PC vs MAC laptop as music server

Mac.

On a non-audiophile note:

I've had my macbook (knock on wood) for nearly 2 years, and it's on pretty much 24/7 and I have absolutely no problems with it.

Also you don't need a new operating system every year like Windows (this is huge in my books... no rushed glitchy operating system to learn every year), very little worry about viruses (I don't use an anti=virus program) and very cool little programs (widgets) that every smart egg head seems to like to write as a hobby.

I've had the memory down to O (120 gb hard-drive) and it never slowed or bogged down. Actually, before I went OSX I used to hate computers, slow etc. With the Mac a whole new world has opened up. Fast and easy to navigate. It's been my media center... downloading movies, iTunes as my music server... you name it.

I use an Airport Express into a DAC and wirelessly stream music into my system for casual listening. Super convenient.

Although....
.. a laptop will probably not have enough memory for you. Especially if you're thinking of high rez movies.

Maybe an Imac --super small footprint, it's the size of a brick--(look on Craigslist) with an external hardrive (you can get terrabyte drives for cheap these days) and a wireless keyboard/mouse hooked up to your LCD TV would be a better choice.

You could probably get a used imac with a terrabyte external hard drive for less than $1000..

I use the old tiger program (probably what will come with a used imac) and it is excellent. The new Leopard OS has a program that automatically backs up your hard drive every 24 hours or something like that, which would be very very useful.

Hook it up to a USB DAC or via optical using an VanDenHul Optocoupler cable and you will be a good to go.

The "front row" program with OSX would work awesome as a media interface... pictures, movies, itunes.. whatever.

The only downside is that I've had some friends who've had problems with the battery life on their Macbooks...

And supposedly the EAC (Exact Audio Copy) program (free on the net) is the best way to rip/copy CDs. It doesn't work on the Mac OSX.. but you can also run Windows, both OSs on your system, with a flick of a button.

Enjoy...

Get a Mac, it's a no brainer.

mac! i would recommend using an older mac mini with a raid disk subsystem to hold your files with a separate disk for backups. all you need is an older g4 with 2 gb ram. i use a new imac and used an intel mac mini before this. you can go to frys and pick up a 2tb raid 0 or 1 disk subsystem for $199. set it up as a raid 1 and you have a 1tb mirrored setup. also, skip the usb hookups and go with a jitter device along with a good quality dac using coax cable. as for ripping cd's, go with xld. it is one of the best programs to rip cd's and it allows you to use itunes as the repository. using xld, i have increased my bit rate from 1100k to over 1400k with better quality sound.

Hey Smoff'

In light of some of the suggestions already posted, I'll suggest this: Mac Mini. I've used both a Macbook and Mini. The Mini has useful advantages already mentioned and honestly (if it's a priority to you...), it sounds better! Macbook sounds good but the Mini sounds better.

Then, I'd eventually upgrade the Hard Drive to a Solid State Hard Drive. With this the Mini performs even better - faster - and it again sounds better than the stock drive.

Hope that helps a bit.

Cheers!

Robert
RSAD

Thank You all with those informative responses.

Suppose i go with a mac mini as Robert and others have suggested, and use my LCD TV as a monitor with wireless keyboard/mouse.
From my sitting location, the TV would be 10 feet away and the main audio system (DAC) about 15 feet the other direction so approx. 25 feet between the TV and Audio system.
Where would i position the mac mini?
I would need 2 USB cables (one to the TV one to the DAC). I would like to use the best quality/shortest USB cable to my DAC like a RSAD Poemia or better.
I want absolutely no compromise in sound quality.
Again, thanks for all your help!!!! Sly.