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Net Drives

Got multiple PCs and a network? New net-ready hard drives are a smart, affordable way to back up and share data.

Becky Waring

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Other Options: Networked Storage Devices With Bells and Whistles

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Photograph: Geoff Spear
These products aren't traditional NAS devices, and we did not test them for this roundup, but their specialized functions will suit some home and small-business users better.

Mirra Personal Server: Intended for the backup and sharing of photos and other media on a home network, the Mirra Personal Server doesn't look or work like a standard hard drive. As long as it's turned on, its proprietary backup and synchronization software continuously backs up your files. Even laptops, when reconnected to the network, will start backing up where they left off. You can also share and access files remotely from Mirra's Web site. The Personal Server is pricier per gigabyte of capacity compared with the NAS devices we tested, but some home users may find the added features worth the cost. $399 (80GB), $499 (120GB), $749 (250GB)

U.S. Robotics 8200 Firewall/VPN/NAS: This bring-your-own-drive device for small businesses is like a network in a box, combining NAS capabilities with a router, a firewall, a print server, and VPN support. It has a four-port ethernet switch, two USB 2.0 ports, and one FireWire port. File-sharing capabilities include FTP access, and the 8200 supports major operating systems for cross-platform networks. $350

Freelance writer Becky Waring is a former editor of New Media magazine.

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