NetworkAttachedStorage
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LaCie adds to NAS catalog with Big Disk, d2 Network
Looking to add some color to your extensive NAS collection? Well, you find it here, save for the company's characteristic blue button. If you're willing to look past that cold, aluminum exterior, however, LaCie's Big Disk and d2 Network storage solutions should serve you well. The former sports up to 1.5TB capacity with eSATA port for expansion, while the latter goes up to 3TB by concactenating two drives in RAID 0. Both support the usual array of backup software, including Apple's Time Machine, and work with all DLNA-compliant devices. LaCie says they're on sale now, $190 for d2 Network and $380 for Big Disk Network.
RipNAS Statement: world's first SSD-based CD ripping NAS device
We'll be perfectly honest with you -- the Atom-powered RipNAS definitely caught our interest when it launched with practically no major competitors back in February. Now, the RipNAS family has grown by two with the introduction of the Statement SSD and Statement HDD. We're told that the former is the world's first SSD-based CD ripping NAS device, and we've absolutely no reason to believe otherwise. The totally silent, all-silver box is based on the Windows Home Server OS and handles a cornucopia of tasks: CD ripping, media streaming and networked file storage. Internal specifications include a dual-core Atom CPU, 2GB of RAM and four USB 2.0 ports. The Statement SSD arrives in a 500GB configuration (2 x 250GB SSDs), while the Statement HDD holds 3TB by way of two 1.5TB drives; mum's the word on pricing, but don't bank on 'em being cheap.
Pogoplug iPhone app makes its way into the world
Just in case you've been trying to worm your way into your network-connected hard drive via your phone, the folks at Pogoplug have made their iPhone application available, free of charge. After you're done Skype'ing, you can check out some family photos. C'mon -- you know you need those files.
Thecus debuts N3200 Pro NAS: now with more AMD Geode CPU
Thecus Technology has retooled the N3200 and come up with the aptly named N3200 Pro -- a brand new NAS now featuring an AMD Geode CPU. The device boasts a veritable cornucopia of features, including three SATA drive bays for up to 3TB of storage, the option of RAID 5 striping, and an LCD display. Photo, iTunes and DLNA-compatible server options as well as browser-based management should assist users with the "digital lifestyle," while a feature called "Web Surveillance Server" allows you to take regularly scheduled photographs just by plugging in a USB webcam... which is interesting in a vaguely creepy way. No word on price or availability but the previous N3200 sells for $339.
Thecus unveils the massive N7700 eight-bay NAS
The last time we checked in with Thecus, they'd broken off a five-bay NAS called the N5200. Well, it appears the company upped the ante just a touch at this year's Computex with its new array -- an eight-bay monster known as the N7700. The massive storage appliance doesn't seem to deviate from the previous model much, utilizing a Celeron CPU to control the system, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, and a wide variety of RAID options (0, 1, 5, 6, 10 and JBOD). We don't have word on pricing or availability just yet, but hopefully the archiving of your of "films" and "music purchases" can wait.
Omwave's Windows Home Server-based OMSERVERs
We've already seen a handful of networked storage devices running Windows Home Server, and now comes yet another option from across the ocean in France, Omwave's one to four terabyte OMSERVER. Both the 1TB and 4 x 500GB 2TB options are based on Intel's G32 chipset, powered by 1.8GHz Celerons, sport 1GB of RAM, and offer VGA, mouse, keyboard, three audio, and four USB 2.0 ports; meanwhile, the 2 x 1TB 2TB and 4TB models step up the processing speed to 2.0GHz on a G33 chipset, while also offering FireWire and S-PDIF, two more USB and audio jacks, and the option of an e-SATA module. Shipping immediately, prices on these range from €960 ($1,411) to €2,460 ($3,617) depending on configuration.[Via We Got Served]
Iomega intros entry-level network drives
Iomega, long known for its stream of Mac and PC accessories (in particular the infamous Zip drive) has announced plans to offer a series of low-cost, family-oriented NAS solutions that will make your file sharing life a living heaven, or so they say. The new set of drives -- which come in 320GB, 360GB, or 500GB capacities -- feature 10/100 ethernet connections, 7200 RPM SATA-II drives (with 8MB caches), and... well, uh, that's it. As president Tom Kampfer says, "At less than $150.00, the Iomega Home Network Hard Drive is a new price-performance milestone for networking today's digital home." Go ahead -- drink the Kool-Aid. The 320GB model is available now for $149, the 360GB and 500GB are coming in September for $149 (oddly the same as the smaller model) and $199, respectively.
