UnitiServe questions

Posted by: Alamanka on 10 May 2010

Reading on the web site about the new UnitiServe, I understand it will be able to rip, store and stream music. And there will be two versions: one version with internal hard drive, one version without.

I am personally interested in this product, but I am not so clear why I should prefer this product over a "classic" computer based configuration, using either a PC or Mac and some good ripping and media management softare.

So here are my own questions:

1) What is the benefit of the UnitiServe over a "classic" PC or a MAC using good ripping software?
Is this about convenience: user simply insert a CD and the system takes care of the rest without any further manual work?

2) Is the UnitiServe able to play a CD without ripping it first?

3) Will the UnitiServe without the hard drive cost less to purchase?

4) How to avoid the loss of data in case the internal hard drive fails? Will it be possible to store a back-up copy on-line?
Does the customer still need a local back-up solution?

5) For those users who do not wish to use Iphone as a controller, what will be the alternatives?

6) Does NaimAudio have any plan to develop a controller application on other mobile platform (Android, for instance)?

7) Does NaimAudio plans to enhance UnitiServe so that it can also handle DVD or BlueRay (video, movies etc...)?

Thank you.
Posted on: 14 May 2010 by Alamanka
quote:
Originally posted by Eloise:

If you want to use a computer with a full Media Center interface like XMBC (I think that is what was posted) then great, do it. If you want a basic Windows display and Foobar (either plain or customised) do that. If you want a well box that should sit there day after day doing a single task and (we can assume) do it well, with no need to worry about it's internals (just like it's a CD player), Naim have designed the UnitiServe for you.


Eloise - or others -

Can the ripping convenience of the UnitiServe be replicated using PC or Mac?

The use case is the following:

1) User switch on the machine (no login, on Control Alt Del etc...)

2) User inserts CD in the drive

3) Machine does the ripping automatically (no program to select, no option, no user intervention)

4) The ripping program automatically applies rules for storage location, file names, metadata etc.

5) When ripping is over the CD is ejected.

Thanks.
Posted on: 14 May 2010 by rich46
once all your cds are ripped most of the uni is redundant ,except for topping collection up.

i can understand why the majority will go down pc/nas way
Posted on: 14 May 2010 by pcstockton
yes to both Macs and PCs.

Although I think fairly easy to set up with iTunes, you can do anything.

-patrick

ctrl alt delete? really? is it 1989?