The DNS-343 is a simple to use NAS device that is also easy to set up. It doesn’t offer anything unique, but it's largely well-designed and is a decent option for the tech-savvy and novices alike.

While the lack of sophistication might not appeal to high-end network administrators, it has direct appeal to people who have smaller networks, but still require network sharing or backup facilities.

This expandable 160GB network-attached storage device is great if you don't need individually password-protected shared folders. The included Wi-Fi access point is a bonus, but not a reason to buy the device if you already have a separate Wi-Fi router.

The Western Digital ShareSpace (WDA4NC20000) is fast and comes bundled with two excellent 1TB hard drives, but it suffers from a slightly higher price tag than competing units and has a fragile interior racking system.

The Maxtor Shared Storage II is a useful tool for simple file sharing and a basic backup system as long as you don't need any complicated power-user features.