External HD question

The Mac Mini is actually a pretty cost-effective music server with good performance, so I wouldn't just dismiss it out of hand.

The easiest and most cost-effective solution, though, I feel is the Squeezebox. I'm a huge fan of them, and have several of them throughout the house. Keep in mind that you may eventually want to get a dedicated music server (such as a Mac Mini running Squeezebox server software) rather than running everything off your laptop, although that is certainly an option.

Michael

My understanding is that the squeezebox touch can use certain NAS units (external hard drives with some networking logic incorporated into it) and remove the need for a computer. Otherwise, the server software runs on just about any computer and operating system.

Michael

Dcowen, that's pretty much exactly what I do. I use a computer I built several years ago from a few parts from Newegg for $4-500 or so, and run Linux. It runs the Logitech media server and has worked flawlessly for years.

But the Mac Mini is a slick solution, and is inherently a low-profile chassis that will work well near the audio gear.

Michael

Mwheelerk, I looked at the Bryston product you mentioned on their website. It seems interesting, but I don't think it's what the OP is going for. For one, it costs north of $2000, and still requires a computer to rip CD's and tag music and collect files onto a USB drive to hook into the Bryston thing. It looks to me like Bryston has made its own version of the Logitech Transporter at twice the cost. And the Transporter gives you access to Logitech's free multi-platform music server that can be run on just about any machine.

For someone who was concerned about the price of a new Mac Mini (under $1000), that's very steep, especially since it doesn't alleviate his need for a computer.

I still think that at the moment the Squeezebox and a DIY PC (Linux or Windows) vs Mac Mini represents the best bang for the buck and most flexible option among music servers (it retains the ability to handle multiple systems at once, which a computer-only option direct-wired to a DAC doesn't). It's frustrating, though, that more manufacturers haven't offered a good, effective solution at a competitive price. After all, storage space is cheap (even with the flooding in Thailand that interfered with Western Digital's hard drive manufacturing and drove up prices) and networking interfaces are cheap. That's really 90% of what a music server really needs.

I still think there's a big opportunity for a manufacturer to come up with a slick and inexpensive solution to this problem.

Michael