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"The management and services software is an excellent added value for Synology DiskStation DS409. There is no storage-related application that it can not deal with."

"It's rare to see such a product that can simplify the life of heavy-data users so well."

"Simplicity in RAID configuration, a pair of silent fans, and the Rapidshare support together make the Synology DS409 a perfect gift that those power users would rather to buy one for themselves."

"The AJAX-based system management UI is very intuitive and makes it easy to manage. For users who have no experience using a NAS, it's pretty convenient."

"It has complete features. Overall, it's a quality NAS solution for data storage and multimedia sharing in personal use and home environment."

"Synology has very positively surprised us in the past year with high quality, innovative NAS servers."

"The testing result shows that Synology has by far the best performance. The server-wise applications are superb and easy to use, and the ventilation design is essentially great!"

"It scores 5 out of 5 stars (QNAP 2nd with 4,5 stars), and you can see the rest there ...a lot lower."

"The security functions and the eSATA interface are the best characteristics."

"The management software DSM 2.2 is accessible via web interface and provides user with very advanced applications and features."

"The minimal design and white outlook makes it awfully attractive. I was surprised by how quiet it turns out to be when compared with others in the market."

"Design, construction and characteristics get together so as to create a high quality product."

"Synology DS409 is a very attractive product... With its fast, simple and intuitive management interface, Disk Station Manager, it is very useful for corporate, office and workgroup users to share data remotely in a quick, easy and intuitive way. The provided applications, including Download Station, Surveillance Station and FTP server, etc, make it a comprehensive product with excellent processing power..."

"Maximopc.org reported that they are currently using DS409 in their office, which is really a very useful product for workgroup."

"Do you get scared when you hear the word 'Web interface'? Relax, this is where Synology DS109 shines!"

"It works on Mac OS X without hassle."

"It is fast and can easily connect to an Airport Extreme."

"If you prefer to build up a NAS solution yourself, we can hardly recommend the Disk Station DS209+II. Actually, the whole package of this Synology Disk Station is just right: super complete, an excellent web interface, and top performance."

Considering the speedy performance and great features in its software, the editor gave Synology DS509+ a score of 4.5 out of 5 with the Top 1 NAS honor.

"It would be an asset for anyone wanting to put a NAS in an office with cramped quarters."

"All in all, the DS409slim is a solid NAS that offers plenty of punch in a uniquely small package."

"It's small in size, quiet in operation with powerful features."

"Good connectivity to expand its storage and capacity."

"The definitive NAS."

"We can say that we are in front of a really complete product. It offers so huge amount of services and possibilities that it is able to adapt itself to almost all necessities."

"It's small in size, but what there is, is good!"

"There's lot more than just storage."

"Easy to use interface."

"Use the iTunes server and let it stream your music in your network."

"Turn it into the full-featured surveillance system."

"[W]hat do I think about the DS410j? Hardware-wise, I find it to have excellent build quality. Horsepower-wise, it is adequate for what it is intended to do. It won't make your electric bill go up, much."

"Software-wise, there is an excellent feature set to be had. ..Media-wise, I found the DS410j quite capable. Transcoding for DLNA codecs did not seem to cause the DS410j to slow down or stutter."

"If you run a small office and need a medium to serve as a file, print or mail server, look no further than the DS209. The unit comes with all the applications to handle the mentioned tasks. And what makes this unit more attractive than others is its ease to setup. Even the greenest novice can setup the unit using its simple to read guides."

"NAS server installed with 2.5" hard drives is a very interesting idea, as these hard drives are quieter, cooler and with less power consumption. You can put them into the smaller-sized Synology DS409slim, which can even be placed in the living room, thanks to its very low noise."

"Installation of a NAS server is not easy in general. However, we can really catch our breath in this case for its extremely easy process that is driven by the AJAX technology."

"Synology DS409slim is small, fast, quiet, green and very easy to operate."

"This is magnificent! It's simple, but I can always find nice new features each time I log in to the system. I wonder if the feature list is endless? Maybe not, but it proves that Synology engineers have tried everything to explore more possibilities!"

"Anyone looking for a capable NAS server can have great fun with Synology DS409slim. Its intuitive interface and high throughput make Synology DS409slim an absolute must."

"Synology DS409slim offers everything an attractive NAS server can have today: storage with server functionality (HTTP, FTP, iTunes, etc.) and excellent backup (USBCopy and Data Replicator 3) options. "

"Synology DS409slim is an excellent choice for entry-level users who want to get familiar with the many capabilities of a NAS server."

"The Synology DSM 2.2 software is spectacular, simple-to-use, and in perfect Spanish."

"Synology has done its work. The temperature records never exceed 41°C. Besides, if we average that of the hard drives, it is 38.2°C. So we think there is no chance for crash down due to overheating."

"A very comprehensive and compact product."

"The Synology DS209 seduced us in every way. This NAS offers excellent cost-performance rates, a wide range of functions, and a more convenient and complete user interface."

"In addition to being successfully aesthetic, it is also silent. The fan is virtually inaudible."

"Synology DS409slim is a truly unique device. It has almost all the capabilities of their 'big' brothers, but at the same time takes up very little space and consumes almost no electricity."

"The DS209 is a great-looking NAS for sharing files across the network...It has everything possible you can imagine."

"DS audio and DS photo work very well without a glitch."

"The casing can easily slide apart, and the hard drives can be easily installed."

"I absolutely love this device! ...In our opinion it is worth every penny especially when you think about all of the different uses and options that you have at hand. With Christmas just a few months away this would be a great time to start dropping hints to family members or loved ones telling them this is what you want..."

"[I]t was still usable for basic server storage. It also offers a nice NAS server compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as a wide array of SMB-oriented features..."

"The addition of iSCSI target support finally removes a competitive disadvantage for business buyers. And the iPhone / iTouch remote photo and music access is sure to please owners of those popular toys, uh, tools."

"The review of DS109 surprised me with its complete BT and eMule download feature, well-designed privilege and user quota management, sophisticated firewall, efficient file management interface, rich third-party applications and integrated printer server."

"Synology Disk Station DS109 is much more than a NAS...Synology development team has demonstrated a skill rarely seen and taken care of things one hundred percent, which made us think they are real Linux gurus."

