Help w/storage solution for library
I have a Dell e1505. I use it as a desktop replacement. Its hard drive is only about 75gb and my music library is 120gb+. Also, my goal is to be able to play my music on my stereo.
I've thought about many options but here is currently the most appealing one to me, problem is I'm not sure if it will really work or how to go about best choosing a product that will maximize performance, so here it is.
My thought is to get an external, portable hard drive of at least 160gb. I will need one that is powered by the laptop itself. As ghetto as it may seem I am gonna use some velcro to attach it to the top of my laptop. This laptop never leaves my house so I am not worried about appearance or anything. At that point I will get an apple airport device to stream my itunes library to my stereo.
So will this work or have I oversimplified the process here? Anything I should be looking for in a hard drive for the way I am planning on using it? I'm pretty good at diy'ing with pc's but when it comes to knowing what to look for in a hard drive for this particulat application I am fairly lost. All I can determine is that I want a 2.5" drive with 160gb+. Not sure if usb2.0, firewire 1394 or some other way is best to connect it.
Thanks for any help.
[1322 byte] By [
pcu] at [2007-11-11 17:00:57]
# 1 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
The process is simple, as long as you keep it simple.
Firewire is faster than usb2.0 overall, with a higher sustained transfer rate. If you can stick with firewire then do so, otherwise usb 2.0 will suffice.
# 2 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
I guess a question i would like to ask is what limitations am I setting myself up for, if any, with this set up?
pcu at 2007-11-15 16:12:44 >
# 3 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
The streaming might be affected by other services that will be using the apple airport, unless it is only for the purpose of streaming music. You current network configuration and future integration of the airport device will give you true results. Meaning, if you use a wireless device that is meant for networking as well as communication with peripherals you will see a lag in performance or hear your music being dropped/chopped as the wireless device is multitasking.
# 4 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
What about a networked HDD for storing an itunes library? Sounds like it might be a headache? On the one hand it might be less ghetto then my velcro solution. On the other hand I'm not sure if you can store/manage your library this way?
pcu at 2007-11-15 16:14:48 >
# 5 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
The above solution will work as well as your original idea. Both have their advantages as well as down falls. I would go with the wireless solution if all that you will be using the device for is streaming music.
# 6 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
Would I not have to have 2 libraries then? I download music from the itunes music store, so wouldn't that have to be viewed and downloaded to my laptop? So wouldn't that then mean I would have 2 itunes libraries? Is that possible? Or am I missing something?
Thanks for helping me out BTW, just trying to brainstorm through some ideas and your help is invaluable.
Obviously I have a lot to learn when it comes to networking as well as hard drives. I presume that the networked hard drive will show up as some sort of virtual drive i.e. even though its not attached to the computer physically would I be able to donwload directly to it from the web via my laptop? Is that the idea?
pcu at 2007-11-15 16:16:46 >
# 7 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
Network attached drives after being mapped appear on your computer as another drive. Depending on what OS you use that procedure is different. But you will not need a web browser to access your music that way. The advantage here is that everyone on the network will be able to access the music easily.
A hard drive being attached locally to your laptop depends on your laptop being on constantly. If by chance the laptop crashes your itunes library will not be accessible as it is connected to a failed machine.
As for itunes, you will not have 2 libraries. Make sure that the library is in one location with any and all computers or device being fed from this single library source. Purchased music will have to be authorized to play on the new computer[s] if you plan on having multiple computers accessing the music.
# 8 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
Umm...why do you want to velcro a portable drive onto your laptop? (I mean, what benefit do you perceive gaining from this?) Or maybe I don't understand what you mean by "portable"... if you're thinking about just a raw 2.5" hard drive (like you'd stick inside a laptop), that won't work; the drive itself won't have the needed interface to connect to USB or Firewire. If you mean a 2.5" drive-in-a-case-with-interface (like this 160GB SmartDisk USB/FW (http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=647318)), that'll work fine -- I just don't understand the velcro part ;-)
AFAIK, 160GB is the largest you'll find in a 2.5"; the 2.5's will also be the most expensive. If you can live without the velcro, you'll get better value out of a 3.5" drive in an external case (more data, longer life). Good cases are <$60, and 3.5" drives are cheap...TigerDirect is offering a 320GB Seagate for $80 today, for instance.
