NAS devices are designed to store files over a network so files can be accessed by other computers attached to that network. Although NAS devices have some benefits, they also have a few characteristic flaws that I’d like to discuss in this article. I believe NAS devices should be a thing of the past. There are other storage solutions that make accessing files across multiple devices a whole lot easier and more affordable.
NAS Downsides & Limitations
NAS devices can be very expensive. A typical NAS device will typically run you $300 or more, with the best costing upwards of $1000. The main purpose of an NAS device is storage over a network, and there are many other ways to achieve that goal.
Another downside to using a NAS device to access your media is that it’s a time-consuming setup and integration process. Apps for streaming from your NAS (like Plex) can be incredibly difficult to setup and calibrate. Furthermore, all the files you want stored on that server must be transferred or uploaded onto it in order to be accessed; a feat that – depending on the number of files that need to be migrated – can be more time consuming than the actual setup.
And, finally, NAS devices aren’t wireless. The fact that they require a power source to work and aren’t portable is a limitation that cuts their usability down quite a bit.
“No Need for NAS” about the way to link all your devices/hard drives and avoid buying an expensive NAS server
