NAS or USB drive to stream audio to a Squeezebox ?

Hello All,

Total newbie to PC Audio here. I am sticking my toes in the discless pool for the first time. Have a SQB Touch on the way and just replaced the old wireless g WAP and 10/100 router with a shiny new Netgear WNDR3400 dual band wireless router. In addition to being a wireless b/g/n router it also has a USB port that claims to be a shared storage access point. Netgear calls it Readyshare(tm).
My intent is to install SBS on the drive and build the ripped library ( approx 1.5K CDs ) via a yet to be chosen "ripping" program.

The current configuration has the main pc connected via ethernet, the SQB Touch will also be hardwired as is the office laptop. My personal laptop uses the wireless n.

I guess what I need to know is if I do a NAS, can the main PC be left off while the SQB gets data? Can the same be done with a USB drive connected to the Netgear router? I think I am better off going the NAS route as it can actually run the SBS software independent of the main PC. It would be nice if all the computers on the network could be used as "rippers" as the main PC is in a high traffic location and I would prefer to rip from my laptop upstairs.

I think that FLAC looks like the best and most flexible style or file to rip to initially. What is the best ( least data errors and best metadata accuracy ) program to use? I gave up on being savvy in the computer world almost a decade ago and am somewhat daunted by all the choices out there.

The current 2 channel rig the SQB will drive is:

VPI Aries with 10.5 arm
Dynavector Karat D 17 MK II
Dynavector P-75 Phono Pre
Ayre C 5 Xe disc player
Ayre K1 Xe Line Stage
Ayre V3 X Amplifier
Dunlavy SC-IV Improved Speakers w/ Bi-wire terminals
2 Final Labs SW 220 Subwoofers
Vans Evers Model 83 AC Filter
Richard Grays 400 pro AC conditioner

I will use the SQBs analog outs until I can get a handle on the DAC choice but would consider the Ayre QB-9 or a Wavlength model if I am bold enough to do the USB out mod to the SQB Touch. Otherwisw a Wyred for sound looks promising. Just way too many choice out there.

Any help would be great. Thanks in advance.