What do I need - NAS, Micro Server or bundle?

[cymatty]

I hope that this is the right forum as it seems to cross multiple sub forums.

Sorry for the long post its a tricky problem.

Background and needs

Currently have a Laptop, 46" tv with DNLA and VGA input and a Android smart phone, but no backup solution. Old PC case with decent sound card and power supply (500w)

Needs in order of priority

1) Backup Raid 1 - currently have no backup of my laptop
2) Watch files from Storage to TV via USB or over the network
3) Skyplayer viewing (so my laptop is not tied up)
4) NBA viewing (so my laptop is not tied up)

Option 1

NAS drive with Raid 1 capabilities (meets needs 1,2 cost £200)

Option 2

Micro Server

HP Microserver with added drives (meets needs 1,2 cost £200 not sure it has the specs to meet 3 definitely not 4) 1.3 dual core atom and 2gb of Ram

Option 3

Bundle example (meets all needs cost £250) with XBMC and android XBMC remote. Maybe windows or XBMC in a virtual machine?

NBA Requirements

What are the minimum hardware requirements for the viewer?

Windows/PC Version:
Intel Pentium 4 2.4GHz or Intel Core 1.6GHz (SSE2-enabled processor required for AMD systems)
512MB of RAM
50MB of available hard-disk space for installation
Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Home Edition with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista
Microsoft DirectX compatible sound card and display adapter

Sky player requirements

Hardware specifications
• Windows X86 or x64 1.6-gigahertz (GHz) or higher processor with 512-MB of RAM

My head is saying NAS as it is simple and meets the top two needs, but my logic is saying for a few pounds more it could meet all your needs. I am worried that it will be too complex and will be form over function and will be a pain in the bum to use.

OCUK what are your thoughts?

 

[cymatty]

Anyone?

 

[R088ieS86]

Personally I wouldn't go with the traditional NAS, because when you move past one HDD you will find things start to get quite expensive. (google 4bay NAS enclosures - yuck)
If you don't think your media library will expand then it would be an ok solution.

I would say you have 2 options really, unless your library really isn't going to expand.

1. Media Server & HTPC - little bit more costly
2. Media Server streaming over DLNA - no sky player.

1.
Find any old components to make up a server which powers on. I have an e4600 and 2GB of DDR3 RAM just there to play server to my 4x 2TB Samsung F4's, running ubuntu. But you could use FreeNAS or such. (it has a gigabit ethernet port though)

Then build a small htpc which can run a media app, xbmc doesn't have a skyplayer addon as far as i'm aware, because it streams with DRM.
But you could load your browser for that.

2.
build yourself a media server, can be low powered and low spec again, and use a program to stream your files directly to your tv over ethernet via DLNA. WMP11 can do this but there are also programs like tvmobili which can also do it.

As your tv will iterally be browsing files then there will be no skyplayer using this option.

I lie, option 3, just have a htpc. connect the PC directly to the TV via HDMI and use your tv like a giant PC monitor. providing the sata ports on the motherboard can do RAID you will be fine.

They are my thoughts.