Music Server Solutions for a MS sufferer

[Ali Tait]

Andy,google the Drobo.I've been thinking about getting one myself.It's a NAS that you bung your own hard drives into.It takes up to 4,and automates everything to do with RAID etc so your music collection is always safe.You can even hot swap drives if one breaks down.Looks after itself basically.

[kalozois100]

Hi Andy,

You might want to try a PC set up with a Digital output into a DAC. I can offer some help if need be if your not sure what to do.

The reasons why I say this (other than I have just got one and think it's great) are:

You can buy large button keyboards and mice/trackballs etc designed for disabled people.

The CD/DVD Roms are cheap to replace and you can have more than 1 in a PC. If they get broken its not too much of an issue to replace them.

i think that this is the set up i am after to use my laptop as transport to play cds into a dac. i have the beresford tc7510 and need a usb to either optical or coaxial adaptor. Someone has suggested dolphin for the adaptor and maplin. i have seen the dolphin but not the maplin one as i can't find it on their site. i would be grateful if anyone can suggest any other adapters that are effective and the best price. also if you can transport 24/96 via usb and then into the adaptor. also on how you get the audio signal out of the pc and out through the usb cable. did you need specific software to be able to do this?? i have an acer laptop running xp service pack three on it. i have windows media player, media monkey and foobar, nero, programmes. Thanks
Kalozois.

[SteveW]

Just a thought...Using what is called Front Row on a Mac involves a very basic remote that only has 6 buttons. It enables simple access to music photos and movies via a basic but attractive menu.
Your mate would obviously need help in loading all the other stuff, but once on the hard drive it can easily be accessed via the small stick like remote...its about the size of one of those earlier ipod nanos. I would have thought the mac mini comes with one.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

i have just bought a linn majik ds
cd on to the computer/nas drive could be complicated to do for disabled hands but the reason i mention it is the control of it can be very simple
you can use a touch screen tablet pc to use a very simple program called linn gui
sneaky ds is the cheapest model but still a budget of aprox £1500 to include a nas drive or just about £1000 for use with pc. be warned if this is a route you might want to persue linn prices rise 20% 1st may

www.uhes.co.uk
a phone call to these guys would answer a lot of questions

[daveyboy]

Glad to see that digital music can provide some solutions

[Sand Dancin Donkey Walker]

Hi Guys

Cheers for your input, and quite a lot to consider.
Wil run this lot past him during the week, keep this ideas comong.

Cheers All

Andy - SDDW