Media Players/Center

[Älen]

Hey PSB how is it going?

Well my feonsay and I are moveing out in to a new place and im leaveing my PC with my bro. So we got a new TV and all but im not buying a new pc as I don't have time for it + I got a laptop that we can use.

Now we are looking for a Media Center box or what ever you call it. Do any of you have one and do you have any info for me on what to buy. Im looking for some thing under $500. I don't have an xbox but will buy the new one when it comes out.

Any help with this will be nice and we thank you for it.

[jmoore]

you can build your own for under that sort of price if thats your sort of thing.

An E350 or atom based system should be able to be had for that sort of money as well.

What are you trying to do with it? Are you just wanting to play back movies? Or blu rays? or are you trying to use it as a pvr?

[I Fancy Holidays]

I have a Popcorn Hour. Trashes all other media players.
Popcorn Hour - Networked Media Jukebox

[Bushido]

Where are you looking to store your media?

[Älen]

Im just trying to play all my media files (movies/shows) and store them on the same box.

My setup at my old place was just my bros xbox set to media center and all the media files use to be on my pc.

So as im not moveing my PC and Xbox I need to find a way to play it and store it some how. We have seen this Netgear 1TB Storage Home Media Network - Computer Storage - JB Hi-Fi - Smashing Prices! But we did not know if its good to buy or even if it will do what we need it to do... I never realy played with midia setup in my life...

I have a Popcorn Hour. Trashes all other media players.
Popcorn Hour - Networked Media Jukebox

Just seen your post and yes that is what im after. I can see it will even play ISO files (BluRay) so that will be good.

[I Fancy Holidays]

I have the C-200 and its great! Before that i had the A-100/110, i cant remember the exact number.

[Älen]

So you store all your files on it? Is that how it works?

[Irish]

Steer clear of the Netgear Stora NAS's as they are shite.. Well thats my opinion anyway Someone on here was selling a Beyondwiz, gteat units plus has built in twin HD tuners and a 500gb hard drive. Plays files across the network no hassles. But it depends if u want to also store files on the device too..

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[I Fancy Holidays]

I play files from my PC, but it does have space for an internal HDD and DVD/bluray drive. It takes usb drive too. It also does Youtube which is always fun with people over.

[RRossi]

I hear Kaido has one in his room he likes to show the girls,


maybe hit him up on what to get?


RR

[Herbie]

I hear Kaido has one in his room he likes to show the boys,


maybe hit him up on what to get?


RR

Fixed

[Kaido]

I hear Kaido has one in his room he likes to show the girls,


maybe hit him up on what to get?


RR

LOL your just jealous i never ask you to come see my media station

[onrails]

got a ps3?

[Kaido]

if you want something cheap look at WD T.V
Media Players Overview

around $100-$150, just plug in a HDD and will play 99% of your movies

[okitoki]

I currently have 2 NAS running in the house, with one a QNAP TS210 and a HP Proliant microserver... the Qnap looks after all my asian tv shows and movies while the microserver looks after my other stuffs plus movies, musics and what nots... also run my printer from the microserver for network printing and backup my PCs and Laptops in the house.

I have the following players in the house to play my files from 3 TV locations:
- a WD TV live which easily can access both storage either through DLNA or network access (just need to know the IP address of the units).. so far can play most files except for some occasional MKV files that it cant read.... only thing I didnt like about it was the add skip option is 10mins
- TVIX player before, and it had great user interface, and setup was straight forward... but sometimes had stability issues as it would just freeze and you need to hard power restart it
- I have a Samsung blu-ray player that suppose to be able to be able to read all files... but seems to have problems reading MKV files... I used a Wi-Fi dongle (extra costs) to set it up and speed/file reading was ok with no lag on my network.
- Xbox 360 and PS3 but found the using it to play movies seems tedious (unless you buy the remote control) and also very restricted with the files you can play.
- Ipads/Iphones which is good for a quick TV shows (specially in the loo ) originally had issues with playing other media files except for MP4, but I am using apps like Oplayer (which can also have sub-titles if it is not hard coded in to the video) which does not require files conversion to play on Ipad... however, for larger MKV files, it would cause video/sound synch issues... I would use Air Video, and have the microserver to do the live converting which plays the files very smoothly on the Ipad. Only downside of using the Air Video it is a little cumbersome if you like to change files regularly..
- I have one of those Android Media player too, but Im not a big fan of Android, so I dont use it

I do have a Qnap TS209 laying around not used at the moment...

Currently waiting for my Humax PVR to be delivered... and from what I have read, I should be able to record the TV shows, and then either save it to the NAS, or access directly from other compatible players through DLNA? wonder if the Ipad can play the files too

[Älen]

Thank you guys for all your help.

That WD T.V looks good may just get that.

Okitoki when you say "only thing I didnt like about it was the add skip option is 10mins" what do you mean by that?

[Herbie]

if you want something cheap look at WD T.V
Media Players Overview

around $100-$150, just plug in a HDD and will play 99% of your movies

+1 - I have one of these and they are an awesome cheap option. Havent come across a format it doesnt play yet, and it works well for photos/music etc. too!

[okitoki]

+1 - I have one of these and they are an awesome cheap option. Havent come across a format it doesnt play yet, and it works well for photos/music etc. too!

I did noticed it had some problems with some dual audio files... but thats pretty rare...

I think JB had them at $100 not long ago...

[Herbie]

I did noticed it had some problems with some dual audio files... but thats pretty rare...

I think JB had them at $100 not long ago...

There is a new model out now which will set you back $120 or so. I believe JB are clearing out the old models for $88 at the moment.

[Zanza]

If it's just for Media files to be played then I'm also with the WD LiveTV box, cheap & easy to use, nothing not played yet....

if you want to be able to record TV etc, and store it /other media ON the actual box, then something else can be considered but easily found for under $500

Was a discussion quite a long time back so info may be out of date, still here ya go Looking for a media box?

There are wireless options but not sure how well they stream HD movies etc. might be a bit jumpy (damn I almost sound like I'm a tech girl now )