I get very excited when I get a new case in the lab for review. I get even more excited when the case comes from BitFenix. BitFenix has been quietly making some of the best computer cases out there. Their signature SofTouch Surface Treatment is simply amazing. Having gained popularity with their Colossus case, BitFenix has decided to bring all that style and pizzazz to the Mini ITX platform, and dubbed it the Colossus Mini-ITX.

QNAP® Systems, Inc. today announced that its NAS officially supports Kodi (formerly XBMC) Entertainment Center. Users of x51, x53, x70, x71, x79 and x80 series NAS now can install Kodi in HD Station to enjoy an improved entertainment experience.

Qnap has released an update their QTS Operating System. This update addresses some concerns about OpenSSL versions as will as fixes some annoyances.

Just when I thought it was safe to open a box again, Thecus drops one at my door and tells me that they have produced the First Ever Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Essentials NAS. After coming hot off the heals of the Buffalo WSS 5400 NAS review, I thought I would have a break to get back to some good ole fashioned Linux based NAS reviews, I guess not. Having liked the Buffalo NAS, I can't wait to see what Thecus is able to accomplish with their W5000 5-Bay premium NAS.

Thecus Technology Corp. has recently released a firmware update for the ThecusOS 5.0 software that includes new features and fixes to further the functionality and effectiveness of Thecus NAS servers.

ASUSTOR Inc., a leading innovator and provider of network storage solutions, has announced that it is releasing the ASUSTOR Data Master (ADM) 2.4 operating system for all of its NAS devices. All ASUSTOR NAS users will be able to upgrade online to ADM 2.4, in order to enjoy newly added and enhanced core functions that optimize the user experience and increase overall system performance.

Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Microsoft drops another one on my lap. I had already covered what I thought was Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 and its functions and flavors when I learned about Essentials. Essentials is still built for a NAS device, but it adds some fantastic functionality to the platform. Some of these include Active Directory Services, Computer Backups, and IIS.

Thecus today announced that they will begin offering users an upgraded version of the Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Essentials NAS that will come equipped with 4 GB of DDR3 RAM. The Windows-based NAS are also outfitted with an embedded SSD/SSHD which houses the software.

QNAP®, Inc. today proudly announced that the new Plex Media Server app has been published and is available for the TS-x31 Turbo NAS line up via free download in the QTS App Center. By installing the Plex Media Server app on to your QNAP NAS, you can view your favorite videos, movies, TV shows, music, and photos can be via popular media streaming devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Roku, or Chromecast, as well as your smart TV.

In 2013, we published an article on building your own NAS for an affordable storage solution.  Well, there was such a positive reaction and such demand for an updated NAS build, I decided that it is high-time I revisit this article with a parts list relevant to 2015.