"DS209+II is the strongest NAS on the market in terms of performance and functions, especially after upgrading to DSM 2.2."

"With its perfect localization, intuitive interface, high efficiency and great functionality, we recommend Synology DS209+II."

"DS508...is professionally localized. The user interface is clear, informative, efficient and never hanging."

"DS508 is an interesting device equipped with many interesting features."

"Synology DS109 is a NAS based on Freescale processor, which in effect provides very good performance, high energy efficiency and an array of additional functionality."

"All in all, DS109 is a satisfying device that takes good care of your data, giving you a peace of mind."

"The power consumption is extremely low – it's only 2W from Marvell 88F6281, while other energy is consumed by the hard disks. Equipped with 2 250GB hard drives, it consumed 30W in total, and it should do around 50W when equipped with 4 hard drives. We have to say the power factor is really low."

"Function-wise speaking, Synology has done everything. Adding the RAID 5/RAID 6 that can be achieved with 4 hard drive slots, DS409 made a security level that the 2-bay product can't compare with."

"The satisfying cost-performance of DS409 makes it suitable for home users that look beyond performance for capacity and data security."

"DS209 might not belong to the cheapest in the NAS category, but for this price you get high performance and assorted features. With consideration of these services, it is really worth the money."

"[I]t's small, quiet and offers a lot of features that help users enjoy their content from home or the Internet. With up to 4TB of storage availability, it is an intriguing appliance to have."

"Synology DS409slim is a device designed for small businesses and advanced home users. It has a very good performance with 1.2GHZ processor and 128MB memory. DS409slim has an administrative menu that is very clear and easy to operate even for the users not experienced with NAS devices."

"If you want to experience the performance of Synology DS409slim..., we absolutely recommend buying this device. Easy configuration, efficiency and versatility are the main advantages."

"Synology DS409+ particularly addresses to those who have sufficient budgets and emphasize on security and performance."

"For users who don't require a set of RAID 5, Synology DS209+II presents an excellent solution. The design of low noise level makes it perfect placing at any place, and the performance is very good, too."

"It's a very good NAS with high configuration flexibility and a perfect interaction with Mac. It also has a lot of Spanish documentation, and an impeccable interface that works perfectly well with Safari."

"Really a great product that has behaved perfectly in the tests and that offers a wide range of possibilities both for home users and for SMB users."

"Compared to PCs, this Synology equipment is a relatively economic, scalable, and silent choice that combines various functionalities inside a compact network device."

"A very interesting charm of DS409slim is its compatibility with solid-state disks, which obtains a even more moderate power consumption."

"The application ranges widely and includes IP camera compatibility for video surveillance, intranet printer sharing, and webpage hosting."

"DS509+ offers very good performance and high storage capacity. In addition, you can use expansion unit DX5 to double the capacity, so it is up to ten hot-swap disks you can make use of, without investment on another server. This scalability satisfies even the most demanding customers - and at a very reasonable cost."

"Four words for this product: small, quiet, fast, and reliable!"

"It's charged with lots of services and can be super-charged with even more!"

"The product includes the widely recognized software DiskStation Manager 2.2... In this kind of device, the software is an essential component, which makes the difference between a really useful NAS and a simple hard drive connected to the network. Fortunately, Synology is doing excellently in the software part."

"Apart from the classic functions of a NAS, DiskStation DS409 can do much more thanks to the advanced applications, including the iTunes and DLNA support."

"..a MySQL-and PHP-enabled web server, which you can use to run within an intranet or use as a test server, rather than hosting it on one of your team's Macs."

"Audio and photos can also be shared to an iPhone or iPod touch if you download the free companion apps from the App Store."

"Simply complete the setup and you’ll find a mini computer."

"Synology, however, has given users a chance to do some power management, shutting the unit off at a predetermined hour and spinning the drives down after as little as 10 minutes of inactivity."

"In the "hard to quantify" department, its impressively compact form also inspires a bit of gadget lust that's notably absent when looking at the full-sized unit."

"The overall performance of Synology DS209 is second to none. Its comprehensive web features and intuitive management interface are convenient to use...Synology DS209 has more advantages when compared with other NAS. For small office and SOHO users, it's definitely worth buying."

"There are all kinds of uses for the RS409. Running a web site, FTP site, blog or forum in-house, sharing your iTunes library, an entry level file server, backup server, etc."

"If you want network storage but aren't ready to lay out a few thousand dollars or if you want some additional storage that your small business server doesn't have then you should check out this product."

"Compact, strong, and efficient, this new Synology NAS has undertaken a diet so as to take the least space possible while preserving all the functionalities that make up for the success of the brand."

"Owing to the diversity of functions in the web-based interface Disk Station Manager 2.2 beta, it can be concluded that Synology will again raise the bar of software quality, with which you can customize virtually all features, even including those people have never thought of."

"The flexibility, coupled with an impressive array of additional programs, make Synology products very, very attractive in the eyes of potential buyers and increase its technological lead over its competitors."

"DS109 is one of the best products reviewed on our website in ten years. The firmware is AJAX-based and is wonderful!"

"It is simple to use, robust, innovative, fast, reliable and amazingly flexible to work with different kind of devices such as printers, UPS, USB speakers, IP Cameras, DLNA (UPnP) devices, etc."

"Don't let its small dimensions fool you—it's still a full-featured NAS and one that we'd gladly pay good money for."

"The transfer rate is pretty good and further increases the attractiveness of the device. In our tests, the average speed was 42MB/s in Windows network while 78MB/s via FTP. These results shall please most demanding users."

"DS409 provides a web configuration interface based on the AJAX technology, which is particularly simple and clear."

"Recall that the use of 2.5-inch disks results in a much lower power consumption and noise level. As DS409slim has capacity of 4 bays 2.5-inch disks, one of the strengths of this product is the RAID 5 support."

"With Synology's latest firmware, Disk Station Manager 2.2, you get much more out of the NAS. I recommend upgrade the Synology NAS if you have one, as it provides lots of extra features - all for free."

"All in all, it is a great product from Synology that has come to my favorite list of tech gadgets."

