The Shared Storage II doesn't just set up shared folders; it creates a hierarchy of subfolders within each that include My Documents, My Backup, My Library, My Movies, My Music, My Photos, My Sites and My Software, as well as a shortcut to the Public folder (which contains a similarly named set of subfolders). Users can turn on a feature that lets you drag and drop files on the shared drive and have them automatically sorted into the correct folder based file type.

EasyManage includes a rudimentary backup feature that backs up data from workstations to the My Backups subfolder on the shared disk. The user can select which files and folders to back up, can opt to save up to 10 "historical versions" of each file, and can schedule the time of day and days of the week for backups to take place. EasyManage can't back up data from the shared disk to a local disk, although it can be configured to back up to a USB-attached hard disk drive.

There are no options to use compression or to encrypt backup files. On the plus side, the backup software can be used on more than one Mac or PC client without paying additional license fees.

Recommendations

All of the units performed capably, so the type of unit you choose really depends on your needs, the price you're willing to pay, and which features you prefer.