Today we review the Thecus W4000+,- a NAS unit that doesn't run Linux for a change. No Sir, its operating system is Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Essentials (WSS). Armed with WSS you receive a NAS unit that really is a complete server with expensive software. You navigate in a Windows environment and while using all the luxurious options and features that come along with it.

The Windows Storage Server 2012 R2 Essentials enabled NAS unit we received is in fact the W4000+ model, the initial models all came with 2 GB of RAM memory, combined with a Windows OS that is a little on the shy side. The 4000+ (the + is the difference) is a model that is factory equipped with 4 GB or SODIMM RAM memory, giving this product the breathing space it needs.

A NAS unit armed with a smooth software DNA and priced competitive against the big guns in the industry like Qnap, Synology, Netgear and Asustor. We went blank into this review as we never had tested this brand before, but with very nice hardware and armed with WSS the W4000+ is not only a fast file server, it's also very configurable with applications for streaming and downloading as well, this is a full blown server you can place inside your office or use it to feed all your PCs and streaming devices. Being WSS based, this NAS unit does cater more towards a SOHO (small office home office) environment, and likely appeals a little less to the more regular end-user. However WSS offers just so much, from stability, to security and is easily patched by windows update. It is a 64-bit operating system that runs and looks like Windows 8. This means you can also install all kinds of application like a FTP FileZilla server or you favorite torrent and usenet applications.