"The small device is incredibly quiet. The DSM 2.2 firmware is more stable and adds some very interesting applications. In terms of speed, the device is faster than the other NAS I’ve checked so far."

"This network storage performed very well in PCtipp test. We gave the highest scores in terms of its size, performance, application, and system operation."

"If you want a NAS device that does much more than simply provide network storage, the DS409slim comes highly recommended. With a seemingly endless feature list, it's an incredibly versatile device."

"Only those who have never owned a NAS server will doubt their usefulness."

"Other interesting innovations of DS409 include uploading photos to the NAS from an iPhone or iPod or playing music on the Apple hardware. The new firmware also introduces the mobile version of Photo Station and File Station, users can access photos and files on the NAS via an iPhone or a Smartphone equipped with Windows Mobile or Symbian OS."

"Business customers will be interested in iSCSI support, which allows a network attached storage to be used as direct attached storage and enhances the performance."

"In summary, we are simply highly pleased with the DS209+II, both in terms of performance and functionality."

The editor cited comments of Edward Lin, marketing director of Synology, "The escalation of digital information leads to a huge demand for storage and backup solutions appealing to easy-to-use interfaces, scalability, and reliability. If resellers are familiar with and able to sell these solutions, they will definitely grow in revenue."

"There are reasons Synology DS409+ was chosen as the winner of this comparative test. It functions smoothly as a Time-Machine backup server, achieves data transfer rates higher than the competitors, and comes with an attractive price-performance ratio. As if this isn't enough, Synology offers an iPhone application that allows music streaming from the NAS directly to the iPhone. iPhone music synchronization isn't needed anymore."

"One explanation for the high price might be that it is FULLY packed with features! As a matter of fact, it's got everything a NAS server could probably have!"

"Synology DS409slim - Four 2.5-inch hard drives build up the compact NAS, which offers a lot more than just the CIFS sharing."

"The functionalities offered are impressive and the interface is very user friendly."

"A myriad of features at a price impossible to refuse."

"Synology DS409slim is a versatile, compact device you can place on your desk with no risk of harming the esthetics of your workspace."

"The 2.5" hard drive implementation enables DS409slim to feature on compact size, lower power consumption, lower working temperature, and less noise(only one fan inside)."

"The server also runs as a multimedia files centre. It works with iPod and iPhone devices as well as supports iTunes and UPnP to stream data to TV or Audio sets. You can also use your Disk Station with Play Station 3 and Xbox360."

"It's a specification that isn't far off what many people use as a Linux server at home, and it's a lot more power efficient than most home servers, drawing around 14W in spun-down power-saving mode."

"But the best thing about it is that it enables regular desktop users to configure their NAS like a server pro."

"The best thing about DS209+II is that you're not making a compromise by replacing an old Linux server with a NAS box. In the four weeks we've been running this box, and despite the numerous third-party applications we've installed, there have been no stability issues."

"The Synology DiskStation has won our hearts with its network efficiency and user friendliness."

"For a moderate price you will get a device that can share pictures, movies and music files with other computers at home. It can also share USB printers or perform automatic backup for files on PCs in the network."

"The latest DSM 2.2 firmware provides a new 'Resource Monitor' feature, where users can monitor the CPU, memory, network, and volume usage."

"Performance-wise speaking, testing results from DIYzone shows DS409+ can reach 70.31MB/s and 74.64MB/s in SAMBA and FTP writing. It's faster than DS209+II."

"We've reviewed a fair number of network attached storage (NAS) boxes over the past year, but none has really made us go "Wow!" The way the Synology Disk Station DS409slim has."

"[T]he DS409slim's also powered by Synology's excellent Ajax-based Disk Station Manager, which is the best NAS management interface we've seen bar none."

"The Synology Disk Station DS409slim is an excellent choice for small to midrange organizations looking for a fully featured NAS that takes up very little energy and even less space."

"DS409slim really gave me a lot of surprises, such as fully featured BT, eMule download, complete user rights management, users' capacity quota management, diverse RAID management, including RAID 5/6, that is crucial for data protection, efficient file management interface, rich third-party applications and Add Printer Wizard, etc. In a word, the DS409slim is compact and fully featured."

"We see the major benefits the Synology DS109j offers – it is really interesting for any home user looking for a product of its kind at a reasonable cost."

"The great attractions we have experienced are photos, videos, and music sharing, data backup, and eMule download. It also allows website hosting and webpage publishing through Web Station, which is extremely interesting as you can fully control your websites."

"The installation is very simple and requires no advanced knowledge thanks to the overall management of the system through Disk Station Manager's intuitive interface."

"The power (with stronger CPU and more RAM) under the hood of the DS209+II is very good. The additional computing power will not only accelerate the transfer rate of data, but also confirm the suitability of the DS209+II as an application server."

"Especially with the new iSCSI feature in the DSM 2.2 firmware, it becomes clear that the current generation NAS server offers more than the once-ridiculed network hard drive."

"There are lots of practical features waiting for users in the localized user interface, while the green hands can use the wizards for the basic settings."

"The feature menu is well-structured so everything is at hand when it's needed, and it would be possible to write a full book about the abundance of services."

"The DS409slim is also ideal for workgroup use, with plenty of useful options such as the ability to specify how much space each user should be allocated."

"Meanwhile, IT managers looking to reduce their department's carbon footprint will be pleased to hear that the device can run to a schedule, for example automatically powering down outside office hours. Furthermore, the 2.5in drives mean that it's very light on power consumption; we measured just 12W when idle, rising to around 18W when the disks were in use."

"If I had to choose one word to describe my experience with the Synology Disk Station DS409slim NAS, it would be superb."

"With a small footprint, low power consumption, almost silent operation, and fantastic firmware that includes a bundle of great applications it will take a lot of effort for me to change my NAS product of choice."

"[T]he options are quite comprehensive and cover everything from shared folder creation to backup settings to how to manage peripheral devices attached to the DS409slim...Synology has grouped them logically and in a clear fashion."

"A consumer or low-end business environment would be the best home for the Synology DS409slim both from price and performance standpoints although it could have a place in a startup midsized business."

"The DS409+ aced all of our synthetic and real-world file-transfer tests, making it one of the speediest NAS devices we've seen--and noticeably faster than any of the consumer-level (i.e., home user) NAS devices we've tested."