NEC launches new 1 / 2TB NS50 desktop NAS
Another day, another NAS. This time it's NEC bringing the goods, with a relatively small 8.66-inch tall enclosure and a lockable front door. The forthcoming NS50 packs a 600MHz Intel XScale processor, 256MB of RAM, dual LAN ports, and twin USB 2.0 connectors, and plays nice with a slew of Windows and Linux-based operating environments. Per usual, the box connects via gigabit Ethernet and can be managed through a secure web connection as well as remotely, and touts support for Microsoft's Active Directory as well. NEC claims the unit can integrate seamlessly as an FTP server or as a "soon to be announced" print server, and can run things in RAID 0/1/5 or JBOD, whichever you please. NEC's perfectly average NS50 should hit shops next month for £949 ($1,845) if you're digging the 1TB (4 x 250GB) version, while the 2TB (4 x 500GB) flavor will set you back a whopping £1589 ($3,088).
Infrant releases the ReadyNAS NV+
From past postings it would seem that Infrant has developed quite a little fan base for its ReadyNAS line of storage solutions, so all you NASheads out there will be happy to learn that the company has just added a new member to the family, the Gigabit Ethernet-equipped ReadyNAS NV+. Available in sizes ranging from 0GB (B.Y.O.HDD.) to 3TB, the four-bay NV+ adds several key features to the previous NV models, including a quieter design, LCD status window, and the RAIDiator 3.0 firmware that boasts enhanced power-saving features and improvements for Mac users. On the multimedia tip, you're getting built-in UPnP support along with SlimServer software (resulting from the partnership with Slim Devices that we recently reported on) for use with your Squeezebox or Transporter. You can pick up your own NV+ immediately, for anywhere between $650 for the diskless version and $2,999 for a massive 3TB black hole of storage.
Buffalo intros TS-HTGL/R5 TeraStation Pro NAS series
Keeping things fresh in its TeraStation lineup, Buffalo is dropping three new NAS units touting up to two terabytes of capacity and faster access speeds than previous models. Besides sporting the obligatory RAID 0/1/5 functionality (and looking exactly like its predecessor), the TeraStation Pro TS-HTGL/R5 series holds four hard drives behind a lockable door, gigabit Ethernet, and a snazzy LCD panel to show internal temperature and worrisome alerts. Slated to be available in 1.0, 1.6, and 2.0TB flavors, the units will also support "ActiveDirectory domain," which apparently pulls double duty as a security gate to ward off curious intruders and a data divisor based on group / role login preferences. Although pricing deets are currently unavailable, the trio will be getting NASty (read: shipping) in early December.[Via Impress]
Seagate goes 1TB with Maxtor Shared Storage II
Seagate knows that you can never have too much storage space at your disposal, which is why the company's just bulked up its well-received NAS line with the 1TB Maxtor Shared Storage II. Like other products of the same ilk, the SS II allows up to 20 connected Mac or Windows PCs to send and receive data to and from the two 7,200RPM 500GB hard drives, which can also be configured in a RAID 1 array for an extra level of protection. A high-speed Gigabit Ethernet connection should ensure rapid file transfers, and two built-in USB ports allow you to connect a printer or other peripheral device for sharing among multiple users. You're also getting UPnP support here, so with the proper adapters you can stream tunes, vids, and pics to compatible networked A/V gear throughout your pad. The Shared Storage II is scheduled for release sometime this month, but such a capacious device doesn't come cheap: expect to throw down around $900 if you're interested in this whole-house storage and backup solution.
Slim Devices, Infrant Tech offer Squeezebox/ReadyNAS bundle
A partnership announced today by storage specialist Infrant Technologies and Squeezebox-maker Slim Devices promises to give consumers an easy way to store and stream up to 200,000 songs around the house, no computer necessary. The two companies are now offering a bundle which includes Infrant's 1TB ReadyNAS network attached storage device pre-loaded with the SlimServer software along with two Squeezebox 3's for $1,500, advertising that the coupling signals the "death of the CD player." We'll wager that many of our readers have already kicked the CD habit long ago, but there's no denying the appeal of having a full terabyte of RAID-protected tracks in a plethora of different formats that can be streamed anywhere your little heart desires.
Maxtor's Shared Storage Plus NAS device reviewed
Reg Hardware seems to agree with our own astute pundit Ross Rubin that Maxtor's Shared Storage Plus Network Attached Storage device is a winner as a solid backup solution while doing double-duty as a capacious media server. Testing the 500GB version of the SSP, El Reg found the device easy to setup and share among several users, with software that provides a simple way to set up incremental backups, network printing, or media streaming to compatible uPnP devices. There do seem to be a few downsides here, most notably the irritating fan whine and skimpy one year warranty, and less importantly, the fact that it tags the icons of folders selected for backup with a little tick mark. If tick marks and fan noise don't bother you, though, the $465-as-tested SSP sounds like a pretty good way to backup data for small offices and homes with multiple computers, while giving you a little extra functionality to boot
