Certainly, for some users, the user experience with NAS may not be ideal, especially when compared to the rich applications and free services available on PCs. However, the appeal of NAS to many stems from a strong desire for the privatization of network services. These services have long been monopolized by a few large companies, and if everyone can easily control these services, the profit models of these big companies will face significant disruption.
Therefore, it is challenging to see the decentralization of technology and the launch of network applications suitable for ordinary users by large companies. Instead, only some small companies are developing servers with simple hardware, low system performance, and a lack of applications – these are what we call NAS.
For many novice users in the network space, the primary purpose of NAS may simply be to serve as a download machine for PT or as a personal cloud and shared drive for backing up data and sharing files within the home. Of course, the functionality of NAS is not limited to this, but for many users, these basic features may already meet their needs.
Despite the room for improvement in the application experience of NAS, the underlying idea of data privatization and security is gradually being understood by more people, driven by the increasing awareness of cybersecurity. Especially with the widespread adoption of cloud computing and the frequent occurrence of data breaches, people's desire for control over their data has become stronger. NAS precisely offers such a possibility, allowing users to control their data at home, serving as a guarantee for data security.
On the other hand, NAS is not just a data storage device; it is also a personal cloud service center. By incorporating various applications, NAS can achieve various functions such as multimedia playback, web services, and automation tasks. Although most NAS products in the market currently have a limited range of applications, with the development of the open-source community, more applications are being developed, enriching the possibilities of NAS.
At the same time, for some technically proficient users, they can customize and develop NAS to better suit their needs. This flexibility is also part of the charm of NAS.
In the future, with the continuous advancement of technology and the development of the open-source community, we can expect to see more excellent NAS products. These products will not only improve in hardware performance but also provide more choices in terms of systems and applications. All of these developments will transform NAS from a simple data storage device into a true home cloud service center, meeting users' demands for data security and privatization.