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Best storage devices
(Updated May 15, 2013 2:55 AM PDT)
Dong Ngo
Senior associate editor
There are three main types of consumer-grade computer storage: internal, external, and network attached. Internal storage is generally a hard drive or solid-state drive (SSD) that hosts your computer's operating systems and programs. External storage comes mostly in the form of external drives that connect to a computer via a peripheral port, such as USB or Thunderbolt. Finally, network attached storage (NAS) solutions are those that connect to a switch or a router to provide storage space and services to the entire network.
The five devices on this page represent the best among their respective categories.
Buffalo DriveStation DDR (3TB)
The Buffalo DriveStation DDR is by far the fastest single-volume external drive on the market and makes USB 3.0 a true alternative storage connection to Thunderbolt.
Price: $186.28 (check prices)
4 stars
Read full review 
Corsair Voyager Air (1TB, Red)
Despite a few shortcomings, the Corsair Voyager Air is an excellent way to extend your mobile devices' storage capacity and features.
Price: $219.99 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
OCZ Vector Series SSD (256GB, SATA III, 2.5-inch)
The OCZ Vector Series SSD would make a great investment for those moving on from using a hard drive as the main drive of their system.
Price: $269.99 - $388.75 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
Best portable backup drive
Seagate Backup Plus (1TB, blue)
Seagate Backup Plus carries the flexibility of the GoFlex portable drive while adding performance and style to portable storage. The new drive makes an excellent buy.
Price: $89.00 - $164.56 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
Best four-bay NAS server
Synology DiskStation DS412+
Synology DiskStation DS412+ makes an excellent NAS server for advanced home and small-office networks.
Price: $658.99 - $1,044.50 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review 
WD My Book VelociRaptor Duo
The My Book VelociRaptor Duo is one of the best storage devices thanks to its balanced combination of excellent performance, practical design, and relatively friendly pricing.
Price: $649.00 - $1,167.01 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review