Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ V2

Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ v2

Without drives, the $400 (as of March 23, 2012) Netgear ReadyNAS NV+ v2 is very inexpensive for a well-constructed four-bay NAS box. But add two 1TB drives (as tested, which brings the price up to $800), and factor in its poky performance, and the box's value becomes a less clear proposition. The ReadyNAS NV+ v2 has a single USB 2.0 port on its front, accompanied by a quick-copy button. Beneath that, a swing-open door reveals the four nonlocking drive bays; everything is composed of solid metal, but the absence of locks makes this box an inappropriate choice for businesses. A small, two-line status display sits at the bottom of the device; touch the power button once to see the unit's IP address and capacity, and keep an eye on the display for other pertinent messages. The back of the unit is home to a single gigabit ethernet port and two USB 3.0 ports. The box lacks an eSATA port, which may kill the deal if you want to use an existing eSATA box to back up the NV+ v2. Though the ReadyNAS Dashboard HTML interface is both attractive and intuitive, the ReadyNAS has only a modest selection of features. The NV+ v2 supports multiple users and shared folders, is DLNA-certified for streaming multimedia, and works with the Mac's Time Machine backup service.