Pogoplug was originally a hardware company that has recently dabbled in the art of cloud storage. Presently, Pogoplug offers up to 5GB of free storage to users everywhere. Even though Pogoplug’s cloud storage offering has gone over relatively well, this company is heading back to its hardware roots. Pogoplug has just created the Pogoplug 4, which is, essentially, a miniature hard drive that aims to be simpler to set up than the average NAS (Network Attached Storage).

Pogoplug 4 is a new mini hard drive that was built to sit on your desktop and provide a pleasing alternative to various other cloud storage options. This device retails for $99.99 and looks a lot like you’d expect a storage drive to look, though slightly more appealing (covered in black plastic and nicely contoured to fit into today’s contemporary design world). What this device actually does is allow users to connect many different drives to the device. In addition, Pogoplug has also made it possible for the Series 4 to link up with Pogoplug’s cloud storage offerings in addition to various apps.

The Setup Process

If you’ve ever wrestled with a NAS before, you know just how hard these storage options are to configure. Thankfully, Pogoplug 4 is nothing like a NAS. Instead, this storage device is really easy to set up. After unloading the device from its box, all you have to do is connect it to your router (Ethernet cable provided) and find a power source for your new box. Then, follow the instructions (included in-box ) that will lead you to the Pogoplug setup site. From there, the site will tell you exactly what to do.

Following the directions listed on the Pogoplug site is simple and effective. You won’t have any problem getting this drive up and running. What’s even more important to know is that you can move your Pogoplug around from computer to computer and you won’t have to go through the setup process more than once. This device simply remembers that you’ve already gone through the setup steps, so you don’t have to worry about messing around with it twice.

Ports and Slots Galore

The Pogoplug 4 was designed to make life easier for users. As such, this storage device comes with a SD card slot, two USB 3.0 ports, SATA connectors, Ethernet jack, power port, and one USB 2.0 port. The one thing that the Pogoplug 4 doesn’t come with connectivity-wise is a Firewire port – keep this in mind if you aim to use Firewire.

Software and Availability

The software that comes with the Pogoplug 4 is compatible with PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, and iPad. Everything about the software that is included with the Pogoplug 4 is fairly standard. You’ll find file viewing folders and the option to view all media sources at once. Interface-wise, it’s easy to navigate the Pogoplug 4’s software and everything is fairly straightforward. If you love the idea of the Pogoplug 4, you can purchase this storage device right now from the Pogoplug website.