The cloud is great and all, but years after the hype has died down, people have come to realize its not the data storage panacea they thought it would be. Yes, it provides access to files on any device and anywhere you are, but youre really at the mercy of a stable and reliable Internet connection. Plus, youre forced to accept and believe in the privacy policy of cloud storage providers, not to mention hoping against all hope they never go under, get taken down, or simply block your account for one reason or another.Network-attached storage or NAS devices offer a bit of a compromise in that regard, providing oodles of data storage space you can access locally or remotely, depending on your setup. Most NAS products, however, have a fixed number of slots for drives and an aesthetic that looks like youre running a mini server from your desk. This fresh new NAS design, however, bucks the trend by providing not only a modular system that you can fit your needs but also an aesthetic object you can proudly display on your desk.Designer: Whipsaw for GridStackAlthough the technical details might be a bit complicated, the concept behind a NAS is pretty straightforward. You basically have a box that holds a collection of hard drives or SSDs to serve as a single data storage space or, alternatively split between storage and automated backups. These are often placed in homes and small offices and can be accessed through a fast wired connection or a local wireless network. They can even be configured to be remotely accessible, practically giving you your personal cloud storage.These NAS products have been around for many years, preceding even the birth of the cloud, and their designs havent exactly evolved over time. You still have a box, often silver or black, with bays or holders for storage drives. Theyre designed for functionality and not for looks as if those two are mutually exclusive goals. They also have a fixed number of bays available, requiring you to buy another box if you ever need more.In that regard, GridStack is rather innovative in that it goes beyond the simple slot-based design to allow for some level of flexibility to add drives or change the type of drives you need. In practice, it means having two boxes that can hold a combination of two HDDs or five SSDs, but the twist is that you can remove these boxes and swap them out for one or the other combination. It doesnt just offer more slots than a typical five-bay NAS but also the ability to change those on the fly as well.The most striking part about GridStack, however, is its aesthetics. Designed with creative professionals in mind, the solid aluminum blocks give the device a more premium and stylish appearance that doesnt scream tech at you. Considering its bound to be left untouched for long periods of time, GridStack is intentionally designed to look good and stand proud on any desk, perhaps trying to reflect the sophisticated tastes of its owner.The post Modular NAS box offers a sleek and future-proof data storage solution first appeared on Yanko Design.