Router with USB Port or NAS Drive?

Stoke_Stez · 15-10-2008, 12:44

Hi,

I've recently replaced my desktop with a laptop however whilst moving things around I stupidly plugged the wrong power source into my router and blew it. So now i need a new router, I'd also like to be able to share media around the house so I was thinking of buying a NAS drive to connect to the router (laptop hard drive not big enough). Whilst looking at routers I notice some have usb connections allowing external drives to be attached. Has anyone had any experience of using these, are they quick? or would my original plan of purchase a NAS drive (or caddy) be the best?

Also if anyone has recommendations on routers and/or NAS drives that would be great!

I'm on the virigin 20meg connection.

Cheers

Steve

Stuart · 15-10-2008, 13:18

Not sure how well it works with VM (it should, it's fine attached to my Be 24 meg connection), but I use Apple's Time Capsule.

http://www.apple.com/timecapsule/

Although Apple's site concentrates on it's ability to act as a backup device for OSX's time machine system, you can set it to be a NAS for PCs and Macs (which is actually what I do).

It also offer N class wireless connections (up to 300 meg) and three available gigabit ethernet connections.

You can get either 512G or 1 terrabyte versions. There is also a USB port that can provide a connection for an external USB drive or a printer (in which case, the TC acts as a print server as well).

It's not cheap, but in my experience, works well.

Stoke_Stez · 15-10-2008, 16:30

Thanks for your reply, I hadn't come across the time capsule only the AirPort Extreme Base Station (which has a usb port). Do you use it on a mac or Windows? My laptop runs windows and from the small number of reviews I've read it seems more suited to Apple macs.

Cheers

Stuart · 15-10-2008, 16:57

I use it with Windows..

The Time Capsule is essentially an Airport Extreme with built in hard drive. The only problem with the TC is that to manage it, you have to install Apple's Airport software (this is built into any Mac with wireless connection), but the software is fairly easy to use. If you go for the full installation, it automatically maps a drive to the Time Capsule as well.