I just set up my first hard wired home network and during that install I decided to get a NAS for media and backup storage so I was torn between a QNAP and a Synology. I made the change a while ago to leave windows behind and have never looked back, most of my stuff is Mac now. I do have one Windows 7 box in the house which is sitting at my 6 year old son's desk.
The QNAP works with either OS as does the Synology. All of the various research I did kept pointing me to the Synology if you are a Mac user and also if you are like me, a first time NAS person, the Synology is a little easier to set up. I don't see how it could possibly be any easier to set up because other than a little time, it has so far been fool proof. Everything I've done on the NAS so far has worked perfectly with ZERO issues. Originally I was going to get the 2-Bay Synology but than started thinking media server and I opted to choose the DS916+ for future expansion, either by swapping in bigger drives and/or adding the DX513 expansion bay. I also went with the 8GB model and am running (4) 3TB WD Red drives that I bought used off of Ebay so I could just about how much storage I do need before going out ad buying something like four 8 or 10TB drives for a whole bunch of money. This set up will leave you close to 8TB of fillable space with the option of losing one drive without data loss. I have been backing up my DVD collection in MKV format and storing it on the NAS so I can send it out to any SmartTV in the house. I've also now installed Plex Server on the NAS and can view my collection on pretty much any device I choose in the world as it is transcoded accordingly depending on which device is pulling it. Right now I am using the free Plex account and it can do anything I need it to but I am going to get a Plex Pass so I can have the option of the parental controls as well as being flat out lazy automation with the Amazon Alexa. I've set it up where I don't even have to pick up a remote in the living room, talk about lazy-arse, I just tell Alexa, by voice, to fire up the Apple TV and have Plex play Hacksaw Ridge and it does it. Plex integrates with Alexa so that is pretty much the only reason I am going to spend the money for something I'll probably never use, particularly since I've already set up my iPhone to do the same action by the push of one button, that is an Apple TV icon but without using my voice, turns on all the designated equipment, selects the right device such as the tuner and tv as well as selecting the appropriate source, i.e. "DVD", or Satellite on the tuner. The media center stuff that is free with Synology looks pretty close to Plex, costs nothing to use, and has the parental controls but I do not think it integrates with Alexa. I may try it before paying for the Plex pass, may not, dunno. I've set up the Plex app on the Apple TV in our living room since I have a Plasma screen in there and it is a dumb tv and so far, everything has worked flawlessly. I'm using the newest model Airport Extreme Base Station, TP-Link Unmanaged 24-port Gigabit switch, and a TRENDnet 24-port patch panel. I have never installed any of this stuff before, not once, and knock on wood, so far it has all worked perfectly. I also pick up the CP1500AVRLCD UPS from Great Offer Stock but I have not put it in yet so I won't comment on it at the moment. I still need to feed some cables through the wall, punch 'em down and final run all the wiring at the patch panel. I just have everything connected at the moment to get everything working to make sure everything plays nice together. Fantastic unit and would absolutely purchase again. I'll add photo when I get a chance to complete the install, hopeful within 7 or so days. Everything that is not hard wired right now is running off of the AEBS at almost the full limit of my cable internet speed so I have a couple of things that need priority before I finish this up. I've already run all my cabling through the attic so it shouldn't take more than a day or two to finish. The DS916+ comes with a bunch of pre-installed stuff such as Plex and the Synology Video Station software, all cloud and server based utilities, and even an iTunes server which I have not installed yet but probably will and may run it separately from Plex. I've read that you get better transcoding performance running the Synology software but I wanted to try the Plex first because of Alexa. You get more functionality (from what I've read so far) with the Sinology NAS software vs. the free Plex account. Plex has been around for a while and has great reviews. Synology Video Station had bad reviews before but I have read nothing but good stuff on their newest update. If I get over the novelty of the Alexa voice control, I'll certainly install Video station. Ill update and put up a pic when I finish the install.
