[otm]

Hello, This is a simple request (I hope!!!!)

I am looking for a dead basic (But that doesn't have to mean Bad!) Media streamer device.

My mum and Dad (Note its my Parent's, therefore ease of use is a MUST) want all their Music CD collection digitally stored and at the touch of a button to the sound rig.

I would like to put a Hdd into it (probs 1Tb) so various PC's don't need to be on etc.. It need to be accessible by 2 pc's but also upto 4 at times (Therefore network conectivity is a must!!)

User interface needs to be good, and play songs in .mp3/itunes format/.wma

Video streaming isn't a must, but would be nice every now and again...

Does anyone have any ideas

PS. price range is under £300 w/o hdd

Cheers,

Owen

[Matt_C]

You don't say how you want them to navigate - is this to be plugged into the TV for the interface?

How about an Apple TV, connecting to a NAS that can run as an iTunes server? (Sorry if I'm off here, not having one I don't know exactly how they work - I know they play whats in your iTunes on your PC, but presume they can run from a network storage device that has an iTunes server?)

Undoubtedly it has the easiest, and prettiest, user interface!

Or a windows PC - just a small net box that can connect to a network with network storage, allowing them to use Windows Media Player to play music - also very simple to navigate through.

[otm]

Hello Matt C,

I have been doing some research over apple TV, and from what I've found, Yes it can work with a NAS, but a PC has to be on Which is less that ideal.....

I'm not keen on the idea of a PC, I have seen numerous reviews of the popcorn hour A-100, but that appears to be unavaliable to get anymore, But I have seen the popcorn hour A-110, and although the reviews I have read have said this is not any much of an improvment over the A-100, I am wondering if that will do?

Does anyone have any comment about the A-110?

Thank You,

Owen.

PS. With the A-110 I have heard from a few review sites that its ordering of audio files is clumsy, un ordered, and frankly pretty bad. These reviews were made a while ago, Can someone who owns one please set my mind to rest... Has new firmware sorted this, or is it still bad?

[nik41]

Apple TV can be opened up with ATV flash and you can then add an external hard drive. I have done this, works a treat all my music is stored via Itunes to a hard drive and then synced to the atv (which has it's own HD attached) all very straight forward and backed up.

plus photos and the odd tv show.