Computer Do Over

Sorry about the crash!

I've always been a MAC guy, though of course both sides have partisans.

If you go for a MAC, note that you will probably want some sort of monitor, and a keyboard. When I did the math, I came out ahead buying a Macbook laptop instead of mini+keyboard+monitor, and the aluminunum Macbook is attractive on my rack. macconnection.com has good prices.

If you by a new MAC, the Snow Leopard operating system will be on it, I think.

You will also need an external hard drive, 1TB minumum, if your music collection is any size.

computeraudiophile.com is a great resource.

Good luck! John

Mac, Mac, Mac...

iMac --

I have heard that people have had great results with Windows 7. However after using Microsoft products since dos 2.x I made the switch the Mac and have not looked back once. Go to a apple store and mess around with one, then go find a new pc running Windows 7 and see what you think. I have a mac mini, and a macbook with a 2tb nas, and it is a great setup.

I have also read that Netgear ReadyNAS products have a squeeze box server preinstalled. So you could get something like that and not have a computer running at all.

I'm also partial to Macs, but in all fairness you can get it to work either way.

I'd recommend the iMac over the mini, if you do choose a Mac, because I feel the iMac is the best bang for the buck in the lineup. You don't have to purchase an extra keyboard, etc, as the unit is fully self-contained and it is very low profile but much more powerful than the corresponding priced Macbook pro.

Look at the refurbished Mac's at Apple's website. I've received all of mine refurbished, and they have been indistinguishable from new. The iMac I'm typing on now is 4.5 years old and continues to work great.

Michael