Home Network Strategy / Setup?

[NickAWilson]

Hi everyone,

I'd appreciate some suggestions on how best to set up my home network / system. I'll explain what I have to work with and what I'd like to do. Any ideas would be really welcome!

I have:

• Macbook Pro (13" 2010) Which I use for all my work, and take on trips etc.
• Mac Mini (Intel) Used for TV (iPlayer in UK) in the front room.
• iPhone 4 Used for everything!
• Synology Disk Station NAS

Here's what I'd like to do:

• Have a central iTunes library for the kids films / music and mine
• Be able to sync my podcasts on the road (ie from the MBP, not the Mini)
• Have that central iTunes content available in easy format around the home on the MBP or iPhone

I did experiment with keeping both the library and the database on the NAS, but it's a total pain to have to tell iTunes where the library is and wait for the NAS to spin up each time.

Home networking offers some possibility but the layout / format of the media is really not great, and I don't have the best vision to start with!

Can anyone suggest the ideal setup?

Many thanks...