Any experience with SimpleShare Network Storage Servers?

[ibdb]

Debating between this 400GB Network Storage device(http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11101199&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=) that would allow easier access from my desktop, laptop, and kids machine and the Western Digital My Book 500GB (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11124492&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=). I could still access the WD drive through the desktop, but I could access the SimpleShare device directly, without having to go through the desktop.

I had tried a 300GB Maxtor, but I've only had it a couple of months and already I'm hearing it make noises that I'm not all that happy about. I plan to return it before it melts down completely.

Anyone use the SimpleShare product and have any thoughts? I know that lots of you like the WD products more than Maxtor, but thought I'd check this out before making my decision.

[jrsforums]

What are you using it for. If simple archieving, I am sure you know that you do not want it spinning all the time....or what backs it up? So you would only want to attach it when backing up. In this case, go to Newegg and buy any of the 3.5" disk enclosures (USB2 or Firewire or both...your choice). Then get the HD of your choice. I suggest either Samsung or Seagate (last I looked Seagate had 5 year warranty). Pop in, attach, and you should see on the unit on the system it is attached to.

For network storage, I would suggest thinking a little bigger...and safer. Look at a Buffalo Terastation....they come in a couple sizes. It attaches easily, provides Raid 5 recovery, and will even send email on status/problems.

My 2 centavos.....John

[Olegis]

The Simpletek unit looks nice. I myself am thinking about (finally) setting up a serious storage system for my images and I'm debating between internal HDD, external USB / Firewire, Network storage or a dedicated file server based on an older PC. The file server seems to be the best in terms of flexibility and future expandability, but the trade-offs have to be considered as well - cost (if you don't actually have an older machine that you can sacrifice for this), larger foot-print, more complex set-up, energy consumption, noise and heat etc.

[tommykjensen]

I got this one

http://www.stardom.com.tw/SR3000.htm

with 2 300 GB disks in mirror. I use this to store my photos on and work on them from there. I also backup this device to DVD's and a second external disk.

[DavidEB]

The USB enclosure system works fine for a single computer, and works fine as a backup device. If you're using a mac (OSX) you can plug one of these into your fastest mac, configure it as a shared drive (in system preferences...), and that works OK, but only when the "main" computer is on. If you really want fast access from 4 different systems, then the network-aware solutions are for you.

I use WD netcenter (http://www.wdc.com/en/products/Products.asp?DriveID=150) and love it. On the mac, it took me about two minutes to configure, and most of that was trying to reach the cable to the router.