Best Storage Device for a Photographer

Recently I’ve shared an article by CNET on Best Storage Devices. Check it out if you’re thinking about getting one. What I want to discuss here, which one should work better with Pics.io in the future.

Capacity vs. Mobility

Our standpoint regarding storage is pretty straight-forward: we believe, it should work for a photographer, not the opposite. That’s basically the reason we do not rely on local storage as the destination point for images.

Storage has always been Capacity vs. Mobility, and it was frustrating to choose between the two.

Then cloud promised we’ll get both (Pixel is a 1.5 kg laptop with an access to an infinite storage), but for a monthly fee. The question many people ask: is it possible to achieve a similar experience without having to pay each month? Maybe with one of the devices mentioned in the post on CNET? The short answer is yes!

What makes cloud so “hot”?

Let’s start defining cloud merits.First, it is available… like always. And you don’t need to keep your computer running 24/7 for it. Second, it’s 99,999999% reliable when it comes to data loss. Third, sharing is easy in the cloud. Fourth, it is extendable. How to achieve a similar experience without Google or Amazon help? Not too difficult:

1. Put a server at home that runs 24/7 (Always available — checked);
2. Turn on RAID1 to achieve higher reliability;
3. Want to share — connect it to the Internet;
4. It is extendable to some point if the manufacturer produces it that way.

Well, the first item makes it clear: none of the external hard drives qualifies. In fact, the above is, basically, the description of a network attached storage (NAS). You could see Synology DiskStation DS1513+ and DS412+ in the review I mentioned in the beginning. What do they do? They connect to a switch or a router and provide storage space and services to the network. Damn simple concept.

Speaking of NAS, if you're curious about what's that and how it compares to cloud storage, you can check out our write-up, which is aptly called NAS (Network Attached Storage) vs. Cloud.

Check out this video review and, please, pay special attention starting from 2:20 — Dong tells about Package center (that’s the way to make it work together with Pics.io).

There is no such product on their line currently. They have the G-Speed, which is, basically, hard drives with a RAID controller. It doesn’t have it’s own “brain”, so it can work independently of the desktop. Maybe if they put together the platform they use in G-Connect with the body of G-Speed, make the setup process easier for photographers - that’d be a story.

Please, tell us your thoughts regarding NAS as an option for storage here in the comments or simply mention us on twitter.

Cheers, Konstantin.