Chapter 25. Playing Digital Music on a Home Media Player

After reading the previous chapter, you may not be totally convinced that you really want a personal computer in your living room. I understand; it’s a level of technological complexity one step beyond what less techsavvy folks (like the rest of your family) are comfortable with. Really, there ought to be a less-complex way to listen to your digital music on your home audio or audio/video system.

Well, there is. Or rather, there are. That is, there are lots of other devices that can connect to the computer or home server where you store your digital music library, and play those tunes (as well as videos and photos) on your home theater system in your living room. Since these devices are more mission-specific (that is, they don’t do all the ancillary tasks that a PC does), they also tend to be simpler to operate and more trouble free. In other words, a winning combination—especially for us music lovers with spouses and children.