Final Tips
Although setting up a Mac media network is fairly easy, there are some tips to consider. First, if you are using AirPort or another wireless network solution, ensure that it is secure. At the very least, require a password and some form of encryption. The more secure, the better. This is true for any wireless network, but in this case you will be allowing easy access to a large amount of data, so security does need to be implemented.
Also keep in mind that for access to video content, you should be using at least AirPort Extreme (802.11g) networking for wireless or 100Mbps or gigabit Ethernet. Also keep in mind the notes earlier in this article about streaming video performance over wireless connections.
If you want to take the idea further, you can make copies of your DVD collection for easy access on any computer using a tool such as Handbrake.
When adding video content, keep in mind that the smaller the file, the faster and more reliably it will stream. iTunes and Front Row do a decent job of managing streaming over AirPort Extreme. However, with some larger files, you might find the occasional pause of skip. As such, you might want to test various file formats before loading them up to ensure that they will stream well.