In article , Rob
wrote:
On 06/04/2010 09:18, Jim Lesurf wrote:
In , housetrained
wrote:

Thanks to all you good people for the advice and maybe someone will
make an external HDD with display and programme to make my wishes
come true.


The have made it. But they generally call it "a computer" running
relevant software. :-)


This was the sort of thing I had in mind:

http://www.tradestead.com/wholesale-...side_p247.html

I'd be put off by the mention of a fan. I don't want any mechanical 'play
along' noises from the unit I'd use!

or this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ib-mp302-b-M...49668&sr =1-3

I think they run variations of Linux - as I say, it was all too clunky
for me, and digital audio out doesn't seem to be supported.

I'd also be wary of finding that a 'packaged' system became obsolete when
people started using a new file format, etc.

That said, if the system runs Linux and has enough resources you could
probably alter it later on.

So far as I can see, almost any old computer can easily be used for a
'server' these days and with Linux you can get light OS/software
combinations that will run on old kit. If the machine doesn't have its own
digital output then they should work with something like a DACMagic or one
of the cheaper USB-SPDIF boxes.

Main problem from my POV is mechanical noises. However if someone is
serious about this but doesn't to pay out for a fanless SSD machine I guess
they could shove the old 'server' in a sideboard and network control to it
from something like a netbook sitting beside them. The point about this
approach is that it is flexible and updatable. The snag is that you have to
spend time sorting it out, of course. Alternative is to pay dosh to someone
else to supply a system that might end up not being quite what you want
later on...

As with traditional audio, some will 'DIY', others will throw cash at
'experts', etc.

Slainte,

Jim

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