Buffalo LinkStation Mini (1TB)

Tiny storage unit needs better interface


THE BUFFALO LINKSTATION MINI is different from other network-attached storage (NAS) drives because it uses 2.5-inch hard drives instead of the larger 3.5-inch drives typically found in desktop PCs. Aside from its diminutive stature, the Mini is a rather run-of-the-mill NAS device with decent features. It's held back, however, by an archaic interface-and a high price ($599.99).
Weighing just 1.1 pounds, it includes two 5,400rpm 500GB hard drives inside its fanless chassis. A lone USB port can be used for adding storage or a printer to your network. You can run the Mini's hard drives in a stripped RAID Level 0 array for full capacity, or a RAID Level 1 array for better data security. There doesn't appear to be an easy way to access the drives, though, so if one fails, you'll like to have to crack the chassis open-not an ideal situation.
Setup was simple, but administration is handled via a cryptonic browser-based interface. Despite its dated look and feel, the interface does offer a host of useful options that makes it easy to set up online access and create users and groups,though backup software is notably missing. The Mini can also stream content to any PC or Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) device such as a set-top media box.


In our 10GB read/write test, the Mini placed at the low end of the NAS scale: 23 minutes and 20 seconds to write the file, and 15 minutes and 16 seconds to read it.-Josh Norem
source: Computer Shopper October 2008.
www.buffalotech.com