Pick One Of These Smart People-Approved NAS Alternatives

Apple’s Time Capsule refresh generated about as much chatter as a networked hard drive an possible drum up – but what if you don’t want a router/backup mutant? Here are three non-Apple data-ass-savers we vouch hard for:

LG’s Super Multi N2A2 NAS earned some high gushing from PC Mag, which loved its “oh-so-easy setup”, called it “more than sufficient for power home users and smaller business”, and beamed that “working within the web interface is a breeze. The interface is well designed, and any changes you apply are made quickly without any hiccups in the browser. I also like the fact that when you reboot or restart the NAS, a musical chirp sound indicates the unit is back online. The device also runs very quietly and remains cool even after running constantly for over 24 hours.”

A 2TB model will run you around $US260. [PC Mag]

TechRadar digs the Synology DiskStation DS210J, calling it “one of the most versatile, feature-packed drives we’ve seen”. They note it’s “awkward to open and fitting drives into its two bays is a chore” but has the features and reliability you’re likely looking for: “The expected FTP and HTTP servers, the DiskStation DS210J supports Apache, PHP and MySQL. It can control and record up to five IP cameras, and its Data Replicator 3 backup software enables you to set up scheduled backups.” Caveat: the $US250 tag coms sans hard drives. [TechRadar]

CNET’s taps the QNAP TS-259 Pro as its top pick, with “a simple, yet well-thought-out and aesthetically pleasing design” and “two front-access removable drive trays and supports two SATA hard drives.” Still, the QNAP’s a champ not because of its design, but its trove of backupy features. And the thing can double as a full computer with a little Linux tinkering – will your Time Capsule do that? No, silly. But you can probably ignore that lunacy – you just want a solid NAS. The QNAP is that: “The QNAP TS-259 Pro offers top throughput speed, an overwhelming list of useful features, and an excellent Web interface. Also, it supports hot-swappable RAID configurations, Apple’s Time Machine, and IP cameras for an automatic surveillance system.” I would say, yes, yes that does qualify as solid. And for $US600, it should. [CNET]