Yesterday, 08:06 AM
Thanks for your message and for outlining your needs so clearly — it makes recommending the right NAS much easier. For a first-time setup with ease of use, solid cross-platform compatibility, and long-term reliability, both options you’ve shortlisted are valid, but there are some differences that might help you decide.
If ease of use, reliability, and long-term software support matter most, I would lean toward the Synology DS224+. Synology’s DSM software is widely considered the most beginner-friendly NAS platform, with great support for:
• Backing up both Windows and macOS devices
• Simple remote access via QuickConnect or Tailscale VPN
• Synology Photos for managing and viewing photos from mobile and desktop
• VideoStation or Plex for streaming to a Smart TV (via DLNA, Chromecast, or native apps)
• Built-in VPN server and easy file sharing over the internet
• Smooth integration with iOS apps and Windows Explorer/Mac Finder
You won’t be using SSDs to their full potential with this NAS, but it will still feel very fast for photo/media storage and file sharing. And Synology now supports SSD-only volumes, so your setup will still benefit from quieter operation and lower power use.
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If you prefer to go all-in on SSD performance, the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro (or F4-424 if you’re on a tighter budget) is more powerful hardware-wise, especially for 4 x SSD configurations. You’ll get:
• Full NVMe or SATA SSD support, depending on the model
• Faster file transfers, ideal if you’re working with large photo/video libraries
• Support for Plex and Docker if you want more advanced apps later
• TOS 5.x software — not quite as polished as Synology DSM, but usable for most tasks once set up
That said, TerraMaster’s platform is more hands-on, so it’s a better fit if you’re okay with spending a little more time learning the interface and setting up things manually.
If ease of use, reliability, and long-term software support matter most, I would lean toward the Synology DS224+. Synology’s DSM software is widely considered the most beginner-friendly NAS platform, with great support for:
• Backing up both Windows and macOS devices
• Simple remote access via QuickConnect or Tailscale VPN
• Synology Photos for managing and viewing photos from mobile and desktop
• VideoStation or Plex for streaming to a Smart TV (via DLNA, Chromecast, or native apps)
• Built-in VPN server and easy file sharing over the internet
• Smooth integration with iOS apps and Windows Explorer/Mac Finder
You won’t be using SSDs to their full potential with this NAS, but it will still feel very fast for photo/media storage and file sharing. And Synology now supports SSD-only volumes, so your setup will still benefit from quieter operation and lower power use.
⸻
If you prefer to go all-in on SSD performance, the TerraMaster F4-424 Pro (or F4-424 if you’re on a tighter budget) is more powerful hardware-wise, especially for 4 x SSD configurations. You’ll get:
• Full NVMe or SATA SSD support, depending on the model
• Faster file transfers, ideal if you’re working with large photo/video libraries
• Support for Plex and Docker if you want more advanced apps later
• TOS 5.x software — not quite as polished as Synology DSM, but usable for most tasks once set up
That said, TerraMaster’s platform is more hands-on, so it’s a better fit if you’re okay with spending a little more time learning the interface and setting up things manually.