What do you think of Apple's Time Capsule?
Q&A
Calling Register Hardware readers. What do you think of Apple's Time Capsule? I'm after for a network-connected HD, and this seems the best option - good router, integrated drive, only one power cable.
I don't want a NAS box because I don't need to do FTP, serving etc. I just want a drive that can be shared by a handful of Macs and half a dozen PCs.
I did think about an AirPort Extreme and an external HDD, but the single-cable Time Capsule appeals more. Or can the Extreme use bus-powered USB drives?
COMMENTS
Go for it
It's a good bit of kit - easy to set up and generally very well behaved.
It's great, apart from one little thing...
I have the 500GB Time Capsule, which I am using as a NAS and Wireless access point (I have a BeBox which does the routing and ADSL connection).
The TC was easy to set up as a WPA - took about 5 minutes and most of that was installing the new firmware.
The one downside I found? I have a Xbox 360 wireless adapter, and this is not compatible with any Apple router using WEP, WPA or WPA2 security.
(Before anyone gets any ideas, I enabled security on the router and connected it via Ethernet).
It's great
I'm unsure what functionality a Netgear offers that the TC doesn't? The Wireless is speedy, the fixed line is a little slow for a true Gigabit but still much faster than Wireless.
You have top notch security - even USB added HDD's can be password protected..... iCgat, Back to my Mac etc all work seamlessly if required.
I personally prefer it in its simplicity to any other home router i've used, it's never crashed, is silent, the hard disc read and write speeds are excellent and Time Machine backups for the Macs will be useful for you.
For what you're after there may well be cheaper options but i doubt they'll do it all so straightforwardly and easily... i say buy one.
Apples Time Capsule
I have the 500GB version at it is ok, the router is basic, and dose not have some of the functionality that most modern routers now have, for that reason i have stuck with my old Netgear for the internet routing, but as network storage its great, you can plug an extra drive it to it, and if you have powered USB hub you can plug more than 1, I have three external drives running through it and a printer and they work fine. It is easy to set up through a Mac, unless you are complete idiot, you can have it up and running in minutes, I have it joined to my current wireless network and performance wise its ok. I have lot of media files stored on it and they stream well over the wireless, even with time machine backing up in the background. All though I find the router side a bit disappointing, overall its a good product and the fact you can add extra USB drives and printers to it is a bonus. I am very pleased with mine. The only thing I cautions on is it dose get hot, I mean really hot, you can cook your breakfast on it. So make sure you give it some breathing room.
