[mjkoop]

Recently moved into a new house and am trying to figure out how to get everything set up. Currently I have an iMac running Leopard with a 500GB drive hooked up via firewire for Time Machine backups. The iMac houses my iTunes and photo collections. It sits upstairs in the office and connects wirelessly to my FiOS network. I also have a MacBook running Tiger (probably need to upgrade to Leopard) that usually sits downstairs. The MacBook doesn't really have any data on it, we mostly use it for email and streaming Napster, but I would like it to share data with the iMac so that everything is in sync for iTunes, iPhoto, Picasa, etc. And then make sure the data is backed up and the computers themselves.

I've been able to read the iMac ITunes library from the MacBook but can't write to it. And I seem to be on the MacBook more often for music listening and whatnot. (I want to connect something to my Denon receiverto play iTunes and streaming music over my speakers, but that's secondary).

I'm not sure if I need NAS or something like AirPort Extreme with AirDisk and a couple USB drives (one for media, one for backup). Or if there's a way with file sharing to connect USB drives directly to the iMac and have the MacBook access those.

As for the audio portion I know AirPort Express would let me stream wirelessly to my receiver, but it doesnt help with network file sharing. Whereas the Extreme has the file sharing but not Airtunes. I don't necessarily want both, but that may be what I need. (I also may be able to run an audio cable to the MacBook which would negate the need for AP Express, but it's not as portable.)

And with any of these I want to make sure I can back up both the shared drive and the computers. I can also wire the iMac to the network if necessary. I think Airport Extreme and a couple USB drives (or mirroed drives) would take care of my network file sharing and backup needs, and if I want wireless iTunes throw in an Airport Express. I also have an old Dell desktop lying around that I could repurpose, but not sure I really want to tinker. Plug and play is appealing.

I know this is a lot of info but any advice would be appreciated!

[rab777hp]

Hi-
I'd be glad to help you, but it seems like you have listed a lot of info and not a lot seems clear, would you mind just enumerating/listing the things you want to do?

[mjkoop]

I know, I listed a lot. What it boils down to is:

1. Wirelessly sharing/reading/writing files (iTunes, photos, docs) between an iMac and MacBook

2. Backing up those files and computers

3. Potentially wirelessly streaming music from either computer to a home theater system

All of the data right now is on the iMac which is backed up via Time Machine to an external drive. I have an existing wireless g router from Verizon for FiOS.

[rab777hp]

Ok, here's what I think you should do:
upgrade the MB to leopard.
attach the external HD to you extreme and use TM to backup as an NAS
use the airport express for airtunes,
using the same wireless router (the extreme) you can access with read/write both your computers with the finder's built in capabilities.

[mjkoop]

rab777hp thanks for your reply.

I don't yet have the Extreme, just a regular verizon router, so that's something i'll need. what i'm still not clear on is the file sharing. what i really want is both computers to share the same iTunes library, photos, etc. which i assume means one set of files in a common place that bot machines can access. would i move all these files to the external drive connected to the extreme and map both computers to that drive? if so, how do i do backups? it would seem i need another drive for that.

[rab777hp]

Oh, I'm sorrry, I misread, but- the regular router should work if its mac compatable and you've used it with your mac perfectly well- do you want read/write access for iTunes on both machines? It might be easier to make all you purchases/imports on one computer and share over the air, it's a bit trickier to have both,
for backups use your current one.
for photos, i'm not sure if you might be interested in a third party solution- such as memeo...?