"Businesses and advanced home users alike will appreciate the DS409+'s security features meant to keep local and remote networked connections secure, as well as a variety of server backup options."

"The bottom line is that if your small business or networked home needs centralized and remotely accessible storage, the DS409+ with its fast data transfer speeds, robust security, and advanced features should more than meet your needs."

"The built-in software management is impressive. Making accounts for various individuals near and far was effortless, and it was easy to assign them sharing privileges."

"For businesses, hosting a website locally offers a distinct advantage as far as accessibility and savings...File sharing is easily configurable for cross-platform accessibility, with password-protected access for users. Secure web and FTP access are included and comprehensive...In short, you can share the files with your employees, customers and internet browsers need quickly, securely and efficiently."

"Deservedly considered a leader of the Network Attached Storage market, Synology offers top-quality, high-performance and functional products."

"The maximum read and write speeds are 79MBps and 84MBps. The DS509+ is somewhat better than the Atom-based NAS we have tested earlier."

"The DS509+ from Synology is one of the best SOHO-class Network Attached Storage devices available today."

"Synology is one of the first manufacturers that turned away from the bleak HTML and used AJAX instead to design the browser administration."

"The highlights of the latest Synology firmware are the add-on mail server (POP3/IMAP) and the eMule client. Most other NAS manufacturers have not offered those services yet."

Considering its powerful yet easy-to-use data-backup features, the editor thinks Data Replicator is one of the easiest, simplest, and most sensibly designed data-backup program he ever worked with and recommends the Synology DS209j for home use.

"Measuring just 120x105x142mm, it occupies less than a quarter of the desk space of its bigger brother, the DS409."

"[T]his is one of the quietest NAS devices we've seen."

"If size, noise and power consumption are the critical factors, it's a hands-down winner."

"DS109 adjusts its fan speed when installed with a 2.5" hard drive, which in practice means that it simply will not run unless it is really necessary. That is the most important reason why this setup consumes less energy."

"[T]he DS109 is a top performer in its range. With the 1.2 GHz processor, Gigabit Ethernet, and Windows Active Directory support, it is a product for the demanding home users and small business users."

"In short, the DS209j is ideal for those who wish to store data in home network or small business. It's perfect for sharing music (compatible with the iTunes library), photo, and video files, not to mention some interesting applications such as hosting websites or downloading."

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"Synology DS409slim provides a very good speed – up to 37MB/sec, and clearly, it is not the limit. With faster 2.5" hard drives, the NAS would be able to compete with its 3.5" counterparts."

"DS409slim is very suitable for data storage and backup, downloading files, and serving as a media server. It can be even more interesting than the 3.5" NAS."

"The DS409slim will cost you more per Gigabyte than a similarly stocked 3.5in model, but offers excellent environmental characteristics – notably low noise and reduced power consumption."

"[W]hen it comes to features and performance, the DS409Slim makes no compromise."

"[I]t's hard to beat in terms of functionality or ease of use. Performance was pretty impressive in our tests too, with file read/write speeds close to what you would expect from an internal disk but over the network."

"One of the stronger points of Synology DS409slim is the integrated Downloads Station, which functions independently from the computer."

"DS209+II is shipped with Synology Disk Station Manager 2.1 software, which is built on AJAX technology, providing gorgeous and user-friendly UI, and fast response."

"The latest firmware version, Disk Station Manager 2.1 is completely AJAX-based, available in Dutch interfaces, and very user friendly."

"The DS209…leave nothing to be desired. You can easily share files and folders. There are FTP server, File Station that offers access via the web browser, and Photo Station — an attractive way for publishing photos on the NAS."

In the "network and storage" category of Swiss IT Resellers' Ideal Manufactures Award, the overall scores are very close. Synology scored 7.51, surpassing HP.

"Combining intuitive interfaces, high performance, and rich features, it is far beyond the average products. You can buy a much cheaper 2-bay alternative. However, after examining the possibilities offered by Synology DS209+II, you can say that its price is well justified. Recommended!"

"The Synology DS409slim is the most comprehensive NAS I have seen so far. It is ideal for computer labs, homes with multiple computers, and small companies."

"This NAS is a nice ready-made product, especially for users with less time and network knowledge. Therefore, we give it Techzine "Must Have" award."

"For the small office users and professional users, such functionality, storage capacity, low power consumption, and small footprint will well fit their needs."

"The unit is beautifully designed and is quiet as a mouse. Unlike other NAS units which have to be put away, this one can be proudly displayed anywhere in your home, including the living room."

"The DS409slim has quality beyond doubt and convinces with its compact design and pleasantly quiet operation...The two USB and eSATA ports on DS409slim are also perfectly adequate for the average users."

"Synology's Photo Station 3 can be used to play video...Even the included desktop applications look a bit more modern. With additional USB speakers and a separately purchasable remote control (Synology Remote), the DS409slim can stream internet radio stations or play MP3 music."

Synology DS209+ was used by the editor as an example of ideal NAS solution for its adequate features as an audio server, DLNA UPnP support and capability to stream iTunes and Squeezebox. Besides, it has the RAID function which makes it possible to accommodate two hard disks and protect the stored data.

"A NAS server which is ideal for home users, small offices and SMBs, and is compatible with any operating system, providing FTP server, Download Station 2, Web Station with built-in PHP and MySQL, and a wide range of multimedia features."

"Hardware wise the Synology DS409slim is attractive due to its small size. The fact that Synology is one of the brands with the most attractive and easiest interface helps a lot, too."

"It also has the best NAS web interface I've ever seen, and it has all the service bells and whistles such as iTunes and UPnP."

"This is the best NAS box I've tested so far, and the price reflects exactly what you get for your money."

"This NAS is prompt and has many advanced features. The enclosure is simple, and the noise is moderate."

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"DS109j is a perfect multimedia home server. It is high-quality and really easy to use. Data storage, data backup, UPnP Multimedia, iTunes server, and Audio Station with Internet sharing are some great features worth recommending."

"In lab testing, we found the DS209 with various features and would recommend it for its reliability, ease of installation and use, and being economical for home and small office."

"The DS209 is right up there with the best home/SMB NAS units currently on the market."

