Since the device is originally Non-Cloud version but after I upgraded it to the latest FW and now it has an ability of Cloud Edition. Even with really good cable Internet access on both ends, the upload took two hours. I have an Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 (2x1TB HDD) Storage Device purchased at 2009. The rectangular black box, covered in brushed aluminum, measures 7.94 x 5.85 x 3.91 inches and. I tried a sample shoot of 79 Raw files that totaled about 2GB of storage, and uploaded them off the card via my MacBook Air to the Buffalo CloudStor at my studio, about six miles away. Click to Enlarge The Iomega StorCenter ix2-dl looks like, well, a network-attached storage drive. Wouldn’t it be nice to upload a day’s shoot from the hotel and know that all of your Raw files are safe and sound back home? Unfortunately for Raw shooters, the technology just isn’t there yet. The second task was using the CloudStor as an image backup device while working on location. In the studio on the local area network, it was faster. It’s not the fastest server, but it’s fine for small batch downloads. You can preload it with your master image files by connecting a separate hard drive via the CloudStor’s USB port on the back of the unit, then access those files from anywhere you have an Internet connection.
On average, it took the Buffalo CloudStor about a minute and a half to download a 27MB Raw file from a remote location. The downsides to the Buffalo CloudStor are that the build quality of the unit doesn’t feel as solid as its competitors, and that the drive is noisy.
Pogoplug offers free apps for iOS devices that let you access your files on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad. This is much easier to maneuver than having to work though a browser interface.
I recommend that you also download the Pogoplug software for the Mac that enables you to view files on the CloudStor as a network drive on your desktop.
The interface is well designed and fairly easy to navigate. Within minutes you should have access to the hard drive via the Web browser. To get started, you connect the hard drive to the Internet via its Ethernet port, power up the unit, then go online via your Mac’s Web browser to register the CloudStor. Unlike the Iomega and Seagate units, Buffalo partnered with Pogoplug to handle the software for network connectivity. The Buffalo drive was the most affordable of the group and by far the easiest to set up and use. I evaluated these devices using the following categories: Ease of setup, Mac compatibility, network reliability, design quality, and value for the dollar. Seagate BlackArmor NAS 220 2-Bay 2 TB (2 x 1 TB) Network Attached Storage ($200).Iomega StorCenter ix2 2 TB (2 x 1TB) Network Storage Cloud Edition ($200).Buffalo Technology CloudStor 2-Bay 1 TB (2 x 1 TB) Gigabit Ethernet Network Storage ($235).