USB Ports??

[dbarthelfl]

How about some USB ports. Could do lots of stuff, like a hard drive for a network server, or an iPod controller which could be run by the Sonos controller, timetraxtech adaptor for satilite radio, etc etc etc

[Free]

I am scratching my head, wondering why Sonos Zone Players lack USB inputs.

It seems to me that it would be easier, and faster to connect a USB hard drive, than a NAS.

Also, it would be cool, if your friend comes over with a new album on a memory stick, you could just plug it in, and index it.

[buzz]

Implied with USB is some sort of driver software, probably not under SONOS control or written to support the processor that SONOS is using. The current scheme is platform neutral, just plug and play.

I haven't tried this, but couldn't one share a memory stick plugged into a NAS or a computer?

I would rather not need to re-index the SONOS library just to play a "guest" album. (the library would need to be re-indexed again after the guest was removed)

[Avee]

Afaik, the ZPs run linux, so finding an open-source driver shouldn't be a problem.

I also think a USB port should be there, it is a lot more plug and play-like than the user setting up a NAS. Just plug in any external hard disk of any size and off you go...

For myself, I am happy with the NAS since I use it for other things, too.

[buzz]

Originally Posted by Avee

[ ... ]

I also think a USB port should be there, it is a lot more plug and play-like than the user setting up a NAS. Just plug in any external hard disk of any size and off you go...

For myself, I am happy with the NAS since I use it for other things, too.

Maybe I'm too much of a geek, but I don't see any difference in ease of installation between USB and NAS.

It would become more interesting to make that USB drive attached to a ZonePlayer visible to the PC.

[Free]

I just connected a memory stick to my NAS, and either I am doing something wrong (very possible) or it doesn't work. I can't see it on the network.

Also, it has been my experience that file transfer between an external USB hard drive, is faster than with an NAS, and I have a gigabite network.

Oh... and the USB hard drive is smaller. It looks better with the ZP80

[Ghenghis]

How about avoiding the whole NAS thing with a couple of USB ports on each ZP? Just plug in your music collection, and go.

[cnewlander]

Would would a usb hard drive provide that a NAS does not?

[Nikhil]

Sounds good to me. USB drives/enclosures are cheaper than a NAS. And since you have to plug the first ZP into a wired ethernet anyway - having the option to plug it to a USB/firewire drive directly would be awesome. Also maybe u can have the first ZP (or alternatively a non audio 'Base Zone') work like a NAS, sort of like a NSLU specifically for Sonos.

N

usb on the zoneplayer is a great idea... I'm not sure this could be implemented without a lot of hardware since I don't know much about USB or about hard-drives.

It would also be really easy for someone to hook-up another drive and hot-swap without going to the router. If a friend brought over a usb hard-drive for example.

I agree with the previous poster: NAS is amazingly expensive for what you get.