Conclusions, where2buy, certifications, awards, right2reply
Conclusions, where2buy, certifications, awards, right2reply
So here we are, at the final shakedown. If had to use just one word to describe the TS-109 Pro, it would be "impressive".
It's impressive because QNAP has managed to pack a lot of features onto the device and provide easy access for savvy users to add even more if they want to.
There are also enough features as standard to keep almost everyone else happy.
Dig a little deeper and there are some issues. We didn't like the misalignment between the hard drive and the SATA connectors - installing a drive made us nervous and that's a bad thing.
We hope that this problem was a one-off but can't say for sure. Perhaps QNAP will clarify the situation by having its say in HEXUS Right2Reply.
The fact that the TS-109 Pro is a passively-cooled NAS box also made us a little nervous - hard drives hate heat.
We don't like noisy little fans either but we'd rather find a way of dampening fan-noise than dealing with the huge turmoil of prematurely losing a hard drive.
The aluminium casing of the TS-109 doesn't come into direct contact with the internal hard disk. If it did, the drive would probably stay a lot cooler and we'd definitely be a lot happier.
And a fan isn't necessarily a magic solution. Despite having one, the Thecus N1200 doesn't seem to provide any better cooling. Its external temperature during disk usage is much the same as the TS-109 - at around 45C.
Overall, the TS-109's performance was good. Sometimes it was a little slower than Thecus N1200, sometimes a bit quicker.
Sometimes - but not very often - it could even out-pace a multi-disk NAS device. And that is impressive!
Assuming that the feature-set of the TS-109 Pro suits your needs, it should be able to deliver all the performance you want.
We liked being able to back up the TS-109 onto an external disk - and QNAP's elegant options for providing that extra data security. This, after all, is a single-drive NAS box and, as you'll appreciate, it's unwise to keep all your eggs in one basket.
Adding PHP/MySQL to the mix is an interesting twist. We doubt that it's suitable for any real production web sites but it might be handy for hosting some locally-served web-based tools.
So, should you buy a TS-109 Pro? That's a tough one to answer.
We love the features, including how open the platform is for those who want to tweak it a bit.
We like that it's quiet but low-noise wouldn't be one of our major concerns when choosing such a product.
What about the price? Well, an SRP of £170 - and it's ~£150 for the non-Pro version - means that that the TS-109 is a little more expensive than some of its competitors but level with the rest.
Bottom line? If you want a NAS box and a single-disk solution is appropriate to your home or small-business needs, then the QNAP TS-109 Pro is definitely worth adding to your shortlist.
HEXUS Certifications
The QNAP TS-109 Pro passed testing in the HEXUS Labs, so we can stamp it with a HEXUS Certification in the Executive category to affirm that it's suitable for use in the small office.
HEXUS Awards
Sensible pricing, good performance and an attractive features-set - including useful multimedia functionality - mean that the TS-109 merits a HEXUS Media Recommended award.
HEXUS Where2Buy
The TS-109 series will be available from Miniland-Tech and various other online retailers in the UK, including SCAN, Amazon, Qnap.co.uk, Ripcaster and XSPO.
HEXUS Right2Reply
At HEXUS.net, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any of QNAP's representatives choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.
HEXUS related reading
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:: Thecus N1200 RouStor NAS - first look
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:: Thecus N5200 NAS appliance - 3.5 terabytes tested
