Conclusion: A NAS Device For Beginners

The Maxtor Shared Storage II is a solid NAS device for home users and small offices, requiring just a little basic knowledge to set up. Beginners can quickly achieve their aim, making a lot of storage space available on the network without the need for extensive configuration.

The data transfer rates are respectable for many applications and sufficient for most uses in a home network. The same applies to the integrated media server. It is possible, however, that users with more complex demands may find that they are missing out on extended configuration options. User administration functions have also been kept simple.

The RAID 1 function appears to be out of place, because the housing is constructed in such a way that the user cannot access the hard drives inside the unit without breaking the warranty seal. In addition, the side walls are connected to the housing top with small catches that break off when the housing is opened by an inexperienced user, which means a user is unable to replace a defective drive themselves without voiding the warranty. As a result, the use of the RAID 1 function is put into question. A JBOD configuration or simple interconnection of drives might have been a better option.

The Maxtor Easy Manage software is also relatively basic, and the range of functions available designed more for beginners. Experienced users may prefer not to bother installing the software, and instead set up the NAS device using its Web interface. This leaves you without the convenient backup function, but power users probably already have their own backup tools anyway.