Currently using a PC to play music on my stereo - mainly on Napster subscription service using an optical output from my PC. Vaguely considering switching to a MAC ( for style, compactness and ease of use - I live in a small NY place). Just wondering if anybody has had any compatability issues with MACs and receivers - I was half thinking of getting a laptop but the blurb for Apple's AirPort Express product makes it sound like it only works for ITunes?? Although going wireless isn't a show stopper it makes me a bit nervous as I can't figure out a good reason why Apple couldn't make the AirPort Express work for any sound output from the laptop??

Thoughts?

There is a program that will make the airport express work with any audio output. It is also available for Windows. Made by a company called Rogue Amoeba. I don't remember what the name of the software is, but it should be fairly prominent on the site.

It's called Airfoil. I bought it last year and highly recommend it.

I have an Aiport express that I use with my macbook pro, but I have 1 problem. I'm using a lynksys router and I can't keep a connection with the airport express (audio dropouts after 5 mins)unless I create a separate netowrk for the airport express. Doing so keeps me from being able to get onto the internet while being connected to the airport express. I think having an airport base station would solve the problem.

I have airfoil but it cannot send output to the airport express. All it can do, so far as i know, is take audio from the app you specify and route it to the physical audio out.

Airfoil takes audio from any app and sends it to one or more Airport Express stations. That's what it was designed to do. http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/mac/

I'll second "Airfoil".
I've had it for a little over a year and love it.
Thanks Peter!