"The intuitive interface is very well designed and most importantly, stable. If you can use Windows Explorer, you can navigate around this NAS with ease."

"Xbox 360 and PS3 users are in luck, too. The DS-209 is the perfect companion to your gaming console if you want to stream digital media."

"All told, I continue to be impressed with Synology's hardware and its commitment to open source and providing an open platform."

"They manage to make easy things easy, and hard things possible, which is the holy grail of just about everything in IT."

"If low noise, reduced power usage and small size are your top priorities, then you can't find any better NAS device than DS409slim."

"We are impressed with its size and capability. This is a state-of-art NAS device."

"A secure and reliable four bay NAS with plenty of extra server features."

"Synology Disk Station Manager 2.1 provides almost everything."

"The management is simply convenient, and the data transfer performance is remarkably high. With 29.4MB/Sec in writing and 62MB/Sec in reading, the speed of the DS209 is unbeatable."

"Synology DS509+ looks outstanding in appearance and can fit well in the office environment. Besides, the equipped 1 GB RAM and high frequency CPU are well-designed and help achieve the high performance."

"The Synology Disk Station DS209+ represents a quantum leap in NAS performance."

"The informative and self-explaining user interface enables even beginners to handle the Synology NAS without difficulty."

"In working with Synology DS109+, it is the shared folders you are usually using, but from time to time you can't help but try out the many available features within its great software."

"All its functions are very effective and practical...Functions we especially recommend include data backup and restoration, connecting USB external drives, and sharing printer resources within the LAN. It is also ideal as a storage center for your network media player."

"In short, the DS409slim is a cyber Swiss knife that provides everything. You spend some time to set it properly, and the great functionality gives adventures even for the beginners."

"The DS409slim may be small but it's big on performance with copies of a 2.52GB video clip to and from a dual 2.8GHz Xeon X5560 Broadberry CyberServe returning respectable read and write speeds of 43MB/sec and 36MB/sec."

"The Synology DS409slim is one of the most impressive desktop NAS appliances we've seen so far this year. You pay a slight premium for this miniaturization but this appliance is small, quiet, and reasonably quick and is packed to bursting point with features."

"The Synology DS209 is no doubt fast, faster than any other 2 drive NAS that I've ever worked with. You're unlikely to find a 2 drive NAS in RAID 0 write as fast at 55MB/s or read as fast as 75MB/s."

"You also don't need to worry about finding or adding features to extend the capabilities of the DS209, there's already so much built-in and the web administrative page is incredibly easy to navigate."

"Overall, the Synology DS209 is a great alternative to maintaining a server."

"It is a commanding lead for the DS209 in our last three benchmarks of the Intel NAS Analyzer. It should not come as any surprise given to the superior write and read performance for the DS209 when it comes to small file sizes for the Content Creation, Photo Album, and Office Productivity."

"I can recommend you seriously take a look at the DS209+II, it will be able to provide for all of your network storage needs, along with solutions for multimedia, file transfers and even security applications."

"The Synology administration panel...is much more organized, flashy, and what I think the consumer would expect from a modern web-based interface. In summary, if I were faced with recommending one over the other, this time around, Synology takes the cake."

"A great quality NAS device that we can highly recommend to anyone looking at a four bay NAS device for the home or small office."

"Admittedly products like the Disk Station DS409+ are more of a luxury than a necessity for home users. For business use, however, the DS409+ can be a highly valuable tool that is well worth the asking price."

"The possibilities that DS109 offers are numerous but never overwhelming or too complex for consumers."

"You can stream photos, music and videos to your X360 or PS3 within an instant. iPhone owners have to wait for a couple weeks for the free applications but will be happily served."

"We can't come up with a service that hasn't been integrated in the Synology DS209+."

"The management is remarkably convenient, and the data transfer rate is notably high – with 62MB/Sec in reading and 29.4MB/Sec in writing, DS209+ is unbeaten in performance."

"Users in the network can get music files not only from an UPnP-enabled media server but also via iTunes. Furthermore, if a pair of USB speakers is connected to the DS409+, music can be played directly."

"With the integrated Download Station, users can download data via HTTP, FTP, eMule, or even NZB Usenet directly to the installed hard drives."

"The DS409+ can serve as a web server that can host online photo albums and supports PHP+MySQL."

"In company with a new Disk Station Manager 2.1 based on the AJAX-based technology, managing CS407 becomes faster and smoother."

"What's more interesting are Photo Station and Audio Station which makes CS407 a jukebox – just plug in the USB speaker directly to the NAS."

"It's fair to say the DS209 is heavily featured, but it never gets overwhelming — in a nice extra, if you ever forget which menu the option you want is in, you can simply use the search function to find it."

"Copying a 1GB file across a gigabit network via a Netgear GS-108T, the maximum speed reached 45.5MBps, while reading back picked up to 76MBps, making the Synology quite speedy indeed when the drives are set up under basic mode."

"[F]or those looking for a highly featured, high performing NAS with an easy to use and flashy menu, it's certainly a compelling choice."

"Synology DS409slim only takes around 36s to transfer a 1.6GB movie and 18s to transfer 516MB of photos, which is really outstanding for a small 4-bay NAS station as it is even faster than those 1-bay NAS station with 3.5" HDD that we have tested previously."

"In term of noise and heat, Synology DS409slim is doing very well as the 60mm cooling fan is able to cool down the HDD effectively. Besides that the noise is barely audible since the fan is only generating around 26dBA."

"Overall, the test result of Synology DS409 is pretty good. Its average performance is much higher than the previous generation model. Moreover, Synology is adding more and more features to their firmware, offering great potential in the DS409 in the future."

"Disk Station Manager 2.1 is one of the most intuitive NAS utilities going. Not only does it provide a huge array of features - including FTP/HTTP/eMule/NZB downloads without a PC - but it's a snap to use."

"One of the most innovative and easy-to-use NAS boxes on the market, the DS409slim is ideal for those looking for a compact and quiet solution for sharing data across a wired network or the Internet."

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"In terms of price and performance, Synology has hit the sweet spot with the DS109."

