> I've also realised that, when I get a second computer, I'm going to > have to have some kind of shared storage (i.e. file server) for emails > etc.
Use the gruntiest as primary workstation and server for the secondary workstation. Simple, cheap, done. > I've heard that some of the ADSL/switch/wireless combo units also > have a USB port for attaching a USB storage device which can then be > accessed as a network file store. Uggggh, I'd hate to see that drive performance. Desktop IDE disks are cheaper too. If you need portable file transfer, buy a flash drive big enough for all the files you need to transfer. Some scripting can easily reduce the transfer storage requirement to those files having actually been changed. > If so, can anyone > recommend a server that is cheap, low power, small, and quiet. Very low power and very quiet: mini-itx. These systems are a pain and a half to put together, and are mainly aimed at the put-it-in-a-car market. CPU grunt is mid range for their top performers. Shuttle systems. Quieter, smaller, but use non-standard components. Make sure you buy a full expanded system, you won't be able to put more things in afterwards, like you expect to be able to with a desktop system. Neither of the above two is cheaper than a desktop (I looked at both just last week from the point of view of mythtv). Volker -- Volker Kuhlmann is possibly list0570 with the domain in header http://volker.dnsalias.net/ Please do not CC list postings to me.
