seemingly endless gigabits of digital music, video and other data filling up our computers, Other World Computing’s NASPerform fast 10/100BT Ethernet/USB 2.0 Network Attached Storage Solution offers a streamlined, practical storage solution for home or business networks. With a data storage capacity of up to 750GB, it connects to wired or wireless networks for file storage and sharing among multiple network users.

lution offers a streamlined, practical storage solution for home or business networks. With a data storage capacity of up to 750GB, it connects to wired or wireless networks for file storage and sharing among multiple network users.

With four users in the Sellers household, we’ve found the NASPerform a handy device for sharing photos, music, movies, and other data (it can handle up to 20 other network users). It works just like a hard drive. You point and click, and drag and drop files you wish to access, all without having to fiddle around with TCP/IP settings or forking out for an expensive server. The NASPerform doesn’t use IP Addressing and doesn’t run TCP/IP.

NASPerform connects directly to any wired or wireless Ethernet network switch or router and comes complete with Ethernet and USB 2.0 connecting cables. You can assign read/write privileges to each network user to prevent unwanted deletion or modification of data. NASPerform’s technology also protects data from external Internet security intrusions.

Set-up takes a bit, but if you follow the instructions it’s not difficult. The OWC NASPerform utilizes NDAS technology, which is why you can connect it directly to a network without a server. NASPerform can be used with a variety of applications.

image Set-up takes a bit, but if you follow the instructions it’s not difficult. The OWC NASPerform utilizes NDAS technology, which is why you can connect it directly to a network without a server. NASPerform can be used with a variety of applications.

In USB 2.0 Mode, your NASPerform is directly attached to a Mac or PC USB 2.0 port. This is the first step to prepare and format the hard drive before you can connect your NASPerform into the network. When the enclosure is connected to the computer USB port using the included USB cable, your Mac will recognize it automatically and mount the drive to your desktop. If the hard drive isn’t initialized yet (mine was), you’ll have to do so.

In Network Mode, your NASPerform is directly attached to a 100 Mbps/Full Duplex Fast Ethernet Switch, Internet Router or Wireless Access Point. Each user on the network can use your NASPerform as if it was a local disk drive.

If you’re using it with multiple Macs, you’ll need to install the same NASPerform driver on each machine. Write access is assigned to one computer at a time and is passed manually from one computer to another.

Once the installation process was finished, it worked seamlessly in the Sellers household. Admittedly, we’re all Mac users so I can’t attest to its ease-of-use or lack thereof in a Windows or mixed OS environment.

I didn’t notice any “hit” to our wireless network performance, although our network just has four users (not the 20 max). For us, it was no big deal, but only one Mac is allowed to write to the NASPerform at a time, and all the rest of computers need to be mounted as Read-Only first.

Why? This is to prevent data corruption, according to the folks at OWC. You should assign Read/Write only to the single Mac computer which uploads (write) to the NASPerform most often. The rest of computers can download (Read) only. If other computer needs to upload, you should pass the write access permission manually. Never force the taking of write access without being accepted by other computers first.

image Why? This is to prevent data corruption, according to the folks at OWC. You should assign Read/Write only to the single Mac computer which uploads (write) to the NASPerform most often. The rest of computers can download (Read) only. If other computer needs to upload, please pass the write access permission manually. Never force to take write access without being accepted by other computers first.

Though it’s designed for network usage, with its built-in USB 2.0 port, NASPerform can also be used as a portable external hard drive for personal file storage. I also gave this a whirl, and the OWC worked flawlessly. As an added bonus, the NASPerform’s black case fits in just fine with Apple’s new aluminum-and-glass iMacs.

OWC has another winner with the NASPerform. If you need a “reasonably priced, reasonably easy to set up network storage device,” this baby offers a giant hard drive accessible to any computer on the network. The NASPerform is available in five pre-configured 7200RPM solutions, from 250GB to 750GB, with prices starting at US$127.99. A 0GB “add your own drive” enclosure is also for $59.99.

The NASPerform works with Macs running Mac OS X 10.2.8 or higher.

Macsimum rating: 8 out of 10