Now that I have my Lightroom workflow set up nicely and my iTunes library organised centrally… I’m getting aware of a new problem with my current hardware setup !!
Because of the use of DNG photo files and MP3 files that have a low compression, I’m using up disk space fast !! And due to the fact that I don’t want to loose these files, I’m also duplicating them onto another drive, so that drive is getting full also.
So it seems that I need some new hardware to accommodate this.
First of, let me give you a small overview of what I have available right now:
- Laptop with 80gb ( 2 years old )
- Desktop with 80gb ( many years old )
- USB/FireWire external HD with 250gb
- USB external HD with 500gb
What are my needs for the new system:
- Less external devices ! ( those external HD’s are great but take up space )
- Central networked system so I can get to my files from my laptop or other devices if needed
But given these features, there are several possible solutions. Let me sum up a few:
- A networked external HD
- A NAS, that will act as networked storage center
- A low level server system ( linux kind ) with enough HD’s
- A high level server system, guessing more like the Windows Home Server kind
- A HTPC
So you see, to much options. Thus I have to define my needs in much more detail…
This brings me to following extra needs:
- RAID would be a suburb option
- Music streaming/serving
And that sums it up, so looking at these specs, I think a nice HTPC would do the trick. Because that way I can hook it up in the network and place it at my TV and Hifi set, making movie and music playback possible !
But I’m a n00b when it comes to building pc systems myself, so I’m a bit stuck on what hardware to choose.
Still, the first selection any HTPC buyer has to make is picking a case to put all the hardware in.
So I did some searching and let me present you the current choices:
Origen AE H6
Zalman HD160
Antec Fusion 430
Here again to much choice ;), but I have to start somewhere !
So any thoughts on what to pick and why, just leave a comment… now I’m of to my friend Google again to read some reviews 😀
[tags]HTPC, NAS, File Server, iTunes[/tags]