Conclusions
Having used the Netgear Stora for a short time, I’ve been impressed with its honesty – Netgear have positioned the product as an entry level network storage device for the home, and it delivers a focused set of features very well indeed. Sure there’s more powerful, higher capacity devices out there, but the Stora nails a lot of the simple stuff that many users need. Photo buffs in particular will be impressed with a strong set of features to share and enjoy their images both locally and remotely with family and friends – music and video features are less extensive, and there’s certainly room for growth here but what the Stora does, it does well. Remote access to the Stora is remarkably easy to set up, and delivers a great experience that’s simple to use both on the PC browser and via a mobile device.
On the flip side, charging a yearly subscription for some of the sexier product features is a little cheeky, but they do have strong appeal. The hardware looks great but is definitely value-oriented and backup capabilities are limited, but again, the basics are covered – which is all you can expect from a £150 device. For those looking for their first step into the world of network attached storage, the Netgear Stora provides all of the entry-level features you need plus more than a few added value tricks, all delivered in an attractive, easy to use package.
