I have kept my laptop on all the time for 2-1/2 years, so I don't think that would be a problem. I use a USB portable hard drive (about the size of a wallet) attached to my MacBook to hold all my iTunes files.
12-23-10: Ton1313
I have thought of that. I do have wi-fi, however I don't know if it would be convienant for me, as the only CPU's in the house are laptops.I don't have a central CPU as the hub, that could be powered on at all times. If im thinking about this the wron way, please let me know.
But now that I think of it, the Squeezebox Touch has a USB port, mostly intended for plugging in a thumb drive full of music files, but I wonder if it could find the files on a portable USB hard drive plugged directly into the Squeezebox? I'd think so. The reviews I've read indicate that the Squeezebox Touch is very good at finding all the music files on your home network.
As for room/space, the Squeezebox touch is only 3"x5"x3"d. You can tuck that pretty much anywhere.