Simplest stand alone setup

[yurkot]

At my cabin, which is in a pretty remote place, I have a Linn Akurate dsm digital streaming device and I do not (as yet) have a network.
I have had to plug in my external hard drive to a laptop, hard wire the laptop to a router, hardwire the router to the DSM and then control the music through Asset on the laptop, which is a bit cumbersome.
I miss the ease of running the system with my IPAD like I do at home.

Can I install Minimserver on a Synology 213Air (which has its own wifi and access point) and the talk to the music collection through my Ipad?

I also saw something about installing Minumserver on a SheevaPlug. Would that, along with an external hard drive with music and a control point like Ipad be all I need? I am not a computer wiz at all.
How difficult is it to get either system set up? And if not what would be the simplest way to hook up the system to control it with my IPAD?

Lastly from my reading it seems that Minimserver is easier and more efficient than Twonky especially for classical music. Can I run a DS system without the Twonky and just use Minimserver?
Thanks