want to have my Empeg Mark II connected to my computer via ethernet so that other people on the network in my dorm can download music off of it whenever they want to.

I'm trying not to sound too "holier-than-thou" about this, but this sort of music theft encouragement is just what the RIAA loves to propagandize about. You will be surprised at how many people on this bbs will take exception to this plan.

Is there anyway that I can let them do this but not give them access to changing my songs.

I don't believe so, at least not using the standard emplode software that comes with the player. Perhaps there are FTP tricks or some such that could be made to work, but a "stock" player can only download songs through emplode, and once you have access to emplode, you have full access to the player.

what kind of damage can they do to my Empeg when they're connect to it this way?

[sarcasm]None, really -- about all they can do is delete all your songs and playlists.[/sarcasm]

tanstaafl.