Designed for use as a personal cloud storage device, Synology’s BeeStation makes it easy to access your photos, videos, and other personal files from anywhere. Unlike other Synology network attached storage (NAS) devices, the BeeStation does not offer RAID protection; nor does it have an app library to complement it. Instead, it makes it easy to automatically back up your data and share it with other users without paying monthly cloud subscription fees. At $219.99, it’s cheaper (though potentially slower) than the similar LatticeWork Amber X, which makes it a good deal for those who want to stop paying for a cloud subscription to access their personal data. Its strengths are in its simplicity and savings; if those are not your priorities as an advanced user, consider spending just a few dollars more to get true NAS functionality—including RAID protection, multi-gig LAN, and a catalog of apps—with devices like the $239 QNAP TS-216G dual-bay NAS. Just bear in mind that the QNAP, like most NAS drives, doesn't include the drives themselves. The BeeStation gets you 4TB out of the box.
