12-10-2007, 10:03 PM
I use the Roku M1001 connected to a 1970s Stereo. But I also have a Mac (TiPB 400MHz very low power consumption) dedicated as the always-on home server. It stores the iTunes library and runs iTunes to share the library so that any computer in the house and the Roku can access all of the music at any time (and they all don't have to listen to the same thing at the same time).
The Roku cannot play iTunes DRM protected music, but that's not an issue for me, all of mine is ripped from my CD collection. Roku recently dropped prices, the M1001 lists for $149. I think the main difference between it and the M500 is the display. The M1001 does Ethernet and WIFI, but since I have Ethernet running to the stereo cabinet, I'm using Ethernet.
Besides acting as an iTunes server, my home server also has a large hard drive to serve as the dumping ground for automatic SuperDuper backups from all of the computers in the house. And it's also my weighing station with the Radioshack USB Scale connected.
The Roku cannot play iTunes DRM protected music, but that's not an issue for me, all of mine is ripped from my CD collection. Roku recently dropped prices, the M1001 lists for $149. I think the main difference between it and the M500 is the display. The M1001 does Ethernet and WIFI, but since I have Ethernet running to the stereo cabinet, I'm using Ethernet.
Besides acting as an iTunes server, my home server also has a large hard drive to serve as the dumping ground for automatic SuperDuper backups from all of the computers in the house. And it's also my weighing station with the Radioshack USB Scale connected.