Posted to Hard Drives 2009-10-26
One recent addition to the network hard drive market is the cube-shaped Western Digital ShareSpace 2 TB WDA4NC20000 Network Storage System. It features 4 storage bays with a standard 2TB capacity, which is upgradeable to 8TB. The gigabit Ethernet connectivity goes with the USB 2.0 nicely, although eSATA and FireWire are missed here. This powerful but expensive model in the Professional Series is great for the small office, but some users question its performance value compared to that of other network drives. If you need absolute speed, consider a different model, but overall this drive works great for the home or small office setting. The Western Digital ShareSpace measures 6.3" x 7.7" x 7.8" and weighs 8.1 lbs. It is cube-shaped to fit in tight spaces, and the silver-shaded covering appeals especially to the office environment. The flexibility and compatibility of this network drive also makes it a great buy-the 2TB ShareSpace works with Windows 2000 and higher or Mac 10.4.11 and higher. For entertainment purposes, there is a built-in DLNA-system and iTunes server. Although consumers are impressed by the storage capacity and features, the performance drags this product below what it could be. The price is also too high, leaving many budget-restricted users to look elsewhere. Overall, this is just another average NAS drive.
ValueFor the price, we would expect that this network storage drive would include FireWire or eSATA, but unfortunately it does not. Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000) is included, improved, and highly recommended, so keep in mind that you may want to upgrade your 10/100 network adapter to accommodate. As far as value compared to capacity, two terabytes bought separately will cost a little more than half the cost of this product. When comparing this device to other models, it is actually average in price because it has 4 storage bays and intelligent RAID configurations. PerformanceUsers have given mixed reviews regarding the performance of the Western Digital ShareSpace network drive. If you intend to use this drive in a busy workplace environment, in which the drive will need to be constantly and quickly accessed and have large files transferred, then you may want to look at several other NAS devices. Gigabit Ethernet boasts speeds of up to 1000Mbps, but peaks such as this are rare. Network performance usually depends on the processor speed and memory as well. Ethernet operating at the 10/100 level is in no way efficient for the small office or home, so if you want faster speeds you will need a 10/100/1000 network card (if you do not already have one). High-speed USB is sufficient, but the main focus for the majority of users is use of gigabit Ethernet. Needless to say, this external drive works very well as a media server or daily backup system. SummaryOverall, the 2TB Western Digital ShareSpace network storage drive slacks in some areas and triumphs in others. The RAID configuration allows for a quick, secure method of storing and transferring files, and there is even an online service offered for remote access to those files. Drive performance is questionable (sometimes noticeably-sluggish), and the device may be too expensive for some, but overall this is a good NAS device that will look and feel powerful and stylish in your office. Pros
Cons
Related LinksWestern Digital ShareSpace WDA4NC40000: |
