is ahead of the competition, well ahead of much of it in more ways than one.

It would be nice to have both an improved GUI and more functionality, but the functionality cannot stand still while a GUI redesign takes place. Every functionality improvement would potentially lengthen the time required for a GUI redesign. NetGear keeps these kinds of things top secret so when there is a redesign we probably won't know anything about it at all (not even that it's taken place) till a beta firmware is released.

You have a very "Either...Or" attitude, and no-one has suggested that other development should stop (or would be an acceptable short term compromise) or that the interface should take the absolute highest priority - so what if it takes a while?

Surely the intent of such a thread to try to communicate to Netgear that there is a demand for such an improvement and why, not find excuses for Netgear which they are more than capable of doing themselves.

Certainly I have been attracted enough that the UI will form part of the decision when I come to next upgrade my storage. As will eSATA and a few other features not all of which ReadyNAS devices have today - which Netgear should be interested in learning about & understanding

This thread has been going on for quite a while and I'm sure NetGear would be aware of the demand for a new GUI. I'd love to see a redesign, but at the same time I wouldn't want to see them rush one out that's not a good job.

Different companies have different priorities and I certainly wouldn't consider the GUI's appearance anywhere near the most important decision when purchasing a NAS unit, but I can understand that some of my fellow users disagree with me.

If NetGear does a redesign properly, to design Frontview so that it'll work better on the iPad and iPhone (perhaps even make an iOS app) and other mobile devices and perhaps to take into account the possibility of redesigning it to allow more efficient management of multiple devices, there'd be a lot of work involved. Not just designing the face lift, but also considering the large number of scripts that Frontview runs and rewriting all of those to work as well as possible with the new GUI.

I also think NetGear's made it fairly clear with the release of its new products recently what they think of eSATA but that's been discussed in other threads (though of course their opinion could change on this).

Ever heard of "bumping" a thread/topic to gain attention? Or the phrase "Repetition for emphasis"?

If NetGear does a redesign properly ... there'd be a lot of work involved.

So?

If they would include iSCSI Blocklevel live replication with also support for VMWARE and XENServer and certifify the Readynas for Citrix Storagelink I would say... *@()#*()@#* the interface... ;-)

Which is why it would be good to have some better mechanism than this forum to solicit feedback

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=52290

I am a proud Pro6 owner.

If there were 5 levels of users of NAS:
1=GF using whatever apps I install for her
2=Prosumer
3=Tech Enthusiast
4=Developer
5=SMB IT Admin

I am a 3.1 on the above chart, and think stability and functionality are top priority, but I also just watched Snyology's DSM 4.0 Beta Preview http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... wLocWm-f0#!
http://www.synology.com/dsm/dsm4.0_beta ... p?lang=enu
And I am a little jealous their GUI provides Prosumers total control but also has the backend for users level 4+
(FWIW: Their site and user experience looks to be designed by a graphic artist who is in love with iOS and OSX)

I would guess most of the users here are 4.5s and don't need the GUI (as many have posted), but a 2012 refresh would be welcome.

The bar has been set, I hope Netgear acknowledges this at least a little.

Have any users reacted to the November 2011 NV+ GUI refresh release: http://www.anandtech.com/Gallery/Album/1512
When will that or better be ported to Ultras and Pros?