LaCie's Network Space 2 Is The Sexiest NAS We've Ever Seen
If Apple is the king of design in the laptop world, LaCie is far atop the hard drive world. Without exception, this company produces the most glamorous and gorgeous HDDs we've ever seen, and it's probably the only HDD company that actually makes you think that their products are desirable. It's amazing what good design can do, right? After all, the HDDs within the enclosures are the same as any--it's the exterior that makes this firm so special.
The Network Space 2 is the latest good-looker to emerge, with a sleek black design crafted by Neil Poulton and all the promise of a NAS. It's been far too long since we've seen a NAS drive we could stand to look at for more than a few minutes, so we'd say this is arriving not a moment too soon. The drive is able to stream multimedia onto any UPnP/DLNA compliant devices like PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 or PC, and it'll also act as an iTunes server if you'd like it to. Heck, it'll even manage/download your torrents even if the connected PC is shut down.
It promises transfer rates of 65MB/sec over Ethernet, or if you'd like, you can plug it in via USB so it'll act as a standard USB external hard drive. For now, it's only available in Europe in 1TB form for an undisclosed amount, but it should start shipping in the US soon.
LaCie Network Space 2: Simplifying The Network Storage Experience
LaCie today announced the LaCie Network Space 2, design by Neil Poulton – a leading-edge Network Attached Storage (NAS) and media server. The LaCie Network Space 2 combines the performance of a full-featured NAS solution, with a unique and customized way to manage the total experience.
Easy to Use
LaCie Network Space 2 was designed to be as convenient and user-friendly as a classic USB external hard drive. With the advanced LaCie Network Assistant, you can be up and running in a few short steps. To help you manage your desired product preferences, the LaCie Network Assistant now offers new dashboard functionality. You can customize the dashboard with useful widgets to access network and drive information, administer user accounts and monitor drive capacity.
Home Entertainment
LaCie Network Space 2 makes it easy to stream photos, music and videos to computers on the local network or to any UPnP/DLNA compliant devices like PlayStation®3 or Xbox® 360. It includes iTunes® server software so Mac and PCs can see and play content from the LaCie Network Space 2 directly through the iTunes interface. It also includes Download Machine that allows multiple torrent downloads, even when your computer is turned off.
High Performance and Versatility
While the LaCie Network Space 2 can perform at speeds of up to 65MB/s** over the Ethernet connection, you may choose to leverage it as an external USB hard drive – connecting it directly to your computer for off-network file transfer and accessibility.
Additionally, there is a USB 2.0 host connection in the front of the device that allows you to connect a USB flash drive, external hard drive or digital camera, and import files automatically without the need of a computer.
Eco Friendly
The LaCie Network Space 2 includes a built-in power management widget, which lets you control both the light on your drive, as well as your drive's Eco Management; placing the drive into a low power setting at scheduled time intervals or when the product is inactive. Additionally, the Network Space 2 can be awakened through its Wake-on-LAN functionality, making it a powerful, efficient and eco-friendly media server for the home.
"The LaCie Network Space 2 is a state-of-the-art solution for customers wanting to share and store media files from anywhere in the house," said Patrick Salin, LaCie Digital Home Business Unit Manager. "LaCie's new dashboard functionality makes it simple for users to enjoy the features of network storage, and further shows our commitment to enhancing the experience of our customers."
Designed exclusively for LaCie by Neil Poulton, the compact LaCie Network Space 2 has a sleek, mirror-polished black finish with a blue LED strip on its underside that creates an ambient glow.
Availability
The LaCie Network Space 2 is available in a 1TB capacity in Europe and will be available worldwide later this year. For more product information, visit www.lacie.com.
About Neil Poulton
Neil Poulton was born in Thurso, Scotland. A graduate in Industrial Design from Edinburgh University and Milan's Domus Academy, Poulton first came into public view in 1989 as the creator of "the ageing pens," pens made from a "living," wearing plastic that changes color and form with use. Today, Neil Poulton designs and develops best-selling, award-winning products for a variety of international clients including LaCie & Artemide. Since 1991, Poulton has lived and worked in Paris, France. www.neilpoulton.com
About LaCie
Located in the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore and Hong Kong, LaCie is the leading manufacturer of computer peripherals for Windows, Apple and Linux users. LaCie creates external storage solutions and color monitors that help professionals and everyday people easily manage their digital lives. LaCie has differentiated its products through original designs and leading-edge technology. Established in France in 1989, LaCie is listed on Euronext under FR0000054314 (LAC). For more information, visit www.lacie.com.
