MacBook Air as Primary Computer: Offline Storage Options

Question

Today I have my MacBook Air configured (via MobileMe) to store/access files on my Mac Pro. This works very well. In particular, I can pull Aperture Libraries and work with them on my Air, and can also access all of my iTunes content stored on my Pro through Home Sharing (i.e., copying only what I want to my Air when needed). Finally, I can print to the printer hooked to the Pro with Printer Sharing.
I need to separate my files from my Pro. One option is to buy another Mac (e.g., a Mac Mini, for example) and replicate the same network/file management process as I have now with my Pro.
However, I wondered if there is another option -- could I instead use a Time Capsule and a powered USB hub to fulfill my offline storage and network printing needs, without purchasing a new Mac. Specifically, I was considering: (a) a 1TB Time Capsule, using the Time Capsule drive as my primary storage drive for Aperture libraries and media, (b) a powered USB hub connected to the Air Disk USB port, (c) a separate 2TB USB drive for Time Machine (for both my MacBook Air and my primary Time Capsule drive) hooked to this powered USB hub, and (d) a USB printer also hooked to the powered USB hub.
I am reasonably sure I can get this working for my Aperture library as well as for other offline files, but an not sure about iTunes. I do not know how I would split-up my iTunes Library to function in a similar fashion as today (e.g., my library sits on my Pro and I only copy what I want to my Air for remote purposes). Finally, not sure about the performance of opening my iTunes library from my Air to this network drive if, for example, I wanted to use AirTunes to stream to my Apple TV.
I searched but did not find anyone looking to do something similar. Any advice, insight or considerations would be appreciated.
Thanks!
Tom

Answer 1

Just to share my growing understanding of the situation in case it might provide useful information to others.....
Once again, to summarize, my interest was to explore the potential of using the MBA as my 'only' computer. The major problem was to find a way to address the MBA's relatively small hard drive. The primary concept: find a way to keep my master files (e.g., Aperture and iTunes, other files) on a separate drive, copying only what I wanted to the MBA as required. Further, for convenience, I wanted to find a way to network this separate drive vs. attaching it via USB when at home. Finally, I desired also to establish a means of accessing this separate drive when away from my home network.
An AirPort Disk (via an AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule) provides a solution to this challenge-- with some limitations. What it CAN do is serve as offline storage for many applications/needs which extend to professional applications like Aperture. Moving albums, photo files, etc. is fairly straight-forward, even on network drives. Thus, if you have a MBA with limited hard drive space, you can copy only those things you need to the MBA's internal drive while maintaining the master library(s) on the networked drive (at least that is what I've gathered to this point).
Meeting needs with iTunes is a bit trickier. The challenge is to find a way to maintain a large 'master library' on the networked drive (e.g., the AirPort Disk or Time Capsule) and only copy what is needed to the MBA's local iTunes library. The specific limitation relates to an inability to open more than one iTunes library at a time on a single machine. Note that this is not a problem if you have two Macs on the same network - but it is a challenge with only one Mac. However, I found (at least) one third-party solution that appears to have functionality that overcomes this challenge (e.g., the application permits a user to open more than one iTunes library and manage content). So there appears to be a solution for iTunes!
HOWEVER, under this 'AirPort Disk as my Master Storage' scenario, I could not find a way to preserve Time Machine functionality for what would, in essence, be my primary disk. Time Machine is an application that runs on a single Mac. Under my scenario, this translates to one instance of Time Machine running on my MBA. I could not find a way to configure Time Machine to back up the external 'master' AirPort Disk - Time Machine only permits backups of internal hard drives and drives directly attached to a Mac. Although a number of third-party 'backup' utilities are available for networked drives, they do not appear to function as seamlessly as Time Machine. This is a show-stopper for me. If I regard the external AirPort Disk as my primary storage, I want this disk to be 'Time Machined' in the same seamless manner as my internal hard drive.
Bottom line -- IMO many users will face challenges using an MBA as their 'only' computer, presuming they want to preserve the full functionality of OSX (e.g., Time Machine). My current plan is to purchase a Mac Mini as a server. I will use the drive in the Mini as my 'master' drive, leveraging 'Back to My Mac' and 'Home Sharing' to pull content to my MBA as required -- with Time Machine working separately on my MBA and Mini.