The Teeny Tiny RAID NAS: Perfect to Start Backing Up

If you're like most people, you probably don't do many backups. Sometimes it just seems ludicrous to do so. But since computer hard drives can easily malfunction and burn out, using a NAS HD is probably a good idea.

What's great about NAS (Network Attached Storage) is that these hard drive enclosures work over a WiFi network. This means that you can access the data on your drive from anywhere within the network. You won't need any of those wires anymore. Tuck the NAS somewhere secure and discreet, and you can use it like a sort of server to store data.

The Thecus N0204 will be one of the smallest NAS enclosures on the market simply because it uses 2.5" laptop HD drives or SSD. This means that this enclosure is about the size of a normal USB hard drive enclosure. On top of that, it's got space for two drives, works with either Macs or PCs, and costs $150. This price doesn't include any HDs, and let's not forget that it does RAID 0, 1 or JBOD (each drive is separate).

[via Crunchgear, 3rd image by Hexus]

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Comments (5)

i have been tempted by this a lot lately. Usually I stay away though because as a home user I would like the option to plug the drive in as either USB2 FW400 or FW800 OR be able to connect it to the network. Most of the time a network attached would be fine, and easy to use. But there are the times, lets say I want to move a large file, where fw800 would throw it on the drive in no time, and on the network it might take awhile. I just don't want to have to have a network drive, then a regular drive, then a backup drive in the safe, etc, too many drives.

Also, a huge benefit to a NAS that you didn't mention. you can usually set it up as a ftp, and then access your files from anywhere. Visiting friends and you need a photo or a resume, bam, log in and retrieve it.

Josh - thelargebear.com

posted by jmorey on November 18th 2009 at 11:07am
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$130 and free shipping on

Josh - thelargebear.com

posted by jmorey on November 18th 2009 at 1:11pm
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don't know where the message went, on Buy.com

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=210998300

posted by jmorey on November 18th 2009 at 1:11pm
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Half the size and half the price - the Addonics Mini NAS at http://www.addonics.com/products/nas/NAS25HDU2.asp

posted by arochester on November 18th 2009 at 2:16pm
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I'll give it the benefit of being half the price, but that is because it only holds half the drives...

The Thecus can hold 2 drives which allows you to run it in RAID1 and mirror the drives (which is optimal of course, a backup of your backup, no chance of data loss...)

Extra benefits of the Thecus: Print server option (Addonics does this too), front usb port, plug in a drive and it will back it up to the nas, support to connect a wireless transmitter to it and make it wireless on it's own, connect a camera, Media center software....etc

There is a reason why it costs a bit more

posted by jmorey on November 18th 2009 at 3:07pm
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