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Hi All,

I found this site through the SB forums (as it seems many do). I am currently deciding between the Sonos and the SB Touch. I am not here to debate them against one another; I do have a few questions about vortexbox.

We have a few hundred CDs I want to rip into FLAC. Regardless of what system we buy, we plan on using the FLAC files once we get them all ripped. We also have all of our CDs in MP3 files. In addition, we have a couple thousand MP3s that were purchased and downloaded online. So our goal is to get the MP3s that we do own the CDs for and the FLAC files we rip all available for use via a wireless system.

I have a Mac Mini that is being sent to me as we speak. It is my brother's old computer that he used for about a year. Unfortunately, it is about 4 or 5 years old and wasn't all that powerful even when new. So, would vortexbox run on this machine? I believe it has a 1.24 G4 processor in it. The maximum RAM it has is 512mb. Like I said, far from powerful! I am not sure of the HD size until I get it in the mail in a few days. No matter what we do with it, it needs to be wiped clean so installing vortexbox (assuming it would work) would take care of that!

If Vortexbox would run on the Mac Mini, would it be possible to add an external HD that would be used for backing everything up (aka all the FLAC files we create)?

My ultimate goal is to get the vortexbox appliance. I can enjoy that it is designed specificaly for running vortexbox. If I were to purchase this appliance, is it possilble to set up an external HD that would also be used for backing up the FLAC files and any new MP3s that are created?

The feeling I get from reading about the vortexbox and the appliance is that they are both better suited to Squeezebox (as opposed to Sonos). Is this true or am I just reading too into everything? Since I don't own either the Sonos or the Squeezebox, all I can go on is what I read.

Sorry for so many questions. This seems like a great product and I look forward to using it. Thanks for all of the help.

Randy

Thanks a lot Andrw. That certainly answers my questions. Does vortexbox work better for either Sonos or Squeezebox or does it not matter?

Looks like Santa is going to see a vortexbox appliance added to my list!

Thanks again for the quick reply. The SB and Sonos threads certainly contain some heated discussion for and against each system. Regardless of what system I get, the vortexbox appliance will make its way into my house very soon. Thanks again for the information.

Randy