Some ppl pointed out you can. NAS it's just a tiny computer with a dedicated enclosure running 24/7 with a lot of services running to do multiple things because...is running 24/7! Is you just want to upload some files for a backup is better an external HDD through USB. Connect, upload, disconnect.
If you want your computer do more things you have to check how the computer handle these services by software or hardware(hardware better) A list of questions:
It support aspm (yes/not)
It support virtualization.
BIOS come with a dedicated raid chip
How many video codecs the processor/iGPU can decode
Ethernet port is, at least, gigabit
RAM is >4GB
You're willing to spend time configuring and taking care of the thing
If a few of questions, or all, are NO I think it's better to invest in an external USB HDD case.
Some ppl pointed out you can. NAS it's just a tiny computer with a dedicated enclosure running 24/7 with a lot of services running to do multiple things because...is running 24/7! Is you just want to upload some files for a backup is better an external HDD through USB. Connect, upload, disconnect.
If you want your computer do more things you have to check how the computer handle these services by software or hardware(hardware better) A list of questions:
If a few of questions, or all, are NO I think it's better to invest in an external USB HDD case.