When it comes to network attached storage (NAS) devices, the options are plentiful - as are the associated feature sets.
Fortunately, for the everyday user wanting the benefits of network attached storage without the superfluous functionality, Netgear has today introduced Stora.
The box-like device, pictured above, measures 175.25mm x 150mm x 146mm, weighs 1.36kg, and is designed as an "easy-to-use" NAS solution for home media. Suggesting that its business/prosumer-orientated ReadyNAS products are overly complicated, Netgear states that Stora "enables consumers to easily centralise photos, music, movies and files and use them on nearly any network device".
Sounds promising, and it'll do just that without offering anything extra. Users will find no eSATA ports for expansion storage, and the single USB port is front-mounted, making it an unsightly tool for attaching devices such as printers. More importantly, Stora allows for its hard drives to be configured in a RAID 1 array only. A pair of mirrored drives is mighty useful for security, but it limits the maximum capacity of the unit.
Still, you get what you pay for and Netgear insists "Stora is most definitely a platform for everyone". The device is compatible with PC, Mac or Linux systems, and Netgear provides an online interface at MyStora.com - allowing users to access their stored content from any web-enabled device.
As you'd expect, it's equipped with Netgear's Home Media Server functionality, allowing it to stream content to any DLNA compliant device. There's also "an optional yearly premium service that supports additional remote access and third-party service integration such as Flickr, Picasa, YouTube and mobile phones, is available for $19.99 after an initial 30-day trial period," though we can't see that one catching on.
Netgear currently has Stora priced at $229 (roughly £145), and it'll ship with a single 1TB hard disk as standard. Not bad, but pricing seems a little too close to Netgear's better-equipped ReadyNAS Duo - that's currently going for £140.
