Seeking some input here.

I currently have a Squeezebox, which has been great. However, it (1) doesn't have a handy dandy remote like the Sonos, and (2) can't be easily run off a network harddrive. The Sonos can do both (1) and (2), but it has no video output or other display devise so people in the room can't see what is playing.

I am basically looking for a Sonos (ie. can be run without a computer being on and has a user-friendly remote) with some sort of display devise like the Squeezebox so that people in the room can see what is being played (either from the device itself, like the Squeezebox, or via an LCD). I am looking for an audio-only solution. Does such a devise exist?

Sonos does have a handheld display, but it's separate from the main unit.

A number of different storage devices will run the Slimserver software for the Squeezebox. I run Slimserver on my HP Mediasmart EX470.

A number of newer A/V receivers -- like the Denon AVR-3808ci and above -- incorporate limited audio playback functionality with an on-screen video display. If you don't mind browsing music on your TV screen, the AppleTV (http://www.apple.com/appletv/) will do the same thing, but with a nicer UI.

Does the MS300 (http://www.computeraudiophile.com/node/66) meet your requirements?

User friendly remote to share?

You could run slimserver on a NAS (eliminating the PC), have the SB to show what's playing, then use the iphone for a kickarse SB remote.

Works great. I never can find my remote, but I always have my phone.

SlimServer can be controlled via a web browser. So any device that has a browser can be used as a remote. There are different skins that can be used, some more suitable for phones, etc. There's a Nokia model that quite a few people seem to use, see the SlimDevices forums.

Running SlimServer on a NAS is posible, some of them include SS. And running it on a computer, with the music on a network share should be easy enough.

But don't throw out the original remote. When upgrading, troubleshooting, etc, it is needed.