Review: Apple Time Capsule

Well-designed network storage device, lacking one important feature

Time Capsule is primarily intended as a storage device for Mac owners using the Time Machine backup program included with OSX.

However, it can also be used with Windows PCs or on a mixed Mac and PC network. Time Capsule is, essentially, an 802.11n wireless router with a network hard disk built into it so that everyone on the network can share data. Our review unit was the £199 500GB model, but there’s also a 1TB version for £329.

Apple is often criticised for high prices, but Time Capsule compares well to similar devices, such as Freecom’s wireless Storage Gateway, which costs £224 for the 500GB version. As you’d expect from Apple, the Time Capsule is easy to set up and use. A simple installer program guides you through the process of creating a new wireless network or adding the Time Capsule to an existing network.

The unit also has three Gigabit Lan ports for wired connections, and a USB port that can be used to connect and share additional devices on the network, such as a printer or another hard disk. Setting up the Time Capsule is straightforward enough, but although it features a Wan port for cable broadband users, it doesn’t include a built-in modem.

ADSL broadband subscribers will need to connect the Time Capsule to an existing modem/router in order to maintain their internet connection. If you’ve already got a wireless router, you would probably be better off buying a standalone network-attached storage drive (500GB models can be picked up for just over £100).

This leaves Time Capsule as an option for people who want to upgrade a wired network, but even then its lack of a built-in ADSL modem means it will only live up to its full potential when used in conjunction with a cable broadband service.