Wireless Hard Drive

foreright · 6 Dec 2009 at 20:06

I have been asked to buy my son a wireless external hard drive for Xmas.
Do they exist or am I being wound up?

95thrifles · 6 Dec 2009 at 20:08

I presume he wants a NAS

foreright · 6 Dec 2009 at 20:12

Thanks for the quick reply, but. He doesnt use a router to use an ethernet cable and is led to beleive that a wireless HD is available, is that not so.

Biz.Kid09 · 6 Dec 2009 at 20:23

I dont think there avaliable as far as i know.
Unless he means the Apple Time Capsule

CBJ · 6 Dec 2009 at 20:26

Unless I've missed some new piece of technology, in order to use a "wireless external hard drive" then you're going to need some kind of wireless networking facility. That means a wireless router or wireless access point on a local network; whether the PC also connects to this wirelessly or uses a wired connection is neither here nor there. There are various options available if this is the kind of thing you're referring to, such as the D-Link DSM-G600 or the Apple Wireless Time Capsule. If there is no network involved, for example, if the PC is connected directly to an ADSL modem, then I'm not aware of any "wireless external hard drive" that fits the description.

Azza · 6 Dec 2009 at 20:35

I don't know of a NAS that connects wirelessly to a network either. Has to be via an ethernet cable.

JonJ678 · 6 Dec 2009 at 20:55

Only option I can think of is a desktop computer masquerading as a NAS, with an ad hoc network between it and the other computer. This would be expensive, slow and unreliable. Any wireless hard drive would be slow and unreliable though, can't see the appeal myself.

foreright · 6 Dec 2009 at 21:08

Thanks for all the replies. I shall contact him and unless I have misundersood his request talk himinto a straight forward USB HD.

Azza · 6 Dec 2009 at 23:35

JonJ678 said:
Only option I can think of is a desktop computer masquerading as a NAS, with an ad hoc network between it and the other computer. This would be expensive, slow and unreliable. Any wireless hard drive would be slow and unreliable though, can't see the appeal myself.

Eh? You can't see the appeal of a NAS? :confused:

foreright said:
Thanks for all the replies. I shall contact him and unless I have misundersood his request talk himinto a straight forward USB HD.

If he only has a laptop / desktop then there is no point in one, just get him a normal external hard drive with usb/esata.

horseunderwater · 7 Dec 2009 at 06:45

Wireless

the are available verbatim do one ther are other companys im sure (would post a google link but it contains competiores)

horseunderwater · 7 Dec 2009 at 06:45

ohh and they seem very expensive for what they are

CBJ · 7 Dec 2009 at 11:15

If you mean the Verbatim MediaStation Wireless, it uses a wireless LAN connection just like the other hardware I mentioned above.

I have to say that I agree with those who don't see the point of a wireless NAS. I'd have thought you'd be better off with a standard USB drive connected to wireless router that has a USB port, or a NAS server connected to your router by a wired connection. The former would be much cheaper and the latter slightly so, and the latter would also be less prone to performance or connectivity problems.

foreright · 7 Dec 2009 at 11:24

I have now found out that it wasn't wireless but a HD connected to a router in another room that can be accessed wirelessly ie. NAS (is that right?)
He wants a 1TB one and I can pic up a
Western Digital My Book World Edition 1TB Home Network Storage for about £100. Is that one OK or are there better ones for the money. Cheers.

CBJ · 7 Dec 2009 at 11:47

I just spotted somewhere selling that for less than £90, but obviously I can't say where. I've not seen anything cheaper in the 1TB range.