A method for transferring media assets between a host computer and a client device, the client device capable of connecting with a computer network as well as with the host computer, the client device including a media database and a data storage device, said method comprising: determining a set of media assets on the host computer that are to be copied to the client device; monitoring whether the client device is busy with tasks other than media assets transfer with the host computer; initiating copying of the media assets in the set of media assets from the host computer to the data storage device of the client device; and pausing said copying while said monitoring indicates that the client device is busy with other tasks; the method being characterised by further comprising: creating entries in the media database for the media assets in the set of media assets prior to initiating copying of the media assets of said set to the data storage device of the client device such that once an entry for a media asset is placed in the media database, the client device is able to select that media asset for playback, said initiating being subsequent to said creating, wherein, if said copying of that media asset to the data storage device of the client device has not been completed at the time of selection of that media asset for playback, then a streaming connection for that media asset is opened; and updating the entries in the media database as the media assets are stored to the data storage device of the client device after copying one or more of the media assets of said set to the client device from the host computer. determining a set of media assets on the host computer that are to be copied to the client device; monitoring whether the client device is busy with tasks other than media assets transfer with the host computer; initiating copying of the media assets in the set of media assets from the host computer to the data storage device of the client device; and pausing said copying while said monitoring indicates that the client device is busy with other tasks; the method being characterised by further comprising: creating entries in the media database for the media assets in the set of media assets prior to initiating copying of the media assets of said set to the data storage device of the client device such that once an entry for a media asset is placed in the media database, the client device is able to select that media asset for playback, said initiating being subsequent to said creating, wherein, if said copying of that media asset to the data storage device of the client device has not been completed at the time of selection of that media asset for playback, then a streaming connection for that media asset is opened; and updating the entries in the media database as the media assets are stored to the data storage device of the client device after copying one or more of the media assets of said set to the client device from the host computer. creating entries in the media database for the media assets in the set of media assets prior to initiating copying of the media assets of said set to the data storage device of the client device such that once an entry for a media asset is placed in the media database, the client device is able to select that media asset for playback, said initiating being subsequent to said creating, wherein, if said copying of that media asset to the data storage device of the client device has not been completed at the time of selection of that media asset for playback, then a streaming connection for that media asset is opened; and updating the entries in the media database as the media assets are stored to the data storage device of the client device after copying one or more of the media assets of said set to the client device from the host computer.