Stories by James Hutchinson

Synology DiskStation DS209+II NAS device

Synology's DiskStation DS209+II network-attached storage (NAS) device provides up to 4TB of storage over two hard drives. The lack of hot-swapping and volume encryption features are disappointing, but fast file transfers and easy-to-use media streaming make this an appealing option for the home.

Seagate BlackArmor WS 110 (2TB) DAS device

Seagate calls its BlackArmor WS 110 a direct-attached storage (DAS) device, but in most respects it's a fairly standard external hard drive. Aimed at businesses looking to back up individual computers, the BlackArmor WS 110 provides AES 256-bit hardware encryption, extremely fast transfer speeds and comprehensive backup software.

LaCie Rikiki (500GB) portable hard drive

LaCie's latest portable hard drive, the Rikiki, isn't named after the monkey from <i>The Lion King</i>. According to the company, Rikiki means "tiny" in French, and the name is certainly appropriate.

QNAP TS-659 Pro Turbo NAS device

QNAP's TS-659 Pro Turbo NAS packs six drive bays and up to 12 terabytes of storage into a compact, energy-efficient box. Armed with Intel's Atom D510 processor and QNAP's latest firmware, this network-attached storage (NAS) device is a competent server, though its speed is disappointing.

Western Digital My Book 3.0 (1TB) external hard drive

Western Digital's My Book 3.0 is its first external hard drive with a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface, making it one of the fastest direct-attached storage devices around. The benefits of the interface are certainly noticeable, though the premium price will deter early adopters.

QNAP TS-459 Pro Turbo NAS device

QNAP's latest network-attached storage (NAS) devices might not look much different from their predecessors, but there's a lot more power packed underneath the hood. Armed with Intel's latest dual-core Atom processor, the TS-459 Pro Turbo is blazingly fast for a four-bay NAS device and QNAP's latest firmware means it's a competent server for the home and office.

Synology DiskStation DS509+ NAS device

Synology's DiskStation DS509+ is a great value network-attached storage (NAS) device with five drive bays &#8212; letting you store up to 10 terabytes of data, though you'll have to supply your own drives. It offers fast file transfers and a wealth of security and business-focussed features, making the DiskStation DS509+ NAS worthwhile for small to medium businesses.

HP LaserJet P2035n monochrome laser printer

HP's LaserJet P2035n monochrome laser printer is quick and it lets you print using custom media. However, the cost of its consumables and the lack of automatic duplexing make the asking price unreasonable.

The best audio tech at Winter NAMM 2010

NAMM is one of the biggest music trade shows around, showcasing everything from high-tech DJ equipment to the latest piano accordion fashions. Winter NAMM 2010 was held January 14 to 17 at the Anaheim Convention Center, California.

Edimax nLite Wireless 3G Broadband Router (3G-6200n)

Routers with 802.11n wireless technology are getting cheaper all the time, but you’d still expect to flesh out over $200 for anything decent. While Edimax's nLite Wireless 3G Broadband Router (3G-6200n) may not be a full 802.11n Wi-Fi device, it can distribute both mobile broadband (3G) and cable/ADSL connections over a comparable distance to proper 802.11n routers, and at a usable speed.

Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II A3+ inkjet photo printer

Amateur shutterbugs will find plenty to like with the Canon PIXMA Pro9000 Mark II inkjet photo printer, including great output, A3+ media support and dye-based consumables for printing on glossy media. Unfortunately, the lack of colour configuration options and an inability to use some heavy stock will deter professionals.

Brother HL-3070CW colour LED printer

The Brother HL-3070CW colour printer is one of the company’s first to use LED technology. Competing with entry-level colour laser printers, the HL-3070CW is reasonably quick and it's easy to set up.

Apple iMac 21.5in (Late 2009)

Apple's refreshed iMac desktop computer is cheaper but more powerful than its predecessor, and it features a more vibrant display. If you're still a Windows user or have an older Mac, the latest iMac is certainly tempting. However, we weren't impressed by the new Magic Mouse, which is bundled with the iMac.

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