Asus Launching a Wi-Fi Hard Drive

TheFoot writes "The Register reports that Asus is promising to 'change your perception on data storage'. They're talking up a hard drive enclosure capable of taking any 2.5in ATA-100 hard disk. It also contains an 802.11g adaptor and antenna, plus a pair of wired 10/100Mbps Ethernet ports. US $150 + the price of the hard drive. They've changed my perception--why did data storage just get more expensive?" Now now, this could actually be useful. tempest2i notes that there's a Macworld story as well.

Re:ANd?

[LostCluster]

Blah Blah blah. Tell me more about Linux and gaming.

Linux isn't everything. In fact, this is a situation which makes you wonder if your file server really needs to be running Linux. If all your file server is doing is connecting an HD to your network, then this device can do it in hardware alone.

Encryption?

[Anonymous Coward]

I hope it supports WPA. Ohhh, but imagine the fun of an "open" media drive. RIAA and the MPAA will really hate life.

Overkill?

[LostCluster]

Why does this device need to be both wired and wireless? Most users will use the device either by the wire, or as part of a purely WiFi network... who would use both interfaces? Seems like this device could be cheaper if it came in two different versions, one with the wired ports and the other with the WiFi parts.

Re:Overkill?

[MavEtJu]

Why does this device need to be both wired and wireless?

It's probably cheaper to produce one unit which can do both than to make the two additional units (with all support/documentation/troubleshooting).

Re:How is it better than USB or FireWire?

[LostCluster]

Network storage drives aren't as much about performance as much as simplicity. Afterall, if speed really matters to you, the data should already be local to your PC if possible.

This is just a way to eliminate the needless parts from a low-end simple file server. Who needs to use a full-blown OS for that? Simpler software is often the most secure and faster.

Howz it wireless if it needs to be plugged in?

[gum2me]

Am i the only one who's initial reaction was "it still needs to be plugged into an outlet." It's not as if hard-drives are these hulking eyesores that we all wish we could hide under the kitchen sink.

If their target is the home market, i don't know many people who go around thinking "gee, i wish i could have a hard drive sitting around hidden away, but not inside my computer case."

If its a corporate market, i doubt any company would want their access being cut-off by some employee using a microwave to heat his lunch.

just my thoughts. :)

Useful?

[cmallinson]

I don't think this will be useful for many people. If you have a WIFI network, then I would assume you have a computer on the network that could hold a shareable hard drive, should you wish to have more disk space. Sure, the cool factor is there, but is it very practical?

Re:Make your own network storage device...

[Babbster]

The price for the hardware isn't that bad, as you say. But what about the utility? How would this change my perception of storage? I've been sitting here trying hard to think of a utility for the wireless capability that isn't handled better wired. The only utility I can think of is in an already completely wireless setting where one is too cheap to dedicate a computer to file serving - a situation I would think is pretty rare. Of course, I have a hard time understanding why several computers in a fixed location would be connected via wireless in the first place when going wired is cheaper, faster and more secure. Maybe I'm losing my geekiness.

Re:How is it better than USB or FireWire?

[tftp]

This device is a strange mix of "simple user" mentality with much more advanced "wireless" and "server" concepts. I don't think there is a customer that fits.

A simple, single user stores everything on his own HDD, locally. With modern HDDs starting at 80 GB it is not a surprise. Most users won't fill that HDD in whole usable life of the computer, and they don't need the server.

A little more advanced user has several computers (a family, for example.) They may need a server to store shared files on. But such a setup most definitely involves Ethernet, at least near the router. So they would plug NAS right there, and be done with it. But even this scenario looks contrived, because how many families *need* a common file server?

Businesses really need the server because of multiple employees accessing shared files. But a business needs a real NAS, with RAID and on a UPS, not just a single HDD. It would be stupid otherwise. The server is needed anyway to do other things, such as authentication, mail, DHCP, NAT, etc. This device does not fit anywhere in a business environment (or anywhere else.)

Wow, this thing is amazing

[Pan T. Hose]

With no doubt, this must be the biggest security hole I have seen lately. 802.11g [schneier.com] directly to the hard drive. Bravo. Is this an April Fool's joke posted prematurely or are they really out of their minds thinking that anyone would be so stupid to buy such a hard drive, which is basically asking to be cracked? I find it insulting. I hope script kiddies will [shmoo.com] have [signaltonoise.net] lots [drizzle.com] of [schneier.com] fun [nist.gov].

Re:Make your own network storage device...

[Dok Fenderson]

As far as the wireless goes, I agree. But it also has the wired ethernet adapters on it which would come in handy. If you have a network of mainly older Pentiums or PIIs (they're still out there) that can't really handle a larger internal HDD and don't have USB 2.0 or IEEE 1394 then this would be a decent solution for large, shared storage. Dok

Re:Overkill?

[bonhomme_de_neige]

Why does this device need to be both wired and wireless? Most users will use the device either by the wire, or as part of a purely WiFi network... who would use both interfaces? Seems like this device could be cheaper if it came in two different versions, one with the wired ports and the other with the WiFi parts.

Maybe so you can get the convenience of wireless access for small files, but can wire it up if you need to quickly copy across several dozen gb?

Don't bitch

[AvantLegion]

Just because you don't have a use for it, doesn't mean that nobody does.

Re:Could be useful for...

[cgenman]

Area storage! I would imagine that walking around a physical building and having file sharing available for the location you are at would be kind of neat. The library could serve up interesting articles, while the student center might have PDF files of paperwork. You should still be able to connect remotely, but for simple Samba it would be great.

slam two pieces of technology, you get crap

[Wellmont]

"they've changed my perception--why did data storage just get more expensive?"

-and complicated (obviously not for the likes of us, but needless to say the likes of us can figure something less expensive and far more useful out.)

I fail to understand why the industry is trying to decentralize the elements of computers and electronics. At the same time it's still just as easy and less expensive to put it in a computer or share a hard drive on the network.

EVEN plugging an existing external hard drive into a computer with wireless capabilities is probably simpler and cheeper.

Re:Make your own network storage device...

[cybergibbons]

Erm, surely you have to put the power in for these half dozen iMacs? You wouldn't get away with half a dozen trailing extension leads in a school, it would have to be done properly. So if you need to put the power in (which is quite a job, and has to conform to regs), then it isn't much more effort to put network cables in. I'd also say that the money you saved using network cards costing 2/3 instead of 20/25 makes it worth it.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:question

[zuzulo]

Of course you could do a software raid with these.

The question is why you would want to. I could maybe see a centralized backup option for your home network or something i guess.

My pet peeve is why they can call it wireless data storage when I am still plugging the dang thing into the wall for power 24x7, so how exactly is it wireless?

Now give me one of these that is powered from the USB port and/or battery option and I am actually interested.

Re:Interesting.. Hide your stuff..

[ziggy_zero]

Pffft. Everybody knows that you should hide it in the A/C duct in your room!