Iomega NAS 100d

Ease of use and expandability make the NAS 100d a good choice for that ever-growing home media collection. This device combines a 160GB NAS drive and a Wi-Fi access point, which we recommend using only if you don't already have a separate Wi-Fi router.

Its performance ranked in the midrange overall, although this model was slower in copying large files and searching for a text string.

Some of the NAS 100d's wireless features are dated: It lacks both WPA encryption and enhanced-G speeds. The unit can connect to your existing wireless network as a client so long as you place it within range of your access point. Although the 100d can function as either a router or a client, we don't recommend doing large amounts of file transfers and backups over a wireless connection. The NAS 100d also comes with two USB 2.0 ports for expanding shared storage.

Setup was simple thanks to the browser-based configuration utility and the excellent documentation. Iomega also includes its own streamlined and easy-to-use automatic backup software, which lets you schedule backups of client PCs to the NAS 100d.

Security features, while limited, are good enough for home use. There are no passwords on individual shared folders, so anyone with access to the NAS 100d can read anything on it. You can designate certain shared folders as read-only, but that's all the protection you get.

Upshot: This expandable 160GB network-attached storage device is great if you don't need individually password-protected shared folders. The included Wi-Fi access point is a bonus, but not a reason to buy the device if you already have a separate Wi-Fi router.

Becky Waring