Asustor delivered another good product that is right in line with current trends as this NAS device also acts as a multimedia center. This is a mainstream NAS server, so the hardware it uses isn't topnotch to keep its price low enough, and while I wasn't expecting miracles in terms of performance, network transfer speeds with RAID 5 and RAID 6 were indeed low. The AS-204TE did, on the other hand, manage to impress me with its performance in the multiclient tests I conducted since it handled the increasing demands of the clients I connected well. The small Atom CPU it is equipped with must hide more than meets the eye; however, I also installed XBMC and wasn't too impressed by the responsiveness of its player interface, and a software bug probably didn't allow any M2TS file to be reproduced. But all ultra-high bit-rate MKV files I tried were reproduced almost flawlessly, which has me convinced that the AS-204TE's multimedia capabilities will also satisfy the general multimedia habits of most users. Those who want more, including a snappier XBMC interface, which would be rather demanding on the hardware, had better go with an Asustor 3 or 6 Series model; that is, if they can afford to spend more. It also boils down to your needs and whether this unit's low-clocked Atom CPU and 1 GB of DDR 3 RAM you cannot upgrade are enough for you.

One of the strongest advantages of Asustor products definitely is the ADM operating system, which, in a small period of time, has managed to match and, in some instances, even surpass those of the competition. Don't forget that Asustor is a fresh company on the NAS scene that has, despite this fact, managed to build an impressive platform they support with frequent updates and a huge number of application packages you will find in Asustor's Application Center. With such strong software support, you will surely not be left unsatisfied; you are bound to find the apps that suit your needs amongst those available. Moving on to the downsides I spotted in this product, I should start with the RAM you cannot upgrade. I think that one more GB of memory would make a significant difference with XBMC performance, which would be a huge boon given Asustor puts a light on this product's multimedia features. I would also like to at least see one eSATA port, and it would be nice if they numbered the HDD trays and their slots. ADM has, moving on to the software, improved a lot compared to my last experience with it, although Asustor still hasn't provided the option to resize desktop windows, which is considered a must for a GUI. I would also like to see some widgets, and while Asustor mentions sleep mode in the product's specifications, I couldn't find the option anywhere. Finally, I don't think the CPU's temperature is always stuck at 72-73°C in auto-fan-speed mode, which I also took note of with the AS-302T. These temperature readings seems to be the fault of a software bug or overly sensitive sensors. However, I should also mention that CPU temperatures did drop to 68°C once I set the fans to rotate as fast as possible. Either way, I definitely think that Asustor should look into this matter.

To conclude today's review: The AS-204TE surely doesn't come cheap, although it belongs to Asustor's mainstream NAS series; however, it packs many interesting features, including several multimedia ones that will allow you to get rid of your old media player to replace it with a device that does it all while taking up almost the same amount space. Even the for PC standards weak CPU will suffice in most cases and will net you bottom-low energy consumption numbers, which is an incredibly highly sought after feature in NAS servers since they are supposed to operate around the clock.