"What we also like about the DS109 is not only that it provides users with an impressive level of performance, but that it also sports the new Synology Disk Station Manager 2.1 software…In fact, it was this software that originally won us over to Synology's products, and since then it has only continued to get better and better."

"Although Synology is new in our market, we believe it will quickly catch up with its distinguished network attached storage (NAS) products."

"The web-based management user interface is user-friendly, attractive, intuitive and, most importantly, with lot of features."

"To put it another way, if you need high-speed NAS that satisfies the needs of a demanding home user or small company, than the DS209+ is the only choice."

"Synology has done a good job at developing their product line, continuously improving performance, feature set and ease of use."

"If you want one of the most full-featured, high-performance, single-drive NASes that your money can buy, you just might swallow hard, dig deep and get the DS109+. The DS109 is a good alternative that's a little easier on your wallet and will still provide 40 - 50 MB/s of performance."

"The combination of Synology DS509+ and DX5 represents the trend that the high-end desktop NAS products move toward."

"By connecting the two devices via the eSATA cable, you can increase the capacity up to 10 hard drives. Instead of simply enlarging the machine size, Synology provides a solution that allows you to install more hard drives while stay with the existing 5-bay NAS server you're using."

"Synology invests in the 2 bay market to launch a product that combines performance, ease of installation and configuration, and ease of use."

"Synology is a Taiwanese manufacturer of excellent NAS products, and the new DS209+ is no exception to this rule."

"Finally, here is a perfect NAS: full, fast, and, thanks to its graphical interface, easy to use. In addition, Synology offers a new version of Disk Station Manager with capability of email server and more RAID configuration. That surprised us."

"Home and small business environments have never seen so much value in a high-performance multi-function NAS."

"The Synology Disk Station DS209 Gigabit 2-Bay SATA NAS server is going to be an excellent alternative to the basic workgroup and domain-level file servers most resellers use for small business networks, and the additional functionality should not go overlooked."

"Above all, DS109 is a device that is easy to manage, even for the novice users."

"The DS109 includes very good and comprehensive backup software. In addition, possibilities can be increased through the use of additional packages that can be installed from the web interface."

"DS109 is efficient and power-saving, and the functionality does not differ much from the large and expensive machine designed for for heavy usage."

"Synology Disk Station DS409+ is a capable NAS that can do almost everything needed in a small company, acting from a multimedia server to a web server, to a mail server"

"While inexperienced users can create websites using the 3rd party applications, more demanding users can set up dynamic websites using the built-in PHP and MyAQL. Home users will like the blog and photo album system in Photo Station 3, and company users can make good use of Surveillance Station."

"Very fast transfer speeds; massive feature set."

"Some NAS devices have additional features such as sharing an USB printer within the network and backing up data to an USB hard drive. Both of them can be found on the two Synology NAS devices we've tested."

"Synology DS209+ got the highest rank in almost every test field...It offers the best for those users who want performance without compromise."

"Considering its friendly price, satisfying testing results, and rich applications, Synology DS109j is the leader in our economic category with no doubt."

"With Surveillance Station built in the DS209, users can connect multiple IP cameras and centrally manage them in the DSM 2.1 interface."

"Performance wise, the reading speed of the DS209 reaches as high as 68.32MB/s via SAMBA and 100.47MB/s via FTP…is the fastest model among NAS products tested in DIYZone. We are amazed about it."

"The brand new Disk Station Manager 2.1 is versatile and very easy to use."

"The built-in File Station 2 helps access files via web browsers."

"Mail Station adds a new dimension to the already extensive network applications."

"The solid price provides not only the substantial specifications but also stability and usability."

"You can specify when the device must be switched on and off and set up the hibernation - a convenient tool for every smart planner."

"The engineers know the technology and continue to work fast and seriously. Users are updated few times a month with the firmware and product update, which is impressive."

"Affordable, low power consumption, silent, extra features, easy to use interface, compact and sleek design, built-in web server capacity, multimedia server… shall I continue?"

"The functionality is very comprehensive; Download Station 2 also works well with eMule and NZB; the interface and configuration wizards are very simple to use; the network transmission rates are very good."

"The Synology NAS are the most accessible via a particularly successful, explicit interface, with which a beginner can master very easily."

"The Disk Station management interface is intuitive and a lot more responsive than others."

"The Synology SMTP mail server (Mail Station) is basic, so there's very little that needs to be configured."

"Fortunately, you don't need a PC or server to host the mail server, just a Synology appliance."

"The interface is powerful and made with great care, but at the same time, it is user friendly and never confusing. A few clicks can fulfill an user's various needs, yet never limit the possibilities of configurations."

"The Synology DS109 responds firmly to all the needs in the market, demonstrating versatility, power, and ease of use that few others can boast of being. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best products in its category on the market."

"Synology DS109j brings a full suite of features for both home users and small-and-medium business users."

"DS109j can be a supreme tool for small businesses and website/blog owners to save money, save efforts, and reduce power consumption."

"We are quite impressed with Synology DS109j. Although it is a budget NAS, it still comes with Synology Disk Station Manager 2.1, which provides necessary hardware setup and plenty of great features/applications; a very balance NAS system."

"We highly recommend this Synology DS109j for those who are looking for an affordable entry-level NAS system for moderate usage."

"Optimal Price/performance."

"The Disk Station Manager is very outstanding. It provides various functions with simple configuration, and you don't have to restart the system when changing the settings – very convenient design."

"The product makes sharing of data easy…In addition to its storage features, Disk Station DS109 offers many web services practical for the everyday office use."

"Disk Station DS109 also has a remarkable advantage for its AJAX-based interface. Such a highly manageable interface running on web browsers is designed to be user-friendly, like an interactive application on Windows."

"Getting the DS209+ configured is a piece of cake, and the accompanying software is extremely well-polished. Where most competing devices employ very-obviously Web-based admin panels, the DS209+'s Disk Station Manager 2.0 is driven by an AJAX-based interface, so the look and feel are more application-like than a typical browser-based config."

"The compact chassis, quiet operation, comprehensive management tool, and exceptional performance come together to make Synology's offering our favorite for folks more interested in using NAS than building it."

"The Synology DS209+ takes the advantage of AJAX interface for its simple setup, and it's amazing!"

