The Synology DS925+ versus Synology DS923+ – Buy OLD or BUY New? Every few years, when Synology chooses to refresh several of its popular devices—updating a number of its hardware features—new buyers and those looking to upgrade have a choice to make. Is it nobler in the mind to purchase the more affordable and already […]
Year: 2025
I Visited UGREEN in China… And Here is Everything I Saw
UGREEN Headquarters in Shenzhen, China – NAS Plans, Company Culture, R&D and More As part of a week-long visit to Shenzhen to better understand the operations behind some of the rising tech brands in China, I arranged a tour of UGREEN’s headquarters. The visit was not sponsored or paid for by UGREEN, nor was I […]
Synology DS1825+ NAS Released (in the East)
Synology DS1825+ NAS Revealed – New 8 Bay NAS on the Block Synology has quietly launched the new DS1825+ NAS, an 8-bay desktop solution aimed at prosumers, creative professionals, and small businesses in need of high-capacity, high-reliability network storage. Replacing the 2020-era DS1821+, this new model has debuted across eastern markets including Taiwan, Japan, China, […]
Synology DS1525+ NAS Released (in the East)
The Synology DS1525+ NAS is Confirmed and Just Overshadowed the DS925+ The Synology DS1525+ NAS represents a significant evolution in the brand’s 5-bay desktop series, bringing forward a more scalable, performance-focused solution aimed at both advanced home users and professional environments. Positioned as a more powerful and versatile alternative to the recently launched DS925+, the […]
Synology 2025 NAS Series & 3rd Party Drive Compatibility – What Works, What Doesn’t (Right Now)
Synology 2025 NAS Series 3rd Party Drive Compatibility Tests UPDATED 07-05-25 = Added Unverified HDD and SSD (Migrated) Storage Pool RAID Repair, RAID POOL Expansion and Hot Spare Tests. Right now, the following is what works and what does not (between pre-2025 Series and the 2025 Series that is releasing now): Feature / Function Pre-2025 […]
Synology DS925+ NAS Review
Synology DS925+ NAS Review – Good News, Bad News If you have been looking at making the move away from your cloud service provider to gain better ownership of your data, or are looking to upgrade your existing network storage system to something a tad more modern, chances are that Synology and the new DS925+ […]
Minisforum MS-A2 Review – The MS-01 Killer?
Minisforum MS-A2 PC Review The Minisforum MS-A2 is the latest entry in Minisforum’s growing lineup of workstation-focused mini PCs. First shown at CES 2025, the MS-A2 builds on ideas introduced in earlier models like the MS01 and MS-A1 but shifts toward an AMD platform, offering users a choice between two high-end Ryzen 9 CPUs. Rather […]
UniFi UNAS Pro – SIX MONTHS LATER
UniFi UNAS Pro: 6 Months On — A Measured Look at Ubiquiti’s First NAS Six months since its public release in October 2024, the UniFi UNAS Pro has matured modestly but meaningfully. Initially positioned as an affordable $499, 7-bay NAS with integrated 10GbE and 1GbE networking, its appeal centered largely around seamless integration into UniFi […]
Synology vs UGREEN NAS (in 2025)
Synology vs UGREEN NAS – Which One Deserves Your Money and Your Data? In the evolving world of network-attached storage (NAS), users in 2025 are faced with a broader range of choices than ever before. Among the most discussed options in both professional and enthusiast communities are Synology and UGREEN. Synology has been a mainstay […]
Synology DS925+ NAS Released
Synology DS925+ NAS Officially Launches in Eastern Markets – Full Specs and Features Confirmed UPDATE 3rd May 2025: The Synology DS925+ NAS is Now Released, and I have made a YouTube Video Review here, and a written DS925+ NAS here ORIGINAL ARTICLE BELOW: Following early retailer listings and semi-official leaks earlier this year, the Synology […]
Aoostar WTR Max POWERHOUSE NAS (Big Update!)
The Aoostar WTR Max is Coming Soon – And it’s kinda INSANE… Aoostar had formally unveiled the WTR Max, its latest high-performance NAS mini-server platform, around about a month ago, and it has fast become one of the most requested NAS solutions from followers of this website and YouTube channel in a long time! Powered […]
PLEX Price Increases, The Rise of Jellyfin and Now What?
Is This The Beginning of the End of PLEX – Is It Jellyfin Time? After more than a decade of keeping its Lifetime Plex Pass at $119.99, Plex has officially announced a significant price increase—raising the cost to $249.99 starting April 29, 2025. This announcement, delivered through a press release on March 19, also outlined […]
Synology 2025 NAS Hard Drive and SSD Lock In Confirmed – Bye, Bye Seagate and WD
Synology is closing the gap on third-party hard drive support further in 2025 UPDATE 4 – The Synology DS925+ NAS is NOW LIVE, and that means that the extent to which you can use 3rd Party HDDs and SSDs on the 2025 series (at the time of writing) a now alot clearer. As it stands, […]
Synology DS925+ NAS Leaked (AGAIN)
The Synology DS925+ NAS is (STILL) Coming..and Soon UPDATE 3rd May 2025: The Synology DS925+ NAS is Now Released, and I have made a YouTube Video Review here, and a written DS925+ NAS here ORIGINAL ARTICLE BELOW: It is fast becoming the worst-kept secret in the world of network-attached storage, but Synology’s continued plans to […]
Zettlab D6 NAS Review
Zettlab D6 AI NAS Prototype Review – A Glimpse at the Future of Local AI NAS? UPDATE – The Zettlab AI NAS is Now Live on Kickstarter and you can find it HERE, or watch the Review of the D6 Here on YouTube. Alternatively, there is an interview with the creators HERE The Zettlab D6 […]
Buy a NAS Now or Not? – LET’S TALK TARIFFS BABY (sigh)
The U.S. Tariffs and Their Looming Impact on NAS and Storage Tech The United States has recently announced a sweeping set of import tariffs on goods from nearly every major trading partner in the world. This policy shift, driven largely by the country’s growing trade deficits with nations like China, the European Union, Vietnam, and […]
I Visited a Chinese NAS Factory – And Here is What I Saw…
Visiting a NAS Production Facility in Shenzhen, China – The CWWK Factory and Office Tour As part of a broader effort to explore the landscape of Chinese tech manufacturers, I recently visited the facilities of CWWK (ChangWang) in Shenzhen, China. CWWK is best known in enthusiast circles for producing NAS motherboards and compact computing solutions, […]
The Best Travel Routers, SIM-LTE Routers and Pocket Internet Devices (I Personally Recommend)
The Best Travel Routers, SIM/LTE Routers and Gateway Devices I Have Ever Used I think it would be fair to say that in 2025, unless you are travelling within your own country, chances are that you are definitely going to need some kind of internet connection in order to get around when travelling around the […]
CHEAP 10GbE Adapter for Synology DS923+, DS1522+, DS723+, DS1522+ NAS – Should You Buy?
How to Upgrade Your Synology to 10GbE Cheaper with the Xikestor SKN-A113-Mini The XikeStor SKN-A113-Mini is a third-party 10GbE network adapter designed as a budget-friendly alternative to the official Synology E10G22-T1-MINI adapter for select NAS models, including the DS923+, DS723+, DS1522+, and RS422+. While both adapters provide similar networking capabilities, the XikeStor comes at a […]
Synology DS401+ Drive Review
Synology DS401+ Review: A Big Leap in Data Portability Synology has once again redefined innovation with the launch of its latest device, the DS401+, a radical departure from traditional NAS design. Unlike anything in their existing lineup, the DS401+ is a compact, ultra-portable single-bay system that arrives with 8GB of pre-installed storage. While its modest […]