Reviews round-up: NAS storage and custom Linux

Buffalo's latest NAS may not have changed in external appearance for some time, but we all know that it's what's inside that counts.

Version III offers a lot of performance and a much improved interface over the old models, to earn itself one of our Recommended awards.

Suse Studio

One of the best things about open source is that it enables you to create custom versions of the whole OS. Suse Studio makes it amazingly straightforward using a GUI instead of a console. Clever stuff for the Linux crowd.

QNAP TS-809U-RP Turbo NAS

QNAP has previously focused on consumers, but with this 2U 8-bay hot swappable NAS it has firmly set its sights on the business market, and definitely impressed our reviewer in the process.

Virgin Media Freedom Mini-Laptop

If you've ever wondered what the bundled netbooks machines that come with network deals are like, then you'll be interested to read our review of the Virgin Media Freedom netbook. It's not bad in a lot of respects, but unsurprisingly it also has some real weaknesses.

Dell Adamo laptop

It's taken a while for Dell to come up with something as desirable as Apple's Macbook Air, but with the Adamo, it certainly has made a good stab at it. If you like the style of the Air but want a Windows machine this has to be top of your shortlist.

Benny Har-Even is a twenty-year stalwart of technology journalism who is passionate about all areas of the industry, but telecoms and mobile and home entertainment are among his chief interests. He has written for many of the leading tech publications in the UK, such as PC Pro and Wired, and previously held the position of technology editor at ITPro before regularly contributing as a freelancer.

Known affectionately as a ‘geek’ to his friends, his passion has seen him land opportunities to speak about technology on BBC television broadcasts, as well as a number of speaking engagements at industry events.