The Olive Symphony: The mega iPod for your stereo

I called Olive. The "Musica," is the next model up from the one reviewed in the Stereophile newsletter. It has a 160 GB hard drive, but doesn't have the Classical Software for auto cataloging your recordings. I also asked about adding hard drives as mentioned in Stereophile. I was told that capability is not yet available.
I should have thought to ask about the remote control. I wonder if it has a scroll display like an I-pod?

David

A scroll display on the remote itself? That would probably sell me right there.

I did a little research on this piece because it somewhat intrigued me. However, there is IMO a better solution. The Apple iMac w/17" screen via airport would offer you much more for you're money. You also get a Screen, you can place it on you're coffee table or if you are farther away the new iMacs come with remote controls. The price is the same as the Musica and you get the same amount of space, 160GB. I realize with the Musica you do have some free digital radio but with a iMac you can digitally stream ANY radio station in the world. It also has built in bluetooth. If someone had there setup by a TV I could see somebody using a mac mini in the same way hooked up to the TV and controlling it via bluetooth from the couch.

Baroque_lover, the Mac Mini route is the way I went. I've got a massive NAS RAID setup with the library on it, and run iTunes via a Mac Mini with a BT keyboard and mouse.

I'm actually thinking of going another route, however. I figure I can pick up a fanless small form factor PC--something like a Sumicom or Serener XP box--for relatively cheap. I can run iTunes off a windows platform, and use a USB audio output device the way I do with my Mac Mini. The benefit of this route is that I can dust off an old 10" viewsonic airpanel--an 802.11 wireless touchscreen display--and run a remote desktop for the PC--having iTunes control while on the couch in touchscreen form.

This also gives me the option of tacking on some USB/RS232 converters, an IR generator, and running Mainlobby and Girder to consolidate all system control functions on the airpanel. Think of it as a 10" color touchscreen wireless remote with iTunes control...

In the past I've used my powerbook hooked up to my system with a USB audio out with favorable results. I was able to use my cell/pda (Sony Ericsson p910i) as a bluetooth remote using the shareware program Salling Clicker, which allowed me to fully control and search itunes (and even the mouse if I wanted to) via the phones graphic interface/touchscreen. I only used the laptop as a jukebox for entertaining or casual listening (yep, it happens from time to time) and when I install my system in my new house I'm going to get a mac mini as a dedicated music server which I will also hook up to my plasma. I was initially all excited by the Olive, but I think anyone with a little ingeniuty can come up with an acceptible and more customizable solution, albeit not in one box. I think the bluetooth/pda controller option is the way to go for those of you interested.