Where do I keep my files?
You can keep them on your own computer if you've enough storage. There's nothing wrong with that at all, although you'll probably have to fiddle with the network-sharing settings to get things working optimally.The very serious engage in a media server--a computer with a whole bunch of storage, its whole purpose being, well, to store multimedia files. The idea is that it's always on, so anyone on the network can access it anytime, but this means owning a second computer and space to put it.
Netgear's ReadyNAS is the Rolls Royce of consumer NAS, so it is great but costly.
If you're interested in a NAS, you'll want to find one that carries Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) or UPnP A/V-compatible servers, such as the D-Link DNS323, Netgear ReadyNAS or QNAP TS-209 Pro. These are compatible with a whole slew of settop and A/V boxes, making installation a whole lot easier.
Keep in mind that with a lot of these NAS you'll need to supply your own hard drives, but there're added advantages, too. Many support RAID functions, meaning any stored media will be automatically backed up or "mirrored". Should one of your drives fail, you can still recover your precious data.
