Network getting there...slowly but surely!

[Toonaroond]

Ok, so having got my Helios 3000 in use as my main DVD/CD player in the sitting room and hooked it up to my TV, PJ and Amp/speakers I have also now run my LAN cable to it from the router. Much to my relief, this all worked very well (for a novice like me) and I can now see my computer on the Helios menu and play the music and photo files on it with no problem - phew!

Now, the music I have on my computer is in WMA 192kbps format and i must admit that this sounds fine to me bearing in mind the quality of the amp and speakers in that room - are there any other reasons why I should rip music in any other format as I look to add the remainder of my CDs? (I'm happy with the sound quality as i is)

Next it's on to video, I want to rip DVDs without all the extras and languages etc and was going to use Divx for this...but then someone said XVid is better....anyway I'll have a go with both.

The final piece of the jigsaw will be a NAS - for cost reasons it will be one of these i think
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000N9508...=idealocouk-21

Any reason why i should choose something else??? (can't spend over £150).

Thanks

[mjb-av]

I have the NAS you are looking at getting, it's a great piece of kit but keep it out of sight, cos the hard-drive crackles quite abit and there is no auto-shutdown when it's not in use.

But a plus point is you can connect 2x hard-drives at the rear of the unit via the 2x USB 2.0 connectors. (you may have to reformat the additional drives via the NAS, not to sure have not done this)

[chris57]

What about the Linksys NAS200 its another cheap NAS solution:-
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Network-Stor...7338707&sr=1-1
Review here:-
http://www.mpcclub.com/banner_log.php?id=5050

[rhubarbe]

Cheap NAS on this page (Monday so be quick before they change it). Otherwise search for Thecus, also at Scan.

As an AV Forums member you can register to get free delivery from Scan.

[Toonaroond]

mjb-av - cheers that's reassuring

Chris57 - I like the look of the Linksys, especially the fact that you can add extra storage to suit...hmmm, that gives me something to think about.

Rhubarbe - thanks for the tip about scan. I'm not savvy enough to see why the Thecus would be better than the other two though - could you fill in the balnks for me?

Basically I want something that's very simple to set up and run, will stream music and video smoothly and costs about 150 quid - which of the above fits that criteria best do you think?

Cheers

[rhubarbe]

I just thought they might be cheaper....

[Toonaroond]

That would most certainly be of interest then

Unfortunately, originally I could only find this deal for £200 w/o HDD http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=288569

now I see there's this as well.... http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=540581

but still I'm none the wiser as to what to go for