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ConclusionI could probably rant on for a long time about this product; and way more in-depth, but I have to stop here as I'm running out of time. I'll try to keep the conclusion short and simple though. The SnapServer 1100 is a fantastic file-sharing server, there's no doubt about that as we've been using it for a few weeks now without any issues whatsoever. Set that aside and you love the way that it's so configurable and accessible on many levels that we can call it a little gem. To date this has to be the most competitive solution I've seen in it's genre. There are some downsides though. First of all it's price, it's very expensive at roughly 500 USD. Most of you rather would build a small Linux or Windows box insert HD's and do the same thing. However, this is not only geek stuff, it's really a product for small home offices and small offices (SOHO) and that's exactly where this product blends in perfectly. Why ? It's small, highly secure and with compatibility in the terms of Windows Domain Services, Netware, Active Directory. Easy to setup and configure, this product probably is a Linux Guru's wet dream. One more negative, if you copy from an NTFS formatted HD towards the SnapServer it's just slow with write speeds of 1MB/sec. On FAT32 you'll do 8-9 MB/sec.

What I would like to see in the next generation of this product is a 1000 Mbit/sec Ethernet connection. The HD needs such bandwidth and the standard is getting more common quickly.

The product is for the business user that is willing to pay that kind of money for file-sharing based on security and reliability. This is not just a file-server, it is a REAL file-server with Users, User-groups and file-level security. NAS is getting more and more common these days; by saying that I mean it's getting more mainstream and accessible towards consumers on any platform in any LAN. The SnapServer 1100 is a perfect example what such a product should be like as it does just that perfectly. In most office environments the SnapServer will prove to be a fantastic file server.

Highly recommended, if it's what you need of course. Yours truly definitely was impressed considering this was only the most simple device in Snap Appliance's product line-up.

Product: Snap Server 1100
Info: Snap Appliance
Retail Price: ~ 500 USD