Hands-On Review of the QNAP TS-459 Pro NAS

There is also some software to enable backup and restore functionality. Again, this is a simple installation process.

When you run it for the first time you have to select your NAS box and the shared folder you want to use.

Then you just select what it is you want to backup and start the backup.

Performing a restore is just as simple, and you can choose where you want to restore the file or files to (if you don’t want them back in the original location).

One really cool feature of the TS-459 Pro is called USB One Touch Copy. One the front of the TS-459 Pro is a USB port with a button. If you connect an external drive, or other device such as a camera to it, and then press the button, the entire contents of the connected device will be copied to a folder on the box. This is really useful and saves having to copy things to the computer first, and again means that you can copy content without using a computer. A very useful addition to any NAS device!

You can even configure it to copy TO the external device from a particular directory on the NAS, which is really useful for offsite storage.

If you want to learn a bit more about the TS-459 Pro, take a look at the video below:

FINAL THOUGHTS

The QNAP TS-459 Pro is very easy to setup and use, and is a lot quieter than I thought it would be. I don’t know why I assumed it wouldn’t be quiet, but I was happy with the noise level.

Adding and removing drives was simple and only took a few screws to keep them in place, and the fact you don’t need to buy a conversion kit for 2.5” drives was a welcome addition.

There are lots of different applications on the box, including backup and recovery, photo sharing, iTunes, and lots more, so more than enough for most people.

Cost wise it is a little under $1000 in the US and £700 in the UK (when its released here next month). But remember, those costs are without any drives, so you will need to factor that into the equation.

Again, for that price you could get yourself a decent Windows Home Server and a few drives, although you wont get some of the same functionality with WHS out of the box.

The TS-459 Pro is a lot more than just a simple NAS box, its an application server as well, so bear that in mind when you look at the price tag.

I can see a lot of small businesses looking very closely at this device.

For more information you can click here: http://www.qnap.com/pro_detail_feature.asp?p_id=144