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Published: May 28, 2009 Author: Michael Chiu Editor: Amber Lupala Provider: Geeks Share this article:

Conclusion

 
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You have the option of connecting to the device using a variety of protocols including FTP, HTTP, SMB, etc. You can even map it as a drive on your computer. I was a little disappointed the device doesn’t allow for S-FTP or HTTPS, which are more secure versions of those protocols. Thus, I wouldn’t recommend sharing files you want to protect over the Internet.

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Another thing that the LaCie 2big drive offers is a one-touch USB drive backup. Simply plug in any USB flash drive into the back of the NAS and hit the big blue button on the front; this will back up all the contents of the flash drive on the NAS. This is a cool feature that I can see myself using a lot.

The drive isn’t as fast as the “gigabit” feature it advertises; I was averaging about 15Mb/s file transfer speeds. Nothing to write home about, but if you’re using it for simple backup and file repository, this isn’t a big deal. I did find the drive to be a little on the loud side, especially with the fan on.

Conclusion:
The LaCie 2big 1TB External Network Attached Storage (NAS) hard drive does a good job of delivering the goods as promised. The drive is easy to set up, has a decent user interface, and offers a convenient alternative to building your own NAS from computer parts. However, you are left with some limitations such as security and future upgrading. But if you’re like most people who are just looking for a simple way to access files via the network, you should check this product out; hopefully Geeks will still have some in stock for you.

Pros:
+ Easy setup
+ Sleek looking design
+ SATA hard drives
+ Quick USB drive download feature
+ Can configure in RAID1 mode

Cons:
- Modest file transfer speeds
- Uses unsecure FTP and HTTP
- Cannot upgrade drives on own