Final Thoughts and Rating
...the diskless LinkStation 421DE is a capable performer and can be recommended for users looking to take their first steps into the world of network-attached storageThe Buffalo LinkStation 421DE is an ideal starting point for home users looking to consolidate their media library in one central location.
Priced at under £140 and delivered in a tidy, compact chassis, the dual-bay NAS is simple to use and offers a handful of well-implemented features. These include a dedicated BitTorrent client, a DLNA media server, built-in FTP and print servers, and support for scheduled backups - including Apple Time Machine.
Making these home-user features as accessible as can be, Buffalo's streamlined user interface is a step in the right direction and provides easy access to all common features. Setup wizards are at hand to help NAS newcomers through the configuration process, and though the system works well for the intended audience, experienced customers may lament the lack of finer controls such as a power on/off schedule.
There's room for Buffalo's new user interface to evolve with greater functionality - we'd really like to see support for hard-disk spin down sooner rather than later - but on the whole the diskless LinkStation 421DE is a capable performer and can be recommended for users looking to take their first steps into the world of network-attached storage.
The Good
Compact design
Streamlined user interface
Front-facing USB 3.0 port
Good data transfer speedsThe Bad
Lacks power schedule support
No HDD spin-down when idleHEXUS Awards
Buffalo LinkStation 421DE
HEXUS Where2Buy
The Buffalo LinkStation 421DE NAS enclosure is available to purchase from Dabs and Amazon UK.
HEXUS Right2Reply
At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.
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