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Best network attached storage
(Updated May 15, 2013 2:55 AM PDT)
Dong Ngo
Senior associate editor
If you have multiple computers on your network, you're a candidate for a network-attached storage (NAS) device. Some NAS servers simply act as a shared volume for backing up and sharing files across your network, while others can do a lot more, such as sharing a printer among your networked PCs, acting as a media streamer or even a surveillance system by supporting IP cameras. You'll find NAS devices with a single drive and those with multiple drives that allow for greater data protection and higher capacities.
Here's a list of the current top NAS servers.
Asustor AS-604T NAS server
Not only is the Asustor AS-604T an excellent NAS server for serious network storage needs, it's also very easy to use thanks to the extremely well-designed user interface.
Price: $700.00 - $739.18 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
LaCie 5big NAS Pro (10TB)
Despite the lack of features, the LaCie 5big NAS Pro is an excellent buy, thanks to its superfast performance, ease of use, and massive capacity.
Price: $1,074.89 - $1,199.00 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
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 
Synology DiskStation DS712+
The DiskStation DS712+ is one of the best dual-bay NAS servers on the market, for both home and office environments. It's also one of the few that offer storage scalability for those who want to start small and add more capacity later.
Price: $523.00 - $1,496.97 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review 
QNAP TS-469 Pro NAS server
The QNAP TS-469 Pro is one of the best four-bay NAS servers on the market and will eventually justify the price you pay for it.
Price: $799.00 - $1,384.24 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review
Synology DiskStation DS1511+
The DiskStation DS1511+ is arguably the best five-bay NAS server on the market for both home and office environments. Novice and home users, however, might be intimidated by its setup software and the number of features it has to offer.
Price: $659.99 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review 
Synology DiskStation DS410
The Disk Station DS410 is one of the most affordable four-bay full-feature NAS servers on the market. While it's overwhelming for novice home users, advanced users will also find it to be one of the best RAID 5-capable NAS servers for their home or small business environments.
Price: $1,187.66 (check prices)
4 stars Read full review