Labs

The Freecom FSG-3WLAN is by some way the most powerful Nas device in this Labs; if had supported Apple Filing Protocol (AFP), it would probably have taken the Labs Winner award. As it is, its dependency on Windows-centric SMB/CIFS networking means we Mac users get a slightly bumpier ride.

Transfer speeds were a little sluggish - less than 5MB/sec for both read and write - and we don't get full support for the kind of network operations supported by AFP-touting devices. As long as you're happy to wait for files to be routed via your Mac when copying between Nas shares, for example, rather than offloading this task

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to the server, this shouldn't be reason to discount this model. The one potentially problematic glitch common to all Nas devices in this group that don't support AFP is its inability to save an existing file back to the server while maintaining the original file ID. Then again, working directly from servers is discouraged.

Otherwise, though, this is a spectacular device. It offers users and groups control of created shares, but also adds in FTP and web hosting, along with PHP and SQL support, Universal Plug and Play media streaming and more. Most impressively, it can serve email and will also act as a network router (both wired and wireless), even plugging into existing ADSL modems to share an Internet connection. And it's an accomplished router, too, offering embedded support for three dynamic DNS services (to allow you to access the device and its files from a static, easy-to-remember URL), plus port forwarding.

Add in an eSATA port and two front-mounted USB ports to allow easy hooking up of USB fobs and disks (which can be unmounted with a hardware button, too, rather than through the config pages) and you have a powerful, flexible Nas that's only let down by its lack of AFP protocols.