Synology DS-409 Slim

Product Survey: NAS

The DS409slim is the smallest NAS system that we've tested so far, but that doesn't mean, of course, that it's the least powerful. On the inside is a 1.2 GHz processor and 128 MB of RAM, with a 60 mm fan to keep the four 2.5'' drive bays cool. The Taiwanese manufacturer hasn't forgotten about style either, with an impeccably-finished case, apart from the glossy plastic, which it's very easy to smear with greasy fingerprints. Even if you don't like the design, it's small and quiet enough for you to put it out of sight somewhere. Because NAS systems are a lot more than simply networked hard drives, it's important to have an easy-to-use interface to control them. The one on the D409slim has lots of features but is still intuitive, and remains acceptable to users with all levels of experience. And to make sure everybody can get the most out of it, a number of wizards are available to guide you. Support for CIFS/SMB, AFP and NFS protocols means that you can move files around your network, whether you're using Windows, Mac OS or a Linux distribution. The DS409slim can also act as an FTP server, giving you secure access to your files from any computer with an Internet connection.