Most network-attached storage (NAS) devices need to be configured before use. NAS web management interfaces are usually straightforward, but they can be daunting for novices. loCell promises that the NetDisk
351UNE enclosure is so simple to set up that it takes mere minutes.
The first job is to fit a SATA disk. This is simple, although you’ll need a screwdriver and a steady hand. Once that’s done, you need to install a driver on your PC before you can access the NetDisk’s shared storage.This may be inconvenient if you have a lot of PCs on your network but it shouldn’t be a problem for most home networks. Windows sees the NetDisk as if it were connected directly by USB, so there’s no need to type in an IP address or map shared folders to drive letters.
NetDisk was remarkably fast in our file transfer benchmarks when fitted with a 750GB Samsung SpinPoint F1 DT, It copied large files at 38.8MB/s and small files at an average speed of 26.1 MB/s, making it one of the fastest NAS devices we’ve seen at this price. You can also connect it directly to your PC over USB or eSATA – its performance over these interfaces was in line with what we’d expect.
Sadly, the NetDisk has none of the extra features we’ve come to expect from a NAS, such as a printer or streaming media server. It even lacks basic security features, such as the ability to create password-protected user accounts, although this may not be a concern for the small households at which the NetDisk is aimed.
