Firstly, I have not been a huge fan of iTunes - I like using WMP11 and have subscriptions to rhapsody and urge as they allow the use of portable players other than sickly ipods.

Are there any real benefits to the i-Tunes server that could not be created using WMP or Media Center Extender?
Also, a lot of the tracks I paid for on my rhapsody subscription are in the .wma format, which I am unsure will be compatible with the i-Tunes server on the HP?

Thanks for all help.

I'm not real familiar with other streaming technologies, and have not used subscription based services like Rhapsody which is why I haven't responded sooner. I don't believe you're getting anything "extra special" with the iTunes server, if you're not an iTunes user. The real benefit is the aggregation from the client to the server, which makes all content available to all users via the iTunes streaming server.

From my experiences, I wish I hadnt. It was there so I had to see. The aggregation is good, but nothing I can't reproduce using the SyncToy as thats what I am using for Photos. Be good when the Add-In is completed for that.

The iTunes server acts like another computer running iTunes. On your home network, you can use iTunes to connect to other computers running iTunes to play each other's music.

So the MSS just acts like a computer with iTunes running for the purposes of playing music.

iTunes cannot handle WMA files so they will not show up in iTunes. If this is a problem you can do what I do:

I download my DRM protected WMA files from Napster. Then I run them through a DRM scrubber that re-records them to unprotected MP3's. It's super fast and legal. Google: Tunebite