LaCie advertises the Ethernet Disk's interoperability with Windows, Mac, Linux, and Unix systems, but this cross-platform compatibility has its limits. Linux/Unix support is available only with SMB/Samba message format, not via the lighter and faster NFS, and interoperability with Mac OS X restricts filenames to 31 or fewer characters.
LaCie claims its Ethernet Disk is capable of supporting as many as 25 simultaneous users. Given the unit's single 7,200rpm drive, lack of RAID support, lack of a Gigabit Ethernet adapter, and modest 2MB buffer (8MB on units larger than 160GB), we see 10 simultaneous users as a more realistic number. To make matters worse, expanding the unit's storage via its poky USB 1.1 ports will slow transfers to a crawl whenever these drives are connected. Why LaCie chose to outfit the Ethernet Disk with USB 1.1 and not USB 2.0 ports is a mystery to us.
LaCie offers a meager one-year warranty on its Ethernet Disk, although oddly, customers in Europe get a more attractive two-year warranty. Phone support is included as part of the service package, but it's via a toll call and the lines are staffed only Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. through 5 p.m. PT. LaCie hosts a few useful technical resources for the Ethernet Disk on its Web site, including a downloadable product manual, a white paper on the technologies that make up the Ethernet Disk, a product data sheet, and a series of free downloadable patches for the unit's embedded XP OS. Unfortunately, the site currently lacks a FAQ for the Ethernet Disk and makes no provisions for user group support. For a product marketed as mission critical equipment for small businesses, the Ethernet Disk's short warranty, limited phone support, and paltry technical-resource offering on LaCie's Web site are disappointing.
- See more CNET content tagged:
- LaCie,
- Ethernet,
- small business,
- Windows PC,
- USB
Where to buy
250 GB Ethernet Disk:
$20.99
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$20.99 | Yes |
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