NETGEAR ReadyNAS Ultra 4 (4-bay, diskless) Network Attached Storage, latest generation RNDU4000 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It has been a while since I've gotten a new NAS system, and I am totally impressed with this unit. It has been almost totally painless. Now all the computers at my house can have plenty of backup storage, and easily share all the data, video, photo, and music files you are likely to have.

MY ENVIRONMENT

I am a Computer Engineer - been in the field for 35 years, so I'm fussy about my hardware. I have a house hardwired with CAT5 plus a WiFi router. The main machines are Macs, but there are some Windows computers too. This unit supports Time Machine - and the support works perfectly and painlessly. I also have a couple of DLNA media devices, so that is an important feature. The ReadyNAS also lets you plugin USB drives and they instantly become available on the network as well - so all my old external USB drives are not useless with this upgrade.

THE GOOD (Great, actually)

* This device is as close to plug and play as I've seen in a long time. There is a somewhat lengthy setup - but we're dealing with Terabytes of disk space that has to get organized and set up properly for the X-RAID striping.

* You can plug in new drives to expand capacity as needed.

* Works seamlessly on a mixed Mac/Windows/DLNA media environment

* Redundant storage keeps going even after a single disk failure. I feel all my photos and videos are now safe (although I still keep an extra off-site backup, just in case.)

* Fast - almost as fast as a directly connected USB, but now available to all the computers in the house.

* Can install extra software to securely access your data from the web anywhere.

THE LESS THAN GOOD

* There is a setting on the Network Interfaces called MTU. The default setting didn't work quite right for Macs - changing it to 1492 fixed things. But a call to NETGEAR's support actually solved the issue, so I'd rate their support very good.

* Not cheap - but I've spent years generating all my video, photos, and music - and I think the easy interface to this all is worth the price.

* The concept of 'Shares' is not really explained as well as I would have liked.
WHICH UNIT TO GET?

I decided I would spend a bit more for this unit - it is the latest technology - over the older NETGEAR units. I decided the 4 disk unit and single core unit would probably have the best cost/benefit ration. With this unit, using Western Digital 2 TB Caviar Green SATA Intellipower 64 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive WD20EARS (they seem to work flawlessly so far - even though the aren't yet on the compatibility list for this unit), you can get up to 6TB of redundant storage (recovers from a single drive failure). I'd guess they will eventually support 3 to 4 TB drives.

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Product Description:
The NETGEAR ReadyNAS Ultra series deliver the power you need to run bleeding-edge applications and the flexibility you want to store, share and protect your prized multimedia collections. Two Gigabit Ethernet Ports deliver ultra-fast connections, while three USB ports offer the flexibility for users to connect other devices with a USB connection (e.g., printer servers, external USB storage devices or digital cameras). These multimedia desktop storages are ideal for media enthusiasts with large digital media libraries who want to take their media files wherever they go. X-RAID2 - Manage volume expansion automatically as you add new hard drives or replace existing drives with larger capacity drives. ReadyNAS Remote - Get secure drag-and-drop remote access without complicated network setups. ReadyNAS Vault - Backup critical files off-site for added security and peace of mind, then access and restore them remotely online. Rsync - Replicate and synchronize files between two ReadyNAS devices. TiVo compatible - Archive your favorite television programs and play them back to any TiVo DVR in your home. Media shifting with Skifta - Access multimedia content from your ReadyNAS while you're away from home on connected DLNA devices. Transcoding with Orb - Convert multimedia content for optimal streaming on mobile devices. Automatic backups - Back up three computers (PC or Mac) continuously using Memeo Premium Backup and restore any previous version of a file with a simple right-click.

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Verbatim CD-R 80MIN 700MB 52X LightScribe 20pk Slim Case Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had good results with other Verbatim LightScribe discs, but I won't use the colored discs again.They looked terrific when I first burned them, but after about two weeks the images started to fade and blur - even on discs that were stored indoors and out of sunlight.

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Product Description:
LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling is a new technology that offers consumers and businesses a simple, no-hassle way to burn professional, silkscreen-quality labels on their CDs and DVDs.Using the same laser that burns data in their disc drives, customers burn their data as always, flip the disc over, reinsert it into the drive and burn a precise and permanent iridescent label.

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Snap-N-Store SNS01617 CD Storage Box, 2 Pack (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I should note that I bought these for computer CD media storage, not music CD's.

The bane of all media storage is lack of flexibility.Software vendors distribute CD's in all sorts of packaging, including standard jewel cases, customized plastic cases, paper sleeves, cardboard sleeves, and even DVD-size cases.I need to file my CD's by computer and application type - not by size!Most CD storage boxes have some size limitations.Some assume that you will simply throw away the original packaging, and use their custom sleeves.But the original packaging often has useful information on it, like installation instructions, urls, or CD key codes.So it is important to be able to file the original packaging with the CD.

The BEST CD storage I've ever found are the old Flip-n-file, swing-top boxes designed for 5-1/4" floppies.These conveniently store CD's in ANY of the above packaging except DVD cases.You can even throw in the odd 3-1/4" floppy.But these are no longer made.(I'm in the market, if anybody has any...)The worst "solution" I've tried was a cardboard box that would only hold CD's in paper sleeves, and was designed so the lid sat on top of the CD's (which stuck above the sides of the box), so that it was pretty useless unless the box was entirely full.

These Snap-n-store boxes are in between.They hold CD's in standard jewel cases, which is what they are designed for.(The cases only fit in one orientation, though, with the long edge up-and-down.)They will accomodate paper sleeves, which are smaller than jewel cases.They will NOT accomodate cardboard mailers, which are a little bit wider.Of course, they will not handle DVD-size cases (although Snap-n-store also makes a DVD box, which I have not tried).Like the other cardboard box I tried, the CD cases stick up above the sides of the box, so the lid will not sit securely unless the box is almost full.

In short, the box is good for long-term storage of CD's if you don't need to store them in cardboard sleeves, and you have enough CD's to store to pretty much fill the box.

My bare-minimum standard for media storage has become:is it better than a shoebox?These Snap-n-store boxes are, perhaps, but only just barely.

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Product Description:
Two-pack offers double the capacity!Desktop or archival CD storage that looks fantastic, and is relatively inexpensive.Leather-like PVC laminate is adorned with functional chrome accents.They ship and store flat, and snap together in seconds for use.Made from 50% post-consumer recycled content. Comes with chrome card holder for labeling. Each box holds 30 CDs in full jewel cases, 60 CDs in slim cases, and 165 discs in CD sleeves, so the two-pack has a maximum capacity of 330 CDs. Black. Interior dimensions: 5 1/8" H X 5 1/8" W x 13 1/4" D

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