First Post on this Forum
Suggest intersted parties Google Stora Forum for a full feedback on other peoples' experiences, including my own.
My experience with the Stora
It is very very basic when it comes to RAID – it offers mirror copy (RAID 1) and more recently JBOD (spanned disk – ie 2 x 1Tb = 2Tb)
It will take a 2Tb HDD
There is a recommended range of HDDs ( eg WD Caviar Green) but I have used Seagate and Samsung – no problem.
It is Gigabyte Network ready
The ability to connect through a browser from any PC worldwide is useful. It is slow (
www.mystora.com)
There are a number of extra facilities available through the $19.99 per year premium subscription including direct access to FaceBook and Flikr for direct uploading. As mentioned above – without a premium subscription you are limited to 3 accounts, with premium – unlimited accounts.
It is ITunes compatible
You can send a link to others to access individual files on your Stora without having to give them full access
NOTE
It has a single USB socket which can be used as a print server for compatible printers (not multi-function devices) or to add a USB External HDD. Beware of this last issue – a number of people have connected their USB drives to this port and for whatever reason the Stora had “Bricked” the drive, not transferred the files and when the drive is connected to a PC or laptop directly after – the drive is unreadable.
When setting the machine up you MUST be connected to the nternet in order to register your drive to the supporting 3rd party software providers. Without internet connection you cannot set up the Stora. Once set up others have found that it does or does not work with the internet switched off.
You cannot setup your own “Shares” on the system There are 3 by default. My Library, My Computers and Family Library. You can set up folders within these shares.
Thoughts
Like many NAS devices they are slow to read and write
It is probably now the cheapest way to have a networked attached 1, 2 or 4 Gb Hard Drive in JBOD mode.
The support for the drive is flaky and Netgear have messed up a couple of their Firmware releases and have damaged users' data. Netgear have replaced some (I believe) and in one case a whole Firmware release was reversed. (The firmware and software is NOT Netgear's own work).
It is aimed at simple home use but professes to do more but realistocally does not
The range of "supported media formats is limnited (already listed) - it will store any format like any HDD and so if you have a different Media Player than WMP or ITubnes it may work better.
Would I recommend this product as a user since they were rele
ased NO – it is too flaky to be robust enough for serious media or long term storage in mirrored mode (RAID 1).
I use a Ready NAS Duo by Netgear and whilst more expensive is better featured and far more robust. It also does not use 3rd party access software and firmware so Netgear treat is as a REAL product.
Hope this helps
C