Network Attached Storage

I've been seeing ads for external hard drives offering Ethernet connectivity. While they are more expensive than the USB/Firewire drives, the prices seem to be coming down.

Are these drives recommended for addtional/backup storage? Are they that much faster and easier to use than USB drives?

 

Well, I remember reading a good article about NAS in Hub magazine a while ago...I think the url is www.hubcanada.com, I'm not sure. Basically, it's an external hard drive, fast, quiet, accessible by all those who are configured to access it through the network. I would buy one if I needed it, but right now my concern is getting a print server...sigh...

Dell I6000
15.4" WXGA
Pentium M 715 1.5 GHz
1 Gig DDR2 SDRAM
60 Gig HD / 9 Cell Battery
Win XP Home
__
Ahh, doughnuts; is there anything they can't do?
--Homer Simpson

 

The NAS is good if you have a router, you can plug it in and it could be shared on the network.
The usb is good for moving around, i'd suggest u get a notebook hdd and buy enclosure for it. It can still be shared, using windows, but the problem is, it isn't for permanent solution. well it depends if u want it to be portable

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S7011 - *1.6mHZ*, *512MB DDR 333*, *Hitachi Travelstar 60G 7200RPM*, *Toshiba CDRW Combo Drive*, *14.1' SuperFine*, *Fingerprint Scanner*, *Intel Pro 2200 B/G*, *Logitec Black Optical Mouse*

 

Well, right now, I'm not really considering NAS, but I am considering getting an external HD for my laptop. I don't really need one for my desktop (have a hundred Gigs of storage there) and I'm giving that computer to my younger brother anyway.

Dell I6000
15.4" WXGA
Pentium M 715 1.5 GHz
1 Gig DDR2 SDRAM
60 Gig HD / 9 Cell Battery
Win XP Home
__
Ahh, doughnuts; is there anything they can't do?
--Homer Simpson

 

I don't need portable storage (I have an iRiver 40GB mp3 hard drive which works great!), I just need permanent backup for my computer(s), and I have 80GB on my laptop. I don't need much more than that for backup, since we're only talking data, documents, and tons of music - but of course, it would be nice to have something external from which to restore if need be.

Sounds like I can go for NAS - eBay has some great deals.

 

hmm, for back up... I still think using another notebook hdd in enclosure is not bad, you could also use a PC hdd in the enclosure.

Otherwise there are those solution from MAxtor, with the one touch back up button. but those are probably expensive.

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S7011 - *1.6mHZ*, *512MB DDR 333*, *Hitachi Travelstar 60G 7200RPM*, *Toshiba CDRW Combo Drive*, *14.1' SuperFine*, *Fingerprint Scanner*, *Intel Pro 2200 B/G*, *Logitec Black Optical Mouse*

 

Well, I don't know about elsewhere, but here in Canada, at FutureShop, there are lots of great deals on external hard drives. I believe I saw an external HD, 160 Gigs, USB 2.0 OR Firewire, for $169.00 after a mail-in-rebate...Depending on how my home network evolves over the next couple of months, I may or may not consider getting NAS, just for games and such.

Dell I6000
15.4" WXGA
Pentium M 715 1.5 GHz
1 Gig DDR2 SDRAM
60 Gig HD / 9 Cell Battery
Win XP Home
__
Ahh, doughnuts; is there anything they can't do?
--Homer Simpson

 

If you leave ur PC on 24/7 wouldn't a USB drive do? Just share it on the network, should save you some cost

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S7011 - *1.6mHZ*, *512MB DDR 333*, *Hitachi Travelstar 60G 7200RPM*, *Toshiba CDRW Combo Drive*, *14.1' SuperFine*, *Fingerprint Scanner*, *Intel Pro 2200 B/G*, *Logitec Black Optical Mouse*

 

I don't leave my laptop on 24/7. I just need backup storage, but I don't like wire clutter and I don't have room on my desk for more equipment. I suppose I could just have a USB/Firewire hookup with a longer cable (ugh) - it would safe me some cash.

 

Well, for me, I have a firewire port as well as USB 2.0, but when I'm at home, my notebook connects with my USB Hub, which connects with my webcam, Lexmark X5150 printer, and then my wireless router. I have considered hooking NAS right to the HUB, but that would be slow because I think my Hub is 1.1. Question: can I network both 1.1 and 2.0 through a HUB? I don't know whether or not my Printer is 2.0 or what...anyway, yeah, NAS = good...

Dell I6000
15.4" WXGA
Pentium M 715 1.5 GHz
1 Gig DDR2 SDRAM
60 Gig HD / 9 Cell Battery
Win XP Home
__
Ahh, doughnuts; is there anything they can't do?
--Homer Simpson