Experience with Mach2 Music Server?

Tvad - you're quite right, of course, and I have no interest in an argument here. My plug and play comment was more in reference to the experience of using the setup once the kinks are all worked out. But IMHO, all the pain in suffering of dealing with Apple tech support and whatnot is worth it - once properly configured, I think the experience is a lot easier than using a CD player in many key respects.

I think you may be correct about VNC viewing - I tried it briefly a while ago and found it cumbersome. I'm sorry I'm not able to tell you precisely how I arrived in my current state of password-free, screen-sharing bliss - I'm no techie and got help getting there and it has been a while since I fiddled with it. That said, I would urge you to check the preference settings for Sharing and Network for both your Mini and your MacBook Pro. At any rate, I can testify that there is an a better way - I hope that being able to tell you that at least gives some hope. If all else fails, I would encourage you to gather your resolve and dial 800-MY-APPLE.

I'm sorry I'm not able to tell you precisely how I arrived in my current state of password-free, screen-sharing bliss -
Cfluxa (Answers | This Thread)

Again, I also don't require a password to begin Screen Sharing. If what you mean to say is that you also don't have to enter the Mini's host name after opening the Screen Sharing application and clicking "New" in the Connection menu, or that you don't have to make a couple of other clicks to enable Screen Sharing with the Mini (e.g. by opening a new window in Finder, clicking on the Mini under the "Shared" heading, and clicking on Share Screen in the upper right of the window), then I don't know how you got there, and I've studied the Networking and Screen Sharing Preferences very carefully.

I have no interest in spending time on the phone with Apple tech support.

01-09-11: Cfluxa
My plug and play comment was more in reference to the experience of using the setup once the kinks are all worked out...I think the experience is a lot easier than using a CD player in many key respects.

Here, I think we'll have to agree to disagree.

Tvad - I don't ever open the Screen Sharing application, clicking "New" or any of that - I follow the latter procedure, going to Finder and clicking on the Mini under the shared heading and then clicking on Share Screen in the upper right, as you say. Just a few clicks - no typing of passwords or host names involved, and I find the process pretty painless, but I guess YMMV.

Sorry to hear the setup isn't floating your boat. Sounds like you're a man who doesn't have a whole lot of romance with the Apple scene and whatnot, and I can certainly synpathize and respect that.

Cfluxa, we're doing the exactly same thing to initiate Screen Sharing. No password is required. If you were to launch the Screen Sharing app and click on "New", I believe you would be prompted to enter the address of the host computer.

I have stated several times now, if I use VNC on the MacBook Pro, a password is required. However, no password is required using the same VNC app on my iPod Touch.

Sounds like you're a man who doesn't have a whole lot of romance with the Apple scene and whatnot...
Cfluxa (Answers | This Thread)

That's simply a wrong conclusion. I've been an Apple owner/user for over 20 years. However, I hold the opinion that computers in general, including Macs, aren't as user friendly as they should be...or will be in the future. They're getter there, though.

My comments here have been from the ease-of-use perspective between the computer-as-source and CD player-as-source, and my conclusion is that the CD player (or iPod) is easier.

Consider this...how many threads have you seen with a lengthy back-and-forth exchange about how to play a CD? I haven't seen *one* in seven years.

Obviously, I'm open to a computer-as-source, and I'm moving forward with my set-up, but the concept's execution is still in the geek realm. Several companies have developed one-box servers, so I'm sure the day is coming soon when a really excellent, simple-to-operate solution will be introduced. The MacMini (and similar) set-ups are temporary stops on the way...reserved for geeks like us willing to futz with them.

IMO, FWIW, YMMV...and any other disclaimers I've missed.

Kumbaya.

:)

Tvad - fair enough, and I agree that getting the whole thing set up was somewhat painful - in addition to all the geek stuff, there's the initial process of ripping one's CD collection, which can easily take a week if one does nothing else.

On the flip side, I also have mixed emotions about how scandalously easy it is now to navigate my entire CD collection, scrolling and clicking on an album in an instant, as opposed to scanning my racks of CD spines, searching for a misplaced title - a relatively "old-school" ritual that was the best I had after giving away all my vinyl years ago... Not that I don't dig my Mini setup at the end of the day, but I do think I'll be in the market for a turntable again soon...