While you can configure Retrospect to encrypt backup files, the backup process slows the operation considerably. "It takes a big performance hit," acknowledges Duke McKinley, support supervisor at Iomega, adding that most customers don't use the encryption option for this reason. I was able to configure Retrospect to back up my shared folder on the StorCenter to a local disk as well as feed backups of my local machines to folders on the StorCenter. Retrospect lets you choose which days to back up and the time of the backup. It also lets you create up to seven daily backup sets or two weekly backup sets and rotate them automatically -- a handy feature if you need to go back in time to find data that was already erased or corrupted when the last backup occurred. It can also compress the backup, which saves space but slows the backup process. Finally, you can require a password to access the backup set.

Western Digital NetCenter Network Drive

Western Digital's NetCenter is a basic workhorse NAS device and was fast and easy to set up and gets the job done. It also comes with capable backup software. It comes in capacities ranging from 160GB to 500GB and is SATA with 3Gbit/sec throughput. A 250GB model sells for $249.99 but I opted for the larger, 500GB unit, which has a list price of $399.99. Unlike the Iomega model I tested, the 500GB NetCenter uses a single drive and so it cannot be mirrored. Western Digital does not offer a mirroring option in the NetCenter line.

The units are Mac and PC compatible and -- like the Iomega unit -- includes EMC Retrospect Express 7.5 backup software. Like the other units, the NetCenter includes two USB ports for attaching extra storage. It also supports network printer sharing by attaching your printer to one of the USB ports.