Not every cloud has a silver lining

Mom always says that living with your head in the clouds often leads to unrealistic expectations. But when it comes to data, living in the clouds is perfectly acceptable -- desirable even. After all, it’s a trivial matter to store gigabytes of files on third-party servers for access wherever you can get a network connection. But what if you want to store all of that data on your own turf? And what if you’d rather avoid the complexities of setting up remote network access? Both the Buffalo CloudStor and Iomega Home Media Network Hard Drive, Cloud Edition aim to solve these issues -- with varying degrees of success.

Traditionally, setting up network storage hasn’t been something we’d call “easy.” But it only took a few clicks to get the CloudStor up and running. We could access our device at myCloudStor.com, by using the Pogoplug software on a Mac, or via any of the available mobile applications for iOS and Android.

Two drives, one cloud. Which one will it be?

Like most network storage, the software is the real driving force, although CloudStor does have an empty second drive bay if you need more space. The Pogoplug Mac app is unintrusive, and the CloudStor’s web-based services allow you to privately share files, organize and access your data remotely, and stream music and movies to any computer or local PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. CloudStor can download torrents so that they’re ready when you get home, and it allocates storage to share with others. The software also shares files via URL, allows remote access to connected printers, and streams videos to iOS devices. It’s an impressive package.

Iomega’s Home Media Network Hard Drive, Cloud Edition is also packed with features. Inside, there’s a fast 7200-rpm drive, and outside, there’s a USB port that lets you add additional storage. It also downloads torrents, supports Time Machine, and can resize stored photos before sharing them automatically to sites like Facebook and Flickr.

Unlike installing the CloudStor, setting up Iomega’s drive was far from simple. We had to configure port forwarding on our router -- a feat that can be daunting for networking noobs, especially for those with routers that don’t offer UPnP support. Iomega’s Personal Cloud is supposed to work seamlessly, but getting the thing going requires some deft Googling, along with lots of frustration and trial-and-error. Unfortunately, Iomega’s skimpy documentation is almost laughable, and they want additional cash if you need phone support. The frustration of setting up the drive nearly negated the fact that the software interface is actually very user-friendly and setting up the other features was fairly intuitive.

The bottom line. Buffalo’s CloudStor is the sure-fire winner for its easy setup and user-friendly software. It offers the convenience of the cloud -- and the security of knowing exactly where the cloud is.

CloudStor

Buffalo
buffalocloudstor.com

Price: $159.99, 1TB; $219.99, 2TB

Requirements: Mac OS 10.6 or later, router with Ethernet port

Pros: Simple setup. Transcodes video for streaming. RAID support with optional second hard drive. Simple, free remote access.

Cons: Streaming to videogame consoles is limited to 640x480. Limited local network functions.

Home Media Network Hard Drive, Cloud Edition

Iomega
iomega.com

Price: $169.99, 1TB; $229.99, 2TB

Requirements: Mac OS 10.3 or later, UPnP-compatible router with Ethernet port

Pros: Software is easy to navigate. Social-networking integration for media. Integrates with iTunes and works with Time Machine.

Cons: Remote access requires port forwarding and a router that’s UPnP-enabled. Paid subscription required after first year.