(Don't forget backup -- putting time and money into one drive is all for naught when that drive fails and you've got no backup of the data ;-)
S2
S2_Mac at 2007-11-15 16:18:43 >
# 9 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
Sure I could just add a regular old external HDD, but that would defeat the entire purpose. In fact I have one already that aint being used b/c when I get up and move around in the house my itunes library is then gone (cause I can't bring the external with me). By using the portable I can be fully wireless and still access my music as it would be 1) attached to the laptop and 2) running off the laptop power via usb.
But I am now thinking of using a NAS device to achieve the same thing. My problem is I am not sure how to set everything up in that congifuration. Will I be able to stream itunes still to an airport express using an NAS?
pcu at 2007-11-15 16:19:52 >
# 10 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
Thing is, I dunno if u can power a 3.5 external with the USB port only, if u see a 3.5 enclosure that says to require no wall plug, then that's a good sign.
Network Attached Storage - better gather all yr data, 6 mos ago, someone was having a prob with that here.
# 11 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
Hmmm, one problem that might crop up is the DRM issue, apparantly not all NAS support itunes DRM? Anyone with any info on this?
pcu at 2007-11-15 16:21:51 >
# 12 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
Another possible direction?
So I already have an external HDD. If I buy an airport express, can I hook that external HDD to the airport express and store my library on it?
pcu at 2007-11-15 16:22:50 >
# 13 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
So I already have an external HDD. If I buy an airport express, can I hook that external HDD to the airport express and store my library on it?
I dunn think so, some routers have an USB port but they are meant to be hooked up to a printer, not an HD. Got an old desktop sitting around? any will do. Or just break down and buy the 160 gig 2.5 and replace your notebook's.
# 14 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
So I'm not exactly clear still if the following is possible.
Store my itunes library on the NAS device. Then on my laptop I would configure itunes to look to the NAS drive for its library. So at that point I would have my library up and running on my laptop. Now at that point, what happens if I introduce an airport express to stream the music from my laptop to the airport express and then on to the stereo? Can that be done?
Currently I have an old desktop set up but the sound quality is awful. Not sure what the issue is there. When I made a cd of some of the worst sounding tracks they sounded fine when played on the CD. Perhaps its the sound card? Anyway not really liking this set up all that much. Its a real pain to see anything even on my 42" plasma from any more the 5 ft away and navigating itunes isn't as simple as one would like. As I have no use for the desktop other the for itunes I am looking for a way to get around dealing with it especially considering the sound quality is bad. Its not unlistenable buts its disturbing enough to make me want to listen to it through my laptop instead!
pcu at 2007-11-15 16:24:52 >
# 15 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
So I'm not exactly clear still if the following is possible.
I am not clear either, if I did, I would just tell u to buy itemA + itemB then hook 'em up like so.
NAS - (repeating) U will have to do further research on your own if this is feasible. Please do make use of the SEARCH button on this site.
Airport Express - Fine, that's what it's designed to do. What's your hesitation?
I suggested the old desktop for the sole purpose of file server, hookup your new HD there and get to it via LAN. Not to be hooked up to your stereo. U can configure this desktop to sleep whenever not in use (must he less than 5 yrs old running Win2000 or XP). Althought kind of klunky if you are only going to use it for this one item. But then a desktop file server will be able to host lots of storage.
Do u have a budget b4r anybody here go on the dreamland?
Unless ur looking to purchase for the future, seems to me, upgrading that notebook is the way to go for your immediately storage need.
# 16 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
Ok, for some reason I did not think I could go higher then 120gb on an internal laptop drive but after doing some research in response to your post I was obviously wrong.
So the current plan is to go with this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?ATT=22145113&CMP=AFC-SlickDeals&Item=N82E16822145113
Now the question is, how do I get my current HDD cloned, OS and all? Can I do that? I didn't get any boot discs when I bought the pc.
BTW, thanks for the help. After all that the simplest answer seems to be one thats going to work best.
pcu at 2007-11-15 16:27:01 >
# 17 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
There is a STICKY on top for moving stuff to a new HD.
# 18 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
bobb,
the links in your sig do not work......
# 19 Re: Help w/storage solution for library
bobb,
the links in your sig do not work......
The server goes to sleep from time to time, REFRESH should work, no change as of late. Your browser/firewall must allow traffic on port 59 (dunn even ask me to change it).
