If you have a home network, a network attached storage (NAS) should be on your “must have” list.
A NAS device can store your media library of photos, music and movies so that your network media player can access it. Sometimes called a “network drive," a NAS is more fully featured than a simple external hard drive. A NAS device can serve as a backup drive for all of your networked computers. Many devices allow remote access to your NAS drive.
You won’t find a demo of a NAS in your local retailer. Instead, read reviews and look at the product description of features to compare different models.
1. Ease-of-Use
Photo (c) Barb Gonzalez - Licensed to About.com
Perhaps you think that home networks and computers are too hard to figure out so you shy away from products like a NAS. While a few NAS programs may still make you stumble through directories and to search for drives, most include computer software that simplifies uploading and saving your files to the NAS.
The software should also make it easier to access your files, organize them into folders, and share them with other users, with friends and family, and publish them to online websites.
When doing research, notice if the review mentions easy setup and use. Don’t forget that each person in the house will need to use this menu. If you are an advanced user, be sure it’s easy for everyone in the home to upload, access, and backup files.
2. Remote Access to Files
It’s great to access your centralized library from anywhere in your home, but it’s even better to be able to see your full library of photos, watch your movies, and listen to all of your music when you are on the road.
Some manufacturers offer the option of accessing your files from computers, smartphones and other portable devices using a web browser. Remote access may be free, or you may have to pay an annual subscription for the premium service. Typically they offer a 30-day trial membership then charge $19.99 for a year of the premium services. If you'd like to access your files away from home, or share your photos, music and movies with friends/family or publish your photos to online services, upgrade to the premium service.
3. Sharing Files
Photo (c) Barb Gonzalez - Licensed to About.com
If you want to buy a NAS it is probably your intention to share your media library and files.
At the very least you want to share:
- With the other people (users) in your home
- To view on your network media players, networked TVs and components, or on other computers in your home.
You may also want to share:
- With family or friends who don’t live with you.
- Via online photo sharing websites.
- On Facebook or Twitter.
Some NAS can be upgraded, allowing you to upload photos straight to Flickr or Facebook, or create RSS feeds. RSS feed subscribers are notified when new photos or files are added to the shared folder. Some digital picture frames can display RSS feeds where it will automatically display new pictures as they are added.
4. DLNA Certified
Most, but not all, NAS devices are DLNA certified as media servers. DLNA products automatically detect each other. A DLNA certified media player lists DLNA media servers and let you access files without requiring any special setup.
Look for the DLNA logo on the box or listed in the product features.
5. Easy Computer Backups
It is recommended that you backup your important files to an external device so you don’t lose the files should your computer fail. A NAS device can be used to automatically (or manually) backup any or all of the computers in your home network.
Many NAS devices are compatible with your current backup programs. If you don’t have a backup program, research the backup software that comes with the NAS device you are considering. A good backup program should offer automatic backups. It may even backup a "mirror" of your entire computer. Some manufacturers limit the number of computers you can back up and charge a premium for unlimited backups.
6. Amount of Storage Capacity--Size of the Hard Drive
One Terabyte of storage may sound like a lot—one terabyte is 1,000 gigabytes—but growing collections of high definition movies and 12-megapixel digital photos mean bigger and bigger files that require bigger hard drives. One Terabyte of storage will hold approximately 120 HD movies or 250,000 songs, or 200,000 photos or a combination of the three. Backing up your computers to the NAS will require more and more memory over time.
Before you buy a NAS, think about your current memory needs by looking at the size of your media libraries, and then consider that your libraries will probably grow. Consider a NAS with 2 TB or 3 TB of storage.
7. Ability to Add Storage Capacity
Photo (c) NETGEAR
Just a few years ago, we couldn’t conceive using up the one gigabyte hard drive on our computer. Now our iTunes libraries may barely fit on a 32-GB iPod. The trend in technology is moving away from physical media--CDs, DVDs--and moving toward digital media that we download to your computers.
Over time, memory needs will increase along with the need for more storage.
NAS devices that use an internal SATA hard drive, will often have an empty bay for an additional hard drive. Choose this kind of NAS device if you are comfortable adding an internal drive. Otherwise, you can extend the memory of your NAS device by connecting an external hard drive to the USB connection on a NAS.
8. Reliability
A NAS must be reliable. If a NAS has connectivity issues, your files may not be available when you want them. A NAS hard drive should not fail or you could lose your precious files. If you read about any NAS device that is unreliable or has failed, you should look for another model.
9. File Transfer Speed
Some NAS devices can transfer files faster than others. Uploading a 7 GB high definition movie or your whole music library can take hours if you have a slow device. Look for a NAS that is described as a fast drive so that it doesn't take hours to upload your files. If you read reports of a NAS having problems streaming a high definition movie to another device, steer clear.
10. Unique Added Features
Many NAS devices have a USB connection to which you can connect a USB printer or scanner, or combo. Connecting a printer to a NAS turns it into a network printer that can be shared by all of the computers on your network.
LG offers a line of NAS devices that include either a DVD or Blu-ray Disc burner. This allows you to copy the files directly from the NAS to a disc. The disc becomes added security as a backup to your drive.