--KISS or why Radio Shack still matters (or how $6.99 trumps $279)--

I have been on a three month quest to get music from my computer (namely, from MusicMatch which has streaming Internet radio) over to my stereo so that I can hear the music throughout the office. There are several devices that claim to connect computer to stereo via a wireless connection. None of them work.

I tried everything from the $39 X10 option all the way up to the DLINK Media Server ($279) without success. Oddly enough, the X10 option technically worked, but the quality of the connection was so bad it ruined the listening experience. All of the other more "high tech" (quotes because I wonder) options refused to work. I could see my network, but couldn't connect. Or I could connect, but couldn't interact with the network. Even if the components were literally inches away from the wireless router. Oh, and I tried three different routers just in case that might be the problem. No.

Thinking back to something I McGuivered years ago, I ran over to our near by Radio Shack and purchased a Y-cable. Plugging in to the Line Out on the computer's sound card, then into the back of the stereo AUX plug did the trick. We now have MusicMatch streaming Internet radio through the stereo with perfect quality.

The point?

Why did I think I immediately had to jump to the more complicated solution? Yes the office has a wireless network, but that does not mean that I had to use that particular technology. Some times the quick and simple solution is the best option. To save time and effort, wouldn't it be better to start with the simple and progress to something more complicated? How many times does an organization make the same mistake? Why not make KISS (keep it simple, stupid) the first course of action?