Addonics has released a compact, inexpensive solution for setting up a network attached storage drive, its Addonics NAS adapter for USB hard drives. The adapter looks simple to set up: you just plug in the power connector, an Ethernet cable, and the USB hard drive of your choice. The software on the device then adds the disk as a network share, accessible from computers on the local network. Since it uses SMB and Samba sharing protocols, you'll be able to access the drive from any Windows, Mac, or Linux machine. In addition to local shares, the adapter provides a built-in FTP server, letting you log in to the drive remotely over the internet. Just like in some of the more expensive NAS options, Addonics's adapter can run its own BitTorrent client, downloading files straight to the drive without having to go through one of your PCs.

At $55, the Addonics NAS is one of the cheapest ways to set up a simple file server for your home. Compared to some of the all-in-one NAS boxes, which can run from $200 to $300 for a 1TB model, you could spend $55 on the Addonics adapter, $15 for a USB hard drive enclosure, and $115 for a 1TB drive for a total of $185. The big savings come if you already have a spare hard drive lying around, and just want to get it up on your network. The Addonics NAS is available for order now through the company's website.

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