I am just now entering the Digital Media age....so I have a basic question
about setup. If I want to play music from my Vista PC (Ultimate or Home), it
seems I have several options to connect this to my home audio system. I
could connect through a wireless media server or hub, or through a Sonos like
system....but what's wrong with simply using a good sound card on my PC with
an optical audio out to my receiver? Wouldn't this be the cheapest?

Also, any suggestions on how to control the Vista Home PC remotely with
either a UMPC or a Pocket PC device over my home's wireless network?

On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:46:03 -0700, ATJ
<ATJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I am just now entering the Digital Media age....so I have a basic question
>about setup. If I want to play music from my Vista PC (Ultimate or Home), it
>seems I have several options to connect this to my home audio system. I
>could connect through a wireless media server or hub, or through a Sonos like

Sonos do synchronised, multiroom playback.
Does your current amp offer that ?

>system....but what's wrong with simply using a good sound card on my PC with
>an optical audio out to my receiver? Wouldn't this be the cheapest?

No, optical cables are relatively expensive. The cheapest would be an
FM transmitter attached to the sound card, and picked up by your
receiver in (choose room here)

>Also, any suggestions on how to control the Vista Home PC remotely with
>either a UMPC or a Pocket PC device over my home's wireless network?

Vinyl for Pocket PC used to be available but disappeared some time
ago. It's a neat product, and was free.

You may still be able to download it, eg
http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php?soft=768

HTH
Cheers - Neil
------------------------------------------------
Digital Media MVP : 2004-2007
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs

Thanks for your response!

Ok, i need to clarify:

I am looking to have music played through my speakers upstairs of my house,
but keep the all equipment downstairs. Here's what I have to work with:

- Speaker wire runs from upstairs to downstairs already
- Desktop Vista PC with no sound card
- Laptop Windows 2003 Server with Optical Out
- Optical Cable (I already have some of this)
- Receiver/Amp (Denon AVR3300)
- 2 Pocket PCs
- 1 UMPC
- 4 Tablet PCs
- 1 external 600GB HD

So, since space is more of a premium upstairs than down for me, i was
thinking i'd put all my equipment downstairs, and connect it to the
speakerwire running upstairs. and operate the equipment remotely using
either the Pocket PCs or the UMPC. OR, I could have a touch-screen monitor
upstairs that would operate the PC (which would then either go up or
downstairs) to do the same...

"Neil Smith [MVP Digital Media]" wrote:

> On Thu, 19 Apr 2007 14:46:03 -0700, ATJ
> <ATJ@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I am just now entering the Digital Media age....so I have a basic question
> >about setup. If I want to play music from my Vista PC (Ultimate or Home), it
> >seems I have several options to connect this to my home audio system. I
> >could connect through a wireless media server or hub, or through a Sonos like
>
> Sonos do synchronised, multiroom playback.
> Does your current amp offer that ?
>
> >system....but what's wrong with simply using a good sound card on my PC with
> >an optical audio out to my receiver? Wouldn't this be the cheapest?
>
> No, optical cables are relatively expensive. The cheapest would be an
> FM transmitter attached to the sound card, and picked up by your
> receiver in (choose room here)
>
> >Also, any suggestions on how to control the Vista Home PC remotely with
> >either a UMPC or a Pocket PC device over my home's wireless network?
>
> Vinyl for Pocket PC used to be available but disappeared some time
> ago. It's a neat product, and was free.
>
> You may still be able to download it, eg
> http://www.pocketpcfreewares.com/en/index.php?soft=768
>
> HTH
> Cheers - Neil
> ------------------------------------------------
> Digital Media MVP : 2004-2007
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpfaqs
>