Comments on: How-To: Build a $150-$300 iTunes video + music server for your home

Hmmm. I've tried so many solutions over the years including the original ATV with storage and various NAS devices that supposedly will stream video. None were a better solution than an old headle...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-296366

Many thanks for this. I can't believe some of the comments here. A solution this cheap and small, with such low power requirements is a big deal to some. If you have a breaker that doesn't trip w...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-279343

Excellent article -- and good information! Thank You. The Mac Mini solution is preferable for me since my iTunes library is currently around 4.85TB and growing. By using a mini and external DROBO...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-269848

In reply to Ryan Gibbons (@ryan_gibbons). I use the TrendNet RJ-45 ethernet to USB dongle bought on Amazon ...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-269553

In reply to Phil Speck (@PhilBert80). Search for "USB ethernet" on Amazon or elsewhere and you'll find the ...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-269526

I've been wanting to do something like this for a while so this is great information. After some research I think that the https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-269524

In reply to newsc2. FWIW, your solution will not support AC3/Dolby Digital 5.1. If you have ripped DVDs to ...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266858

Very nice article. I've been looking for a low-power way to stream videos from iTunes to my AppleTV. Do you know of a compute stick type device that has wired ethernet (preferably GigE) or a way ...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266856

In reply to Patrick McMahon (@pd_mcmahon). Because a never-sleep machine wastes an unbelievable amount of p...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266689

In reply to wmprice1240. Reviews of this Intel based PC have neither been "absolutely horrible" nor has any...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266676

In reply to bpmajesty. Bingo, this is PRECISELY what I do. I don't know why this article has so much compli...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266672

In reply to Daniel Steinberg. In late 2010 when the hockey puck Apple TV was introduced, Steve specifically...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266669

In reply to bowersrob. John.... I'm with you on your wish list. However, the pragmatist in me doubts Apple ...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266666

I have been considering this as well as other mini-PC solutions... holding out for ATV-next and hoping for a small miracle from Apple. All of the current solutions are a kludge in my mind. ATV sh...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266645

In reply to //jason (@CyberWingman). iTunes Match is fine for music, but the streaming video is missing, pa...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266634

In reply to Daniel Steinberg. I have not found NAS iTunes Server to work with ATV directly. iTunes Server i...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266631

Western Digital MyBookLive is an iTunes server, also a DNLA server for photos/videos. Throw your files on there and for 2-3TB its less than $140. Accessible remotely also. I use Itunes Match for ...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266622

I'd imagine that the Intel stick would also support DLNA. If iTunes doesn't get some serious upgrades soon (24 bit AirPlay, FLAC support) then I'll be changing my media server to UPnP.

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266621

In reply to wmprice1240. Actually, with the exception of the deliberately inflammatory Gizmodo review, virt...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266615

Can I use a 2011 macbook pro instead of a mac mini?

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266607

A word to the wise, the compute stick has gotten absolutely horrible reviews and is pretty much judged as worthless technology. Surprised anyone would recommend buying or using the device at all.

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266584

In reply to bpmajesty. I don't think it's any more or less complex really. Essentially you're just swapping...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266579

In reply to Jeremy Horwitz. To that valid point, I will concede.

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266558

In reply to Jeremy Horwitz. My recollection is that the Retina MacBook Pro (depending on screen size and mo...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266557

If the compute stick is a full Windows PC, I would a) just mount my Mac as a server on the compute stick, and stream the movies over on-demand, rather than add additional storage b) it will run V...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266556

In reply to Jeremy Horwitz. The $465 Mac mini mentioned above is actually a current-generation model. Proce...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266555

In reply to Jeremy Horwitz. Retina MacBook Pro. Recently, I've downsized even more. Now I store everything ...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266553

In reply to Daniel Steinberg. @wavemedia which NAS are you aware of that can stream iTunes videos? I have b...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266552

In reply to Jeremy Horwitz. Lots of reasons actually. First - you won't get a decent Mac Mini for $465. You...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266550

There are dozens of ways to create a legit media server. I have a Synology NAS now but before that I had a LaCie Network Space 2. I have a jailbroken ATV2 with Infuse installed. If you're looking...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266549

In reply to Daniel Steinberg. A number of NAS boxes have iTunes server software on them that negates this. ...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266535

In reply to butskristof. And you can add AirPlay software to Pi if that is a requirement.

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266531

In reply to ctyrider (@ctyrider). Why bother with a Hackintosh for $400 when you can get a real Mac mini fo...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266529

No need to build a second computer. Option 1) Apple Time Capsule (optional) + Computer running AirVideo Server (my MBP) + iPhone or iPad + Apple TV. Use Air Video app on the iPhone/iPad to play v...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266526

In reply to Daniel Steinberg. I don't use iTunes for my videos because it is too bloated and slow. I just k...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266520

Yuck. Why bother with this bizarre underpowered stick thingie running Windoze, when you can build a decent Hackintosh with modern i5 CPU and Terabytes of internal storage for around $350-$400? Ye...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266516

In reply to Daniel Steinberg. To elaborate: I have Thousands of movies in my itunes library. I had a mac mi...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266515

In reply to Daniel Steinberg. I still dont get the diff. The same is true for this method you are just usin...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266509

Question: Can the compute stick mount remote drives? If so, could you mount your Time Capsule drive (assuming you have one) to store media, adding it from that location in iTunes? Thanks!

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266508

Why not something like a Raspberry Pi? Using a device as a server over a wireless connection seems like a no-go for me. The set-up is really not that difficult and it comes out a lot cheaper, whi...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266504

Maybe the next version of AppleTV will have a USB-C port that can be used for storage. One can only hope. I wish I knew why Apple is the only hardware company that doesn't allow storage on its st...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266498

In reply to Daniel Steinberg. Unlikely, I'd guess. Local storage was removed when iCloud came about, as App...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266497

In reply to Juan Valdez. As noted, Apple TV needs something to serve it media. I imagine you could use this...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266496

In reply to Daniel Steinberg. Implicit in your comment, but just to make it explicit for other readers: you...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266495

In reply to bpmajesty. Which computer do you keep it on, and how much power is it drawing remaining on as a...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266494

I have all my media on an external drive. I have an iTunes library that points to that drive and have home sharing turned on. I've been doing this forever. And since its shared over home sharing,...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266484

In reply to Juan Valdez. AppleTV has no option to add storage to it like Roku etc. does.

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266482

In reply to Brian (@BrianLFontenot). You have to have the files (anything you haven't purchased from iTunes...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266481

I've always wanted to get a Mac Mini and a thunderbolt RAID and use that for streaming server / home cloud and HTPC...so expensive, but if you've got the dough, gopher it. AirServer is must have ...

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266479

I've been thinking about this for a while, but perhaps the new Apple TV will have local storage?

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266478

i dont get it, why this v.s. an apple tv?

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266474

Is there not an available ethernet adapter for the compute stick?

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266472

What about just having Apple TVs?

https://9to5mac.com/2015/06/02/how-to-cheap-itunes-server/#comment-266470