In a recently announced partnership, Linksys and Maxtor have created a device that lets an external hard drive connect to a wireless router, allowing PCs to tap into the storage and share files without any physical link to the drive.

What I really need is some kind of wireless SAN for my home, where all media could be contained in a kind of databank that serves as a central repository for movies, music and everything else. This news may bring the reality of such a device closer.

Bob O'Donnell, analyst at research firm IDC, said the technology seems like a miniature version of so-called network-attached storage, which refers to specialized computers that serve up files over networks and are typically found in larger companies. "It's bringing network-attached storage down from the high end of the enterprise to the small office and home," he said. "It's just a logical extension."

More here.

Why use cable-based NAS when you can have enough lost packets and radio interference for your whole family!