When comparing Western Digital 4TB My Cloud vs Apple AirPort Time Capsule 2TB, the Slant community recommends Western Digital 4TB My Cloud for most people. In the question“What are the best NAS enclosures under $300?” Western Digital 4TB My Cloud is ranked 5th while Apple AirPort Time Capsule 2TB is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose Western Digital 4TB My Cloud is:
This NAS unit comes with a 4TB Western Digital Red Hard Disk pre-installed. Considering that a similar 4TB HDD would cost $150 by itself, this $160 NAS offers great value.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Offers excellent value for money
This NAS unit comes with a 4TB Western Digital Red Hard Disk pre-installed. Considering that a similar 4TB HDD would cost $150 by itself, this $160 NAS offers great value.
Pro Easy access via browser control panel
It has a user-friendly control panel that can be easily accessed with a standard web browser.
Pro USB connectivity
If you hook up a USB storage device, you can access its stored files as a regular NAS storage volume.
Pro An Apple a day...
This is the perfect solution if you are a heavy Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV user. Store movies, music, backups, and more using Time Machine. Access all of that information just as simply, using the built in software for Mac. It really is a calming feeling when all of your tech just talks to each other without you having to go through extra effort.
Pro Its a time capsule
The software is set up to integrate more transparently with Apple's Time Capsule features of MacOS and iOS, reducing some of the setup needed for a non-Apple brand NAS.
Cons
Con Slow GUI
GUI is almost unusable due to lag. Moving files around and organizing files already on the drive is a headache.
Con Available with Western Digital hard disks only
Buying this NAS pre-installed with non-Western Digital hard disks is not possible.
Con No data protection features
As with most single-bay NAS units, you risk losing all of your stored data in the event of a disk failure. You can still use an external USB drive to manually backup your files every once in a while, though.
Con Official documentation leaves much to be desired
The documentation lacks important technical parameters such as CPU, RAM size and type, power consumption and even read/write speed. The Western Digital web resource also doesn’t include a list of compatible applications.
Con Combining multiple needs increases impact during a failure
With both router and backup / NAS in one device, if either part fails you risk losing both services. I had one and had the hard drive fail, which would have meant losing my wireless service while it was out to be repaired, so in the end I lost my backup / central network share capability.
Con Cross compatibility issues with PCs
Apple is notorious for not allowing easy cross compatibility with PC's. That doesn't stop you from connecting your PC to it, you just have to go through some extra steps.
Con Lack of storage
Not much a way of upgrade options. Unless you are savvy and willing to forgo a manufacturers warranty, then the sky is the limit.