New / First Jukebox

[Roughy]

I'm just about ready to dive into my first Jukebox project.  Currently, I'm working on removing a touchscreen monitor from an iMac that I have that went bad (iMac, not the monitor).

My initial intention was to just re-use the entire set-up of the iMac monitor and the elo touchscreen, but in my thread at http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=48054.0 it appears as if I may be better served just using the touchscreen portion and tracking down an older laptop to work with.

I'm looking for some feedback here--the iMac screen option saves me the obvious laptop purchase, but the iMac monitor also takes up a lot of space as far as the depth is concerned.

My intention is to mount this unit at the end of my bar, connected to my network and to my MP3 server.  Then, run audio out, split it to my upstairs receiver and subsequently those 3 zones and to my rec room's receiver and those 2 zones.

Can anyone provide any input as to which route may be best to go--tracking down the laptop (used? off-lease?  recommendations?) or re-using the entire iMac monitor?

Thanks!