Network drive External Hard Drives

The Bottom Line: The HP Media Vault MV2120 is a two-bay NAS drive that novice networkers will find simple to set up and use. While it offers flexible expansion options with a free internal drive bay and two USB ports, the intrusive Media Vault software and lack of a print server dampen our enthusiasm a bit.

Specs: HP Media Vault Mv2120 - Network drive, 500 GB, PC, 4 pin USB Type A, RJ-45, Removable, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

The Bottom Line: If you need fast, basic network storage and backup/restore capability, the Ximeta NetDisk Portable is a good bet. If you also want media server capabilities, look elsewhere.

Specs: XIMETA NetDisk Enclosure ENCL-1P - Network drive, PC, Mac, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type B, 44 pin IDC, Standard, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet

The Bottom Line: If you need fast, basic network storage and backup/restore capability, the Ximeta NetDisk Portable is a good bet. If you also want media server capabilities, look elsewhere.

Specs: XIMETA NetDisk Portable NDU10-500 - Network drive, PC, Mac, RJ-45, Standard, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet

The Bottom Line: If you need fast, basic network storage and backup/restore capability, the Ximeta NetDisk Portable is a good bet. If you also want media server capabilities, look elsewhere.

Specs: XIMETA NetDisk Portable NDU10-400 - Network drive, PC, Mac, RJ-45, Standard, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet

The Bottom Line: If you need fast, basic network storage and backup/restore capability, the Ximeta NetDisk Portable is a good bet. If you also want media server capabilities, look elsewhere.

Specs: XIMETA NetDisk Portable NDU10-300 - Network drive, PC, Mac, RJ-45, Standard, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet

The Bottom Line: HP's Media Vault is a storage drive that offers an easy way to back up files from your networked PCs, along with the ability to stream your digital media files to other networked devices in your home. We really like this drive.

Specs: HP Media Vault MV2020 - Network drive, 500 GB, PC, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Standard, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

The Bottom Line: HP's Media Vault is a storage drive that offers an easy way to back up files from your networked PCs, along with the ability to stream your digital media files to other networked devices in your home. We really like this drive.

Specs: HP Media Vault MV2010 - Network drive, 300 GB, PC, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Standard, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

The Bottom Line: The Iomega StorCenter is an affordable, multimedia-serving NAS box with impressive software, but it lags in performance.

Specs: Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive - Network drive, 250 GB, PC, Mac, Unix, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Standard, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

The Bottom Line: The Iomega StorCenter is an affordable, multimedia-serving NAS box with impressive software, but it lags in performance.

Specs: Iomega StorCenter Network Hard Drive - Network drive, 160 GB, PC, Mac, Unix, RJ-45, 4 pin USB Type A, Standard, Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet

The Bottom Line: This is an incredibly ambitious, one-of-a-kind device, but it's not yet ready for prime time.

Specs: Terapin Mine Network drive, 10 GB, PC, RJ-45, Portable, Ethernet, None