[lokie]

My g4 is getting a little long in the tooth and sounds like a jet engine.

What is the next best thing to a new Mac Mini for a music server (Apple of course). I'm not in a huge hurry so waiting for something to come availability in the next 6 months is ok (solid state hardrives??).

I'm assuming the new Mac Mini is the tol server right now short of some hot rodded gaming machine, so, maybe my assumption isn't right. Also thinking that a new ac Mini is in the $700 range, so, what would be the next cheaper best solution... maybe in the $400-$600 range. Any compromises there?

I store my music files on a NAS and use my Iphone as a remote. It would be nice to have a laptop that I could connect to an alternate cat 5 cable that I could wire to my listening position for nights when I want to rip cd's and listen to my sacd player. That way I can keep the ripping computer the same as the server computer as recommended on this forum.

Thanks,

Doug

[low.pfile]

Doug,
Can you expound on the CAT 5 connection? What are you connecting to and what are you sending/receiving?

-ed

[lokie]

I have a cat5 run to my G4, which is sitiing next to my system. It is connected to a router and then on to the NAS. I would make another run to my sitting postion.

When ripping I will unplug from the "system run" and plug into my "ripping run".

The NAS is located in another room.

[andrewbee]

If you are replacing a G4 then why not a Mac Mini. Its smaller, faster (by far) quieter and cheaper and includes Bluetooth and Wireless "N" and 5 USB ports.Use screen sharing and remotely administer it. I just bought two new Minis, one for my tv system which is running Plex and the other for my desk. The one on my desk is now 4GB ram and 320GB HD and it only slows down when encoding and even then its so much quicker than the PBG4 12" I used to use that there is absolutely no comparison.