I have a purpose built music server, which I will continue to use when I get a Touch - the touch will just be the interface.
Advantages of server over Touch + USB drive: 1. Don't like USB drives - prefer internal drives. I can upgrade internal drive to larger or SSD drive as needed. 2. My server is fanless and virtually silent. Purpose setup as music server. 3. My server is not particularly powerful (ATOM 330 + 2GB RAM) but it performs flawlessly with all types of files and hi-res. Better than any USB external drive. Gives wired and wireless capability, File transfer, tagging and other functions are faster. Integration with home network is better than with external USB drive. 4. Windows based, so it gives me compatibility with lots of existing software and lots of flexibility in terms of installing any program I want on the server, etc. 5. If I decide to change operating system, dump the Squeezebox system, or go to VortexBox software, no problem: I just convert server to setup I want. 6. I also have my server setup to automatically rip bit perfect copies of CDs and tag them on insertion to drive (like VortexBox). 7. I have enough storage capacity on server to act as Backup for my main (non music server), and to do double backup of my ripped music files on second hard drive. None of these reasons may appeal to you, but for me they they make music server superior to Touch plus external HDD. However, I think the Touch and an external HD are a very good solution in general, and certainly more economical than the method I've chosen. -- firedog Tranquil PC fanless WHS server running SqueezeCenter; SB Duet through Empirical Audio Pace Car; MF X-150 amp, Devore Super 8 Speakers; Mirage MS-12 sub; Dual 506 + Ortofon 20 (occasional use); sometimes use PC with M-Audio 192 as digital source. SB Boom. Arcam CD82 which I don't use anymore, even though it's a very good player. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ firedog's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=11550 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=76721 _______________________________________________ Touch mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/touch
