It would please me to have all of my media files to be on one machine. I want to load all of my workout videos from DVD onto a server and be able to program a custom work out that flows from the upper body section of one video, to the yoga section of another video. Also, I’d like all of our music files to be there so I could pop things on my collection of iPods.

Answer me this oh wise ones.

• What should that media server run?
• Can I connect the server to the wireless router or should it go wired? Moving the router would be a hassle but not apocalyptic.
• What file format should stuff be saved in for excellent quality?

Facts that may be relevant:

• The current setup. We’ve got the big-biggity-big plasma, hd-cable box, receiver, wii, multi-region blu, multi-region HD-DVD, laser disc, (Yeah, we love the dead formats! Word problems in latin using an abacus…) (And if you’re a stranger we’ve got a home security system and big dogs!)
• We’ve also got a spare PC that about 2 years old currently running windows media server.  Also several external hard drives.
• I hate iTunes and it’s slowness.
• My cable and internet are both through Cox Cable.
• Quality is an issue.  Steve is persnickety on this stuff.  He really loves movies and music so high quality is important.  Me, not so much.
• We probably won’t try to load his thousands of movies on the server, just my 200 or so workout videos.