HP Media Vault MV2120

According to most reviews, the 'toaster-sized' HP Media Vault MV2120 is an easy-to-use, network-attached storage solution. An intuitive menu system makes initial setup easier, even for the average home user, and the included software is also well-thought out and user friendly. The Media Vault MV2120 comes with a 500 GB 7,200 RPM drive, and a second hot-swappable bay lets the user add a second SATA drive if desired. In this case, the add-on drive can act as a second volume to provide additional storage, or it can be set up as a mirror using RAID1. A pair of USB ports allows additional external drives to be plugged in, including for backup purposes.

Multimedia features include compatibility with iTunes, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Photo Webshare, which allows photos to be shared over the web via a private domain name. First-year hosting is included, and it costs $9.95 a year afterward. The lack of print server functionality could be a potential deal-breaker for some users, and some security hurdles involving password-protected folders can pose a challenge to casual users. There are workarounds, but they're not obvious and would generally require a call to tech support. Another potential drawback is that the disk performance itself is merely average. If you don't need a networked drive, the Seagate FreeAgent Pro 500 GB (*Est. $145) is less expensive for the same base storage capacity.

Computer Shopper, PC World and CNET provide solid single-product reviews that run down the HP Media Vault MV2120's feature set and detail its performance, pros and cons. CNET's review is accompanied by an excellent short video hosted by the writer that illustrates many of the observations he makes in the text. User ratings at Amazon.com are also helpful.