Network storage, SSDs, drives, and memory cards, plus how I back up my data.
In my final Synology DiskStation DS413j review, after covering unboxing, setup, and performance, I focus on its multimedia features. These include Video Station, Audio Station, and Photo Station, along with their mobile apps, DS Video, DS Audio, and DS Photo.
The Western Digital My Book Thunderbolt Duo (8TB) retails for S$1,199, steep for an external drive. Its dual Thunderbolt ports let you daisy-chain up to six Duo drives, totalling 48TB, or other devices like monitors, media players, and editing gear.
In this second part of my Synology DiskStation DS413j review, after unboxing and setup earlier, I cover performance, backup, and CloudStation. I tested file transfer speeds with LAN Speed Test, the DS413j running SHR with WD Red drives.
I've been seeded the Synology DiskStation DS413j with three WD Red drives for a three-part review, beginning here with unboxing and setup. Since the DS413j is a four-bay NAS, I popped to Sim Lim Square for a fourth WD Red.
The SanDisk ReadyCache SSD, announced in September 2012, retails for S$78. It's an affordable 32GB 2.5-inch SSD to complement your existing 7,200rpm hard drive. You install it like a drive, and as a 2.5-inch unit it ships with a bracket.
I'm proud that Singapore made the tech news last week with the world's thinnest 2.5-inch hybrid hard drive. Just 5mm thick, it stores 1TB of regular HDD plus 32GB of SSD. The challenge was shrinking the 7mm drive by 30%.
On 10th July 2012, SanDisk announced four new USB flash drives for 2012. Among them, the USB 3.0 SanDisk Extreme transfers, stores, and shares large files up to ten times faster, reaching speeds of up to 190MB/s.
Li Xiang got the Western Digital My Passport (1TB) from Challenger for S$189, or S$159 with member's price. In this new 2012 edition, WD has dropped the 'Essential SE' name, so it's simply My Passport, with USB 3.0 now standard.
I bought the Vantec NexStar SATA/IDE to USB 3.0 Adapter from Challenger for S$59.90, or S$53.91 with member's price. As the name suggests, it converts an internal SATA or PATA drive to USB 3.0 for plug-and-play access.
I got my first SSD, the Kingston HyperX 120GB, from Newegg thanks to Benjamin's cousin in the US. It usually cost US$205, but a US$50 mail-in rebate brought it to US$155. I paid an extra S$25 for shipping.
I bought the D-Link DNS-320 (S$109) and two Western Digital 3.5-inch Caviar Black 1TB drives at S$115 each, at Comex 2011. Despite a bad experience with the DNS-323, I went D-Link again, since this is for my mom's office.
This is my second Transformers USB Flash Memory Drive, after the Tigatron one, this time the Jaguar. Thanks to both Justins from Tech65, Justin Ng and Justin Lee, for this fun little gadget to add to my growing collection.
I got the Eye-Fi Pro X2 8GB from Amazon for US$91.49, alongside my Cocoon Grid-It, with shipping totalling US$21.46. The Eye-Fi isn't officially sold in Singapore, so you must buy from overseas resellers or Amazon, where it works out cheaper.
Hooted the Western Digital My Passport Essential SE 1TB with USB 3.0 from SITEX 2010 for S$189.90, down from S$209.90. It's my first USB 3.0 device despite owning no computer that supports it yet, purely for future-proofing.
Thanks to both Justins from Tech65, Justin Ng and Justin Lee, for this fun little gadget, the Transformers Tigatron USB Flash Memory Drive. A nice collectible that doubles as portable storage, and a generous gift from the duo.
While I was in Vietnam over the weekend, my brother kindly grabbed the Western Digital Elements Desktop 1TB drive from Bizgram's stall at Comex 2010. I'll use it for Time Machine backups of my MacBook Pro, alongside their portable range.
When I posted photos from Iomega's first blogging event, many assumed Iomega was dead after the Zip drive lost out to USB flash drives. In fact EMC, a Fortune 500 data-storage giant, bought them for US$213 million, so they're back.
After a week and a follow-up email, D-Link replied. The normal repair is US$61, but out of goodwill they offered 30% off, bringing it to US$42, so I'll repair it and get a Synology DiskStation DS210j too.
I bought my D-Link DNS-323 at Comex 2008 on 1st September, and three days ago it died, just a year and three months on, after its one-year warranty lapsed. Argh! I wrote to D-Link anyway to try my luck.
My D-Link DNS-323 died two days ago, so I needed temporary storage to transfer its data. My computer lacked space and my old 300GB external runs on slow IDE, so I bought the Western Digital My Book Essential 1TB.
Comex 2008 ran at Suntec City Convention Centre from 28th to 31st August. I hooted plenty, including Canon colour and black ink for my mom's MX700 printer, plus a D-Link DNS-323 and a Wall-E pickup for myself.