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 […]
Does this Budget $140 AliExpress 10GbE Switch Deserve Your Data? The landscape of 10 Gigabit Ethernet networking has seen a significant shift over the past few years, with hardware that was once considered enterprise-only gradually trickling down to the consumer and prosumer market. Affordable multi-gig switches, particularly those with 2.5G or SFP-only configurations, are now […]
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 […]
Visiting Minisforum’s China Office – What Did I See and Are Minisforum Legit? As part of an extended trip to Shenzhen to explore the operations of Chinese hardware manufacturers, I had the opportunity to tour the headquarters and production facilities of Minisforum. Known primarily for their compact desktop PCs, Minisforum has grown into a recognizable […]
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 […]
Are Chinese DIY NAS Devices Worth Your Time, Money, and Data? Over the last 2 years, I have discussed at length multiple different Chinese-built NAS solutions in one form or another. From DIY NAS motherboards from brands like Topton and CWWK to pre-built solutions arriving both with and without NAS software from brands like Ugreen, […]
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 […]
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 […]
A Guide to the Best 4-Bay NAS Drives to Buy Right Now For professionals moving from cloud storage to private servers, 4-Bay NAS devices have become the go-to choice in 2024. Offering large storage capacities of up to 24TB per drive and enhanced redundancy for data protection, these systems stand out for their reliable hardware […]
The Best M.2 SSD NAS of the Year As we close out 2024 and move into 2025, the evolution of SSD-based NAS systems has been nothing short of remarkable. This year has seen a surge in brands embracing M.2 NVMe and SATA-based SSD systems over traditional hard drives. Today, we highlight the best SSD flash […]
Why NAS Drives are NOT for Everyone – 5 Reasons You Do Not Need a NAS Network Attached Storage (NAS) is often promoted as the ideal solution for data management, offering advantages like local control, redundancy, and flexible access. However, while NAS has many benefits, it is not the right choice for everyone. Depending on […]
You NEED A NAS Drive – And Here Is Why In today’s digital world, data storage plays a crucial role in both personal and professional environments. Many individuals and businesses rely on cloud storage for convenience, but it’s not always the best option. While cloud services provide accessibility and automation, they come with limitations, including […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
UGREEN NASync NAS: One Year Later – The Good, The Bad, and What’s Still Missing? One year ago, UGREEN made waves in the NAS industry by launching its NASync series through a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign, raising $6.6 million from over 13,000 backers. This new line of NAS devices aimed to offer a cost-effective alternative […]
How to Install TrueNAS Scale/Core on a Terramaster NAS If you’re new to private server storage, you’ve probably heard the phrase “everything runs on Linux.” While that’s not entirely true (many other platforms exist with their own foundations), Linux remains the dominant base for much of the software we use daily—including Network Attached Storage (NAS). […]
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 […]
The world of AI is evolving rapidly, and DeepSeek AI is gaining significant attention for its ability to run locally with minimal hardware requirements. However, many users are concerned about data security and privacy when using cloud-based AI solutions. The best way to ensure your AI-powered workflows remain secure is to run DeepSeek AI on […]
In recent weeks, reports have surfaced regarding fraudulent sales of Seagate hard drives, where used enterprise-class HDDs were falsely marketed as new. Customers purchasing these drives, particularly from online retailers, have discovered signs of prior use, including high operating hours hidden within diagnostic metrics. This scandal has raised concerns over supply chain integrity, with many […]