"Synology DS209+, with intuitive design, is the most feature-rich 2-bay SATA NAS in the market. The software Disk Station Manager 2.0 helps you quickly find the files stored on the NAS and activates a wide variety of features such as hosting website and listening to the Internet radio."

"I fell in love with its use of AJAX which gave the interface a rich application feel akin to a desktop application and enabled all the features to be integrated cleanly."

"I would have no hesitation in recommending the DS408 to anyone wanting to add professional-grade storage with excellent data protection to their network."

"The AJAX based user interface is sleek looking and responsive. The menu options are well-organized and easy to navigate. Users would quickly fall in love with the sleek look and appreciate the ability to customize the interface with the Favorite feature."

"What is more impressive is the fact that the performance of DS209+ is very good. The DS209+ offers the best performance among the NASes I have tested."

"As a matter of fact, the main page is so well structured and each option is so well described, we felt Microsoft's Windows Vista control panel team could learn quite a bit from this implementation."

"It will take more than just a page to fill all that DS508 can do, but in brief, it's a very capable 'mini storage server' that's managed via the best NAS management UI we've come across."

"Synology DS209+ can be described in one word: quality. Elegant, silent, feature-rich and, above all, fast, it is a device everyone would like to own. The transfer rates of reading and writing are between 30MB/s and 40MB/s, which are the highest among our records by far."

"Network Attached Storage (NAS) is usually considered as a data storage device in the network. But today, modern high-end NAS like Synology DS508 plays the role of a network server and takes the mail server task."

"The DS508 stands out for its great performance and easy-to-use interface in Disk Station Manager, and the 800 MHz CPU and 512MB RAM provide sufficient computing power for server-level tasks."

"Once again we see that Synology's products are beyond competition in almost every aspect. Most importantly, the developer is improving from model to model, making its products an example of quality."

"The DS209+ is impeccable."

"This model screamed through our performance tests: It required just 216 seconds to copy our 3GB folder of files."

"Super-fast NAS box has tons of robust server-level features and streams photos, music, and videos with the best of them."

"At only 35 watts when used at full tilt and it cycles down to a mere 18 watts in standby. This is so much better than using an older PC to try and do what it does, and you do not have to find all the software to do the task. Then add on the added cost of each piece of software and probably having to upgrade some of the hardware...well you do the math."

"So if you are thinking about playing around with a home networking solution, the Synology DS209+ Disk Station is more than capable of handling your needs. Now if you are a small business owner that needs an in-house solution to handle your files and to allow outside access to them through FTP or a website then this is a must have for you."

"When looking at the Synology website, I noticed that there is continued support for this product with firmware updates that come out every month or two. This keeps the value of the product and is a display of excellent support from Synology."

"I would highly recommend this product since it comes in a very portable package and has excellent software to come with it."

"There are more features in Synology Disk Station Manager 2.1 than in its previous version. It is a good policy of Synology to continue firmware updates for its existing Disk Station owners, and we highly appreciate it. The AJAX-based interfaces and numerous applications are very practical and make users' life easier, and the future updates will most likely make Disk Station Manager even better!"

"We must not forget to mention the extremely low power consumption and the useful power features, like Scheduled Power On/Off and Power Recovery. Synology also did a very good homework for 2.5" Disk Holder. Besides, the Turkish language support is another advantage."

"Synology 2.5" Disk Holder lowers the power consumption and noise level of DS109 and provides a capacity of up to 500GB."

"The NAS is full of virtues. From its carefully made hardware, various connectivity options, great performance and reliability, to its green design….It is really a well built device made by the real specialists who work exclusively on NAS."

"The new generation offers important improvements in hardware performance and software features like mail server, user management, and 3rd-Party application integration, making it a perfect product offering user simplicity, capacity, versatility, and security."

"For me it's perfect as a home or SOHO server, for everyone from computer newbies to experts. This DS109 gets our most prestigious award – Editor's Choice Award."

"With DS209+, Synology is establishing a niche in the NAS market. If you wanted a fast NAS before, you had to go for a 5-bay NAS – even if you only need to use two hard drives. The DS209+ is changing this situation. It is like a sport car in the NAS market: small but fast enough to compete against the bigger NAS products. From this perspective, its price is very reasonable. Products with comparable performance will definitely cost more."

"The new Disk Station DS209+ is suitable for media streaming at home or data storing in the office. With its professional performance, it's also a fit for small business."

"The user management is very good. It is possible to define the hard drive quota and access rights for each user."

"The mini-server for the home users is efficient, quiet, and easy to use."

"Thanks to the great design and quality material, Synology DS207 and DS107 look great both at home and in the office."

"Working with Synology DS207 and DS107 is a very pleasant experience."

"Because of the applied AJAX technology, DS108j's operation is as simple as Windows desktop applications - just two seconds, and it's done."

"In the DS108j management interface, it is even possible to make a scheduled power-on or a scheduled power-off. It does offer a huge functionality for a very reasonable price."

"Comparable to a bare-bone server, the Synology NAS is nevertheless a very attractive, efficient, and easy-to-deploy product for people without advanced networking skills."

"Install a hard disk and place the NAS in your home network, and you can manage all your peripherals via its interface. On top of it, the NAS frees your PC from download tasks, and reduces your energy bill."

"The Taiwanese brand Synology offers not only fast network storage but also many additional network applications in each Synology Disk Station. Upgraded with Disk Station Manager 2.1, the server further advances itself."

"Synology organized its management interfaces very well so that we can access the various elements with only few clicks."

"The DS508 enjoys the uniqueness and is probably the most reactive and most innovative in the French market. Moreover, Synology has just added a new string to his bow by proposing, for now in beta, a mail server in its NAS products."

"An appealing storage unit for the small business user."

"If you have lots of users on your network, then you'll appreciate the ability to create multiple user accounts with identical settings with only a few mouse clicks."

"Despite this abundance of features, the DS209+ remained very quiet in use. It's not totally silent but it's one of the quietest NAS devices we've seen. It uses only 14W in standby and 31W when active, but you can schedule start up and shutdown times if you're determined to save even more on your energy bills."

"In truth, Synology's software is so robust. It could have its own devoted article. But take our word for it... the company really puts effort into their products as a whole, and their passion especially shines through in their software."

