I was ready to give this NAS a recommendation, but the problems I encountered after I installed Local Display and Kodi changed my mind. In order for the NAS to boot properly, I had to remove both drives, wait for a while, and then insert them back in place again. I talked about this matter with Thecus, and they informed me that a new firmware slated to be released soon will address this issue. In the performance section, the N2810 Pro fares pretty well due to its quad-core CPU and 4 GB of RAM, which, while upgradeable by replacing the SO-DIMM with another one, isn't easily so since you have to completely take apart the NAS and remove the mainboard. The RAM slot should be easier to access.

The two Ethernet ports and addition of a DisplayPort, besides the HDMI port, are nice additions and increase this server's multimedia capabilities. However, the software still needs work to be able to compete with QNAP's, Synology's, and Asustor's offerings. Thecus is on the right path since the old non-windowed interface is finally gone, but there is still lots of road to cover ahead. In the client-software section, the Thecus Setup Wizard also needs an update, and it would be nice if more mobile apps were available. Moreover, there is no surveillance app, which can be a major letdown to the ever-growing user base looking to use NAS servers with home- or even business-centric security applications.

On the bright side are the fast RAID option, locks on the trays, low vampire power consumption, silent operation, and compatibility with the Btrfs file system, all significant advantages. Should Thecus manage to bring its operating system up to speed with those of other key players quickly, it will have a strong ace up its sleeve since the hardware is capable and the pricing scheme looks good. Seeing Thecus become that fourth addition to the now-existing trio of key players (QNAP, Synology, and Asustor) would be great because it would lower NAS server prices. With a more mature operating system, this feat is easily within Thecus' grasp.