[traak]

Hi.

I'm planning on making some changes to my "landscape", and I'm curious whether I've overlooked any major flaws. So, I'll be grateful for any feedback.

(a) Currently I have a Mac Mini with 2x 250GB ext. disk space in my TV Room, serving all my iTunes needs (and that's a lot). I don't use it for much else. Unfortunately I still need a keyboard and a mouse around there, to buy stuff from iTunes. As a convinience I did add an iSight for the occasional Skype call.

(b) In my office I just have a printer, my Lenovo company Thinkpad, some more external drives but not much more.

(c) My wife uses a G4 iBook.

(d) Everything is connected through a 802.11g network, which ultimately connects the whole house through a cable modem. Additionally there's an AP Express in the Dining Room which extends the wifi cloud and enables me to stream music from iTunes to that room.


Now: I want to move the Mac Mini and the 2x 250GB disks + the iSight into my office to unclutter the TV Room. This will be replaced by an AppleTV and nothing else.
For the office I will then buy a display for the Mini and that should be it.

Furthermore I want to get a 802.11n AP Extreme, to make use of the AirDisk function. I do not want to connect any disks directly to the Mini anymore. I want all data accesible straight away on the network. So, I basically want to connect a USB Hub to the AP Extreme, with at least 2 disks and a printer.

I'm aware that my AP Express setup in the dining room will become useless as the AppleTV can't stream music to an AP Express. May that be as it is. Maybe I'll find another way.

So, I basically have to buy a AP Extreme (179), Apple TV (299) and a a Display (200).

My only concern is the network performance. If my whole iTunes library is on those external disks (connected to the AP Extreme), administered by the Mini, how will the performance be on the Apple TV. I mean, the stuff has to be transferred from the disk to the Mini and then to the AppleTV. What are your thoughts?


What can I do to improve this concept but stay within the same budget (more or less)?

Looking forward to your replies!

Best.
Torsten

[Parky]

The whole network will only work at 'g' speeds and not at 'n' due to the Mac Mini being limited to 'g'.
As the data has to pass through the Mac Mini you are being slowed down to 'g' speeds.

Ian

[mduell]

The APExpress should still be useful; you can stream to it from your Mac mini (with the Mac mini pulling the music from the APExtreme).

One caveat is that AirDisk is slow. Like USB1.0 slow.

[traak]

Thanks for the replies.

Two follow-ups:

(1) Passing the data from the the Disks (AirDisk) to the Mini to the ATV on the 'g' network. Is that gonna fly?

(2) Alternatives to the 'slow' AirDisk setup? Like D-Link DNS-323?


Any more thoughts?
Torsten

[mduell]

1) Yes.
2) There are lots of wired NAS enclosures in the $50ish price range; you could buy one for each of your 250G disks.

[traak]

Originally Posted by mduell 

1) Yes.
2) There are lots of wired NAS enclosures in the $50ish price range; you could buy one for each of your 250G disks.

Thanks for your advice. Much appreciated.
I'll let you know what I finally bought

Cheers.
Torsten

[traak]

Well, I've done it. All orders have been made and the goodies have started to arrive:

- Superdrive to replace the Combo-Drive in the Mac Mini
- 2x 1GB RAM to replace the 2 512MB modules
- Westinghouse 22" LCD as my monitor
- Apple TV

I left the Airport Extreme out for now and will connect printer and harddrives directly to the Mini and share from there.

Everything's set to arrive tomorrow. I'll post a pic or two when it's all done!
Can't wait

Bye now.
Torsten

[traak]

It's done. Took me a while to post this pic, but here it is. Sorry for bumping this one up again. Closed now

Very happy with all I upgraded and purchased. Especially the 22" Westinghouse is fantastic! And with the memory upgrade to 2GB, the Mini goes like a dream...

Here's the link: Picasa Web Albums - Torsten - New Office

Have a good one!
Torsten