Serving media since a few weeks from now.

I run a Synology DS411+ as my NAS and a Boxee Box as my "HTPC." I also run Plex on the NAS so that I can stream to my iPad using the Plex app. I am mostly very pleased with the Synology. One advantage is that it is future proof to a degree: as my storage needs grow, I can swap out droves and grow my pool of storage. The software is top notch. Plex is easy to install and works well. One big advantage is that it lets me be "client agnostic" - as my needs change, I can abandon the Boxee box and switch to Plex, a full HTPC running XBMC, a WDTV, or whatever I want without having to reengineer my storage. I will warn you that my model of Synology uses a cheap fan that gets annoyingly loud. It's not easy to replace and apparently it's not an uncommon problem (google synology fan noise). If you can put the synology in a closet and connect it to your router or hub by wired Ethernet, then you should be fine. The Boxee Box doesn't support gigabit Ethernet. Even so, the rest of my network is fully gigabit. I have never had any trouble streaming to the Boxee box, even when playing Blu-ray rips I Transcoded using MakeMKV. The Boxee box is cheap and it mostly "just works," though I have concerns about how local media friendly they are going to be going forward, given their apparent willingness to work with the content companies. Juiceanddoom: why is the scene moving away from mkv's?

This may not appeal to you, but after spending way too much time debugging my HTPC setup and too little time consuming media, I opted to simplify. We are trying to emulate consumer electronics here and I feel that they should just work (more or less). I have a non-Internet Samsung flatscreen, a Bluetooth capable soundbar, an Apple TV and a Roku. I can stream music directly from my phone to the soundbar. Otherwise I just watch live TV from the air, or stream from Apple TV or Roku. I don't really have any legacy media I need to worry about. If you want to run a Plex Media Server, there is a (Roku) app for that (http://plexapp.com/roku/).

Best combo IMHO is a low power/quiet frontend w/ XBMC and a NAS backend. There are lots of android/iOS video players that will play directly over the network without transcoding.

For Plex, and low power, consider a Mac mini. Bonus is flexibility: you can use it as both a Plex server and client, or add Plex clients (many to be had) as needed. NAS for backend, there are options ranging from cheap to expensive, and you can upgrade, retask, add a second unit, whatever, without much trouble. The CPU in a modern mini is capable of transcoding without too much trouble, even the older mid 2010 could push a TV alongside a transcoding session for a remote iPad without problem. An iomega StorCenter ix2-dl with two 3TB hard drives, mirrored, gives you redundancy in a 25 watt package for maybe $400. Along with a Mac mini that idles around 15 watts, you can have a complete media server that consumes less than 40 watts idle. The ix2-dl will take 4TB drives, but the price jump from 3TB to 4TB drives is hard to justify. That is not a strong endorsement of the ix2-dl in particular, by the way, it's just cheap (recently as low as $100) and it works pretty well.

I've been much less enamored with the current version of Plex. There's nothing like coming home to cooling fans-a-blazing because a Plex thread is hanging at multiple cores as 100% utilization for no reason.

Oh, and while the Boxee box plays everything I've ever thrown at it, it sure sounds like XMBC on Android has promise. It's too early to tell, though.

I've got a QNAP 2 drive NAS that stores my media and some backups from my mac, and an Apple TV2 running XBMC connected to the 42" plasma TV. I've been using this setup for close to 2 years now and I'm really happy with it. The NAS is in another room so now hard drive or fan noise. I don't even have the Apple TV wired to the network, using it wirelessly. I believe there is a way to install a Plex client on the Apple TV and it looks like there is a QPKG to install it on QNAP NAS's here: http://www.plexapp.com/linux/linux-pms-download.php

My recently assembled HTPC setup: -Any small Nettop PC with Nvidia ION, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004X1PICM/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/, or a DIY low-profile build http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002SHNB40/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/. I use http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00433SP6G/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/. -Ubuntu Linux, with XFCE + Nvidia's non-free drivers. -XBMC -http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0028N6XDA/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/, with LIRC Connected via gigabit Ethernet to a headless http://204.14.213.185/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16859107052 loaded with: -5x 1 TB harddrives -Windows Server 2008 R2 -http://sabnzbd.org/ -Scripts to sync content from seedboxes -Local torrent client On the HTPC, XBMC uses Samba to access shares on the server.

The first HTPC I built was based off of an ASUS http://ixbtlabs.com/articles2/barebone-asus-digimatrix/index.html (awesome case by the way, although proprietary and quite dated by today's standards). The more recent HTPC project I got into was based off of a http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856140039 which is bluray equipped and able to support high def like a champ. I think for overal media format and streaming support, you have to go with Windows 7 (or windows 7 embedded if you're feeling adventurous...I ran into a few gotchas with the media center embedded build however which made me go back to regular). If you like to tinker, I really feel Linux offers some great enjoyment opportunities as well, and can be a bit easier on resources. My two builds for the latest HTPC were as follows: 1. Windows 7, booting directly into the Media Center. From there I could jump to XBMC, Hulu Desktop, Netflix, Boxee, timeshifting, etc...as well as capture bluray and dvd titles via Autorip'n'compress using MakeMKV and handbrake on the backend. 2. Mythbuntu, which has come a long way since the days I had it on the Digimatrix (MythDora is another but if I remember correctly development has lagged behind). This setup was great for ripping dvd titles, timeshifting, seamless media integration, etc...and it felt more like a commercial appliance. The downsides however, no bluray support and limited streaming capabilities. Overall out of the the two setups above, I ultimately stuck with #1 just for convenience sake. The boot drive I use is a hybrid solid state/platter drive which offers a decent amount of onboard storage as well as fast boot/load times. All archived media is conveniently stored on external drives (kind of like a USB bookshelf) through a hub. But here's the kicker. While the HTPC projects I've done in the past were fun and rewarding, I rarely use them anymore. This is partly due to having less interest in watching videos/TV, doing the legwork of ripping, unraring, torrenting, and also partly due to having both a PS3 and Roku which are far more convenient and accessible for the types of media I now use the most (namely bluray, netflix, amazon prime, hulu, and crackle). The cost to benefit ratio is a little depressing too....I spent well over a grand putting the last HTPC together. It's an impressive little box about the size of a mac mini. And I'm sure it'll be a decent general purpose PC for years to come. The cost of a Roku plus PS3 barely dents into that figure however. So I think if you were to ask me, what would be the ideal HTPC...I would advise you to think quite a bit on what you want out of a HTPC in the first place. If you want to capture broadcast TV (something I've cut the cord on years ago personally) then a good timeshifting solution is what I'd recommend. You could do that with Windows or Linux easily, and the hardware itself doesn't matter as long as it can handle your desired resolution. If you're looking into ripping bluray and DVD titles, converting/scaling formats, then I would recommend a similar PC, but with a decent GPU to handle transcoding. If you prefer streaming...a Roku or Boxee Box are pretty sweet, cheap, and insanely convenient devices. You can't tinker as much with them, but if the purpose is to just get those shows displayed on a TV you can't beat the ease of use. Lastly but not least important, a PS3 comes into play for Bluray/DVD, and in my opinion is an exceptional addition to one's home theater if not just for the price alone. It can handle netflix and can store play custom media (as well as connect to any media shares on your home network/NAS...just be sure to have 802.11g or n to keep up for wireless). Not to mention all of the other media functions it provides, including a vast catalog of downloadable games. I've had mine for awhile now...a 1st gen. And up until the last year or two I sort of neglected it, just now tapping into it's potential (albiet due to major improvements to its operating system since release). YMMV, but I hope this helps!