"Synology has another winner on its hands with the DS209+. With speeds creeping towards that of servers, the DS209+ is almost everything that a small business owner could need."

"Synology has never aimed their products at the bargain crowds, so to justify this premium, they continually update their system software, adding new features with each new version. There are literally dozens of uses that the DS209+ can be used for."

"Once the Synology is up and running it's impressive. The web interface is well presented and, despite the myriad options, easy to navigate. It's even possible to drag the icons of your most used options into a quick-start bar."

"When it comes to features, the DS209+ has few peers."

"It's fast too. Fitted with a pair of 500GB Western Digital 500AVJS drives, the Synology wrote at 35MB/sec for large files and reading was even faster at 44MB/sec. Put performance-oriented drives such as WD Raptors in there and you can expect even more."

"Synology supplied the review unit with a triplet of 1.5TB Seagate Barracuda SATA hard disks as proof it can support them. However, you can start small and grow with demand as drives can be replaced individually with larger models and the RAID controller will rebuild the array."

"The Rack Station RS408 simply won't be beaten for features with many of them useful for small businesses. Performance is good enough for the target market and, if you want them, you'll find the RS408 is bristling with multimedia applications as well."

"Synology DS408 pulls our Tweak'O meter to a total of 9.5 points. It's such a good NAS server that I was quite tempted to offer my first 10.0 in the NAS category."

"Synology DS408 has made the installation simple, and the wizards walk you through the utmost necessary without worries about details. At the same time, it also offers a piece of aesthetically pleasing hardware operating at a minimum noise level - something that truly makes the unit a pleasure to use."

"There is nothing to complain about when it comes to the performance of Synology DS408."

"Looking for multifunctional solutions of sharing files and printers, backup, multimedia streaming, and network surveillance in a compact design? We highly recommend DS508. It comes with the above mentioned functions and performs more than your expectation."

"In spite of being placed in the NAS category, DS508 is able to handle more than a NAS does, like website hosting and video streaming form IP cameras."

"The Synology DS209+ offers awesome throughput speed and nearly all the features you could ever need in a NAS server."

"You get a very good impression from the moment you log in the system. More than 30 available configurations are orderly devided into 7 categories."

"The panel is very intuitive for adding users and user groups. It is possible to authorize the access rights and passwords for each user and each group of users. It is also possible to import an user list from a file, which is very helpful when resetting server settings is needed. This way, working as an administrator is quiet easy."

"If you look at performance and functionality, Synology DS209+ is an excellent option for you."

"The small Disk Station offers almost everything that a small enterprise or a multimedia user can expect for a network-attached system from its RAID 1 data protection and from its full ranged function set which usually belongs to higher-end products."

"Synology Disk Station DS209+ surprises us with smooth reading and writing transfer rates in the range of 30MB/s to 60MB/s. Even under the RAID 1 configuration which usually slows down speeds, the values hardly fall from those of the RAID 0 configuration."

"Synology DS209+ is a speedy NAS. The user interface and the numerous features are very good."

"The web-based management interface is one of the best that we have tested."

"With its great performance and advanced features, this NAS server astonishes the professionals. Fortunately, its interface is simple to use."

"Powered by an 800MHz processor and 512MB worth of RAM, the DS508 is abundant with features. In terms of connectivity alone, you can hook up the NAS via two USB ports, one eSATA port and two Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports."

"A great, full featured five bay NAS with individual security for up to 5TB* of network accessed storage."

*Synology: Synology DS508 supports 1.5TB hard drive as of firmware version DSM 2.0-0728.

"And in sharp contrast to most SMB NAS devices, which lock you into an untouchable system, the Cube Station is as open as if you built it yourself -- but you didn't have to."

"The classical design can be a good reference to others in the market, and this mini server also did a great job 'under hood'."

"The CS407 is a great all-rounder. The feature set offered is so rich that you may raise your expectation to ask for more functions. Even if your requirement is not fulfilled, you can just update a new firmware which will be announced several times a year. Don't like to wait? Participate in the Synology Beta Program for the future firmware! For those who aren't satisfied, the Telnet and SSH is opened to make it more suitable for you."

"Although many of the functions are designed for the professional purposes, they have a friendly management interface which even laymen can operate it easily."

"Our lab testing in terms of performance testing shows that in Gigabit LAN environment, Synology DS209+ performs 64.54MB/s and 63.61MB/s in SAMBA and FTP download, respectively, which makes Synology NAS products incomparable in this profession."

"When it comes to Synology, it's all about the Disk Station Manager 2.0, a comprehensive system based on Linux. It has great potential, but it is easy to get familiar with because of the AJAX user friendly interfaces."

"The nominal specifications of both the DS408 and the DS209+ are verified in our test. The reading and writing speeds of DS209+ reached 20MB+/sec and 52MB+/sec with the volume type of RAID 0, and so did that of DS408 with the volume type of RAID 5, which placed these models among the top units of their respective categories. Well done Synology!"

"Synology DS408 is an excellent NAS with great functionality for both home and office use. It is designed with the concept of energy saving, making it an alternative to average network servers."

"Synology NAS products are emerging versatile multimedia stations with maximum storage capacity up to terabytes."

"With DS108j, you can now stream multimedia files to your audio-visual equipments effortlessly by adding a multimedia adaptor in your network. Using PC server to share files over the internet consumes a lot of energy. Alternatively using DS108j not only saves your power-bill but also brings quietness to your environment."

"It can be a very good substitute for a PC file server in a small business. The system performance provided by the 800MHz processor and 512MB RAM allows the device to run smoothly. Downloading files, limited disk resources, or simultaneous use by multiple users doesn't affect the performance noticeably."

"A professional NAS addressing home users: aside from the common connectivity cables (power, SATA, and Ethernet), we found a CD, a Quick Installation Guide, and compartments dedicated to each item. This might seem like marginal details, but it testifies the professionalism with which the developers created the DS209+."

"Synology is a manufacturer that makes the impossible possible on the NAS. The feature list is almost infinite: FTP, file download, PHP+MySQL web server, media server, and even Windows ADS support are well presented."

"The brand's very active development is reflected on the continuous firmware update that always brings out new features."