Kudos to Thecus! The feature set of the N1200 surpasses that of any other NAS-device we've tested to date and even comes with functionality usually only found in full-fledged Linux servers. On the other hand, that's not really all that surprising, considering Thecus actually uses a Linux-based OS, which also opens the door to updates that could add even more functionality.

The device supports all current SATA drives. Paired with our Terabyte-sized Hitachi 7K1000, the N1200 leaves nothing to be desired where speed and capacity are concerned. And while no NAS device can offer the same performance as an internal disk, the N1200 outpaces its competition in the majority of our tests.

Thanks to the Setup-Wizard, the unit is a breeze to configure. The same goes for general use and maintenance tasks, which are easily accomplished through a web interface. As we already mentioned in the introduction of this article, the feature set is, in a word, comprehensive. Lastly, thanks to its integrated Fast-Ethernet switch, it can even replace existing devices or at least easily integrate with the infrastructure at hand.

The devil, as they say, is in the details, and it's no different here. For example, the integrated photo tool can't compete with other free photo management solutions such as Picasa. Also, while the backup utility looks promising on paper, it doesn't deliver. Even the promise of easy expandability through USB or eSATA devices is marred by shortcomings. For one, Thecus's decision to use the ReiserFS for the eSATA drive effectively means that the drive can't be used directly with a Windows computer. Also, due to the Windows-Timeout issue, the USB interface limits the maximum file size to 700MB when copying data.

So what's our take? We see the additional interfaces and the connectivity options as more of a bonus. Alternatively, they present a way to quickly back up external drives such as USB thumb drives. However, if you use it to do what it does best, namely to act as a NAS- and media server with a long feature list, then you'll find that at present, the combination of Hitachi's 7K1000 and Thecus's N1200 is an unbeatable solution.