Network Hard Drive

HUFCsteve

I have 2 PCs (and maybe soon a laptop too). Rapidly running out of space with stuff (mainly pics) being duplicated on different machines. I was thinking about getting a Network Hard Drive and saw this one at PC World. Is this any good? I'm presuming that if I were to be able to have my pics, etc on it I'd be able to see them from all 3 machines. Would it be relatively simple to set-up?

Leopard

Be careful of the file-formats that some Network Hard Drives use - you could find it restrictive. Check before you buy.

One of the best pieces of advice I was given, almost in passing, was to use an old but networkable computer instead, so that there'd be no problems of file compatibility.

Admittedly, that applies more to Macs but it's true for PCs, too.

I found a 2003 Apple 1GHz G4 Power Mac for sale nearby (so, no shipping costs) on eBay and nailed it for £102. It has Gigabit Ethernet, a Firewire 800 port, 2GB of RAM and it runs on the latest (until tomorrow!) version of Apple's Mac OS X operating system.

I put four 500 GB (IDE) 7,200 rpm hard drives into it and we leave it running 24/7. It networks on Gigabit, backs up all our computers (using Time Machine) and can be backed up itself, through its Firewire 800 port. It also networks our printers through its USB ports.

That's a lot of value for £102 and it it works far better, and does far more, than a Network Hard Drive (most of which aren't Gigabit anyway). it also gives a fine old computer a useful new purpose in life instead of being thrown away because it's become obsolete. Which is nice.

Consider that option, instead, before you part with money.

HUFCsteve

If I knew a bit more about PCs, etc then perhaps I'd consider this but I fear I'm not techie enough!

John_Gray

HUFCsteve wrote: »

I was thinking about getting a Network Hard Drive and saw this one at PC World. Is this any good? Would it be relatively simple to set-up?

If the Full Specification consists of the single line "HardDrive Capacity 1TB" then your questions cannot be answered!

Here's a very short US review...

cmatt360

I have not had any problems I went for this one:

buffalo linkstation

Esqui

I have the 500GB Iomega network one, and I do recommend it. We had no problems setting it up, unlike my old Western Digital. It looks nice, makes hardly any noise and it even has a built in torrent client, if you need to use that.

cmatt360

Esqui wrote: »

I have the 500GB Iomega network one, and I do recommend it. We had no problems setting it up, unlike my old Western Digital. It looks nice, makes hardly any noise and it even has a built in torrent client, if you need to use that.

thought as much - never had a run in with iomega a part from their zip drive!

Leopard

cmatt360 wrote: »

thought as much - never had a run in with iomega a part from their zip drive!

Clearly, you never had an Iomega Ultramax hard drive with all its legendary power supply unit problems.

DCFC79

Dabs have a lacie NAS on offer tomorrow, i had an email about it, heres a link

gjchester

Leopard wrote: »

I found a 2003 Apple 1GHz G4 Power Mac for sale nearby (so, no shipping costs) on eBay and nailed it for £102. It has Gigabit Ethernet, a Firewire 800 port, 2GB of RAM and it runs on the latest (until tomorrow!) version of Apple's Mac OS X operating system.

I suspect a NAS uses far less power though than a computer on 24 hours a day...

cmatt360

Leopard wrote: »

Clearly, you never had an Iomega Ultramax hard drive with all its legendary power supply unit problems.

hence why i said - that i have never had one apart from a zip drive :rolleyes: