Computer Tech, Gaming & Electronics THIS SPACE OPEN FOR ADVERTISEMENT. YOU SHOULD BE ADVERTISING HERE!
Silicon Valley.
Tips & tricks, tech support, home theatre, online gaming, reviews, latest news... |
 | | 
10-01-2011, 07:10 PM
|
#1 | | RS Licensed Vendor
Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 604
Posts: 14,501
Thanked 995 Times in 327 Posts
Failed 34 Times in 13 Posts
| Media Player Questions
Those of you that are using a media player (hardware) which model are you using?
I'm thinking of the Patriot Box. Any comments or complaints about it? Or is there another one out there that better or plays more formats?
Kind of confusing because sometimes media players are <$99, and then some are like $200+
Thanks
| 
|  | |
10-02-2011, 08:13 AM
|
#2 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 2,569
Thanked 104 Times in 61 Posts
Failed 17 Times in 6 Posts
|
Got an ASus oplay 2 years ago love that thing flashed it and bought a cheap USB n card, plays everything I throw at it Posted via RS Mobile | |
| | |
10-02-2011, 08:59 AM
|
#3 | | RS controls my life!
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 759
Thanked 780 Times in 194 Posts
Failed 11 Times in 5 Posts
|
i have the popcorn hour a-200 and i'm not too pleased with it
originally i had wanted to set the device up to access my media server to stream files but it was such a hassle to setup. even transferring files between devices is such a bothersome with it. i would not recommend anyone to buy it. i wish i could return it
on the plus side.. it's played almost every file format i've thrown at it except one
| |
| | |
10-02-2011, 08:59 AM
|
#4 | | I don't get it
Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Richmond
Posts: 439
Thanked 37 Times in 22 Posts
Failed 28 Times in 9 Posts
|
We got the patriot box from NCIX when it was on sale last month. It's been working great 
__________________ I'm a CANUCK | |
| | |
10-02-2011, 09:38 AM
|
#5 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: 604
Posts: 3,023
Thanked 688 Times in 190 Posts
Failed 22 Times in 10 Posts
|
My wd tv plays everything I throw at it. It's around 100 bucks. For me the most important feature of a media player is file-type compatibility.
| |
| | |
10-02-2011, 10:09 AM
|
#6 | | I WANT MY 10 YEARS BACK FROM RS.net!
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 22,123
Thanked 9,915 Times in 3,934 Posts
Failed 881 Times in 421 Posts
|
patriot box office is a great bang for the buck...got it on sale for ~$40 after MIR
| |
| | |
10-02-2011, 10:42 AM
|
#7 | | My homepage has been set to RS
Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: BC
Posts: 2,230
Thanked 29 Times in 11 Posts
Failed 17 Times in 11 Posts
|
I have 2 apple tv's and other then the limited formats that it plays they work really well.
You just have to convert most of the movies you DL
| |
| | |
10-02-2011, 11:03 AM
|
#8 | | Rs has made me the man i am today!
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 3,144
Thanked 1,843 Times in 553 Posts
Failed 185 Times in 67 Posts
|
I use a Boxee Box by Dlink. $200. Go to this page, and click "Compare Boxee" to compare with other players: BOXEE BOX By D-Link Quote:
Originally Posted by Narayan  You just have to convert most of the movies you DL | That alone would dissuade me from buying Apple TV. Not to mention Apple TV is only capable of 720p output.
__________________
nns | |
| | |
10-02-2011, 12:44 PM
|
#9 | | Got MOD?
Join Date: May 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 7,919
Thanked 519 Times in 444 Posts
Failed 5 Times in 4 Posts
|
WDTV Live. Also on sale at Costco for $89.
Patriot the default interface is kinda bleh but it's a good deal for the hardware.
| |
| | |
10-02-2011, 12:56 PM
|
#10 | | Rs has made me the woman i am today!
Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 4,443
Thanked 61 Times in 40 Posts
Failed 11 Times in 3 Posts
|
WDTV Live Plus here. I probably could have saved a few bucks if I went with just the Live as I do not use Netflix.
PBO and the Pivos plays RMVB files if that matters.
If you are a huge anime fan, I don't think any media player supports styled subs, just the plain white bold subtitles.
__________________ Quote: Originally posted by CKMack
you'll NEVER understand women | | |
| | |
10-02-2011, 06:40 PM
|
#11 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sunny Hong Kong
Posts: 54,392
Thanked 25,275 Times in 8,840 Posts
Failed 1,558 Times in 706 Posts
|
I have some china branded box and it is actually kinda awesome. Plays EVERYTHING you can imagine, and the inputs are crazy - internal HDD, external SATA (supporting HDD or any optical drive you want) USB 3.0 (you can also plug a wifi adapter into it), ethernet, SD reader, etc. I got one with a built in tuner. I think it cost about $150. It uses a Realtek chip like most of them, not the latest one though.
It also has a Youtube browser (and various china video services I don't use) and a bittorrent downloader, but I never use that. I got the one with a terrestrial HD tuner, so I use it as a PVR (my wife likes to watch all those stupid TVB shows)
The non tuner one would be about $100, so if you know anyone over here it might be worth considering. No Netflix though. I'm pretty happy with it, even if the interface kinda sucks.
| |
| | |
10-02-2011, 08:09 PM
|
#12 | | Got MOD?
Join Date: May 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 7,919
Thanked 519 Times in 444 Posts
Failed 5 Times in 4 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp I have some china branded box and it is actually kinda awesome. Plays EVERYTHING you can imagine, and the inputs are crazy - internal HDD, external SATA (supporting HDD or any optical drive you want) USB 3.0 (you can also plug a wifi adapter into it), ethernet, SD reader, etc. I got one with a built in tuner. I think it cost about $150. It uses a Realtek chip like most of them, not the latest one though.
It also has a Youtube browser (and various china video services I don't use) and a bittorrent downloader, but I never use that. I got the one with a terrestrial HD tuner, so I use it as a PVR (my wife likes to watch all those stupid TVB shows)
The non tuner one would be about $100, so if you know anyone over here it might be worth considering. No Netflix though. I'm pretty happy with it, even if the interface kinda sucks. | No need to import. A similar one is now available at NCIX without the tuner: http://www.ncix.com/products/?sku=64162
More details from RFD: http://forums.redflagdeals.com/ncix-...otion-1087164/ | |
| | |
10-02-2011, 08:32 PM
|
#13 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sunny Hong Kong
Posts: 54,392
Thanked 25,275 Times in 8,840 Posts
Failed 1,558 Times in 706 Posts
|
Yup that's the one! lol
| |
| | |
10-02-2011, 11:33 PM
|
#14 | | RS Licensed Vendor
Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 604
Posts: 14,501
Thanked 995 Times in 327 Posts
Failed 34 Times in 13 Posts
|
I got the WDTV Live.... Was $67
Seems to work fine and the interface isn't as ugly as the PBO.
Quite a few people complained about the remote on the PBO which kind of steered me away from it.
Thanks for everyones feedback
| |
| | |
10-02-2011, 11:37 PM
|
#15 | | I WANT MY 10 YEARS BACK FROM RS.net!
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 22,123
Thanked 9,915 Times in 3,934 Posts
Failed 881 Times in 421 Posts
|
i'd figure someone like you would probably own a harmony remote | |
| | |
10-03-2011, 11:19 PM
|
#16 | | RS Licensed Vendor
Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 604
Posts: 14,501
Thanked 995 Times in 327 Posts
Failed 34 Times in 13 Posts
| Quote:
Originally Posted by twitchyzero i'd figure someone like you would probably own a harmony remote | Don't temp me haha.
I had the 1000, but didn't use it much and it was so expensive so just sold it to a friend for cost. I found it quicker to just turn whatever on, rather than scroll thru the screens, then sometimes things get outta sync or lag or you scrolled too fast, etc etc. Oh and didn't support PS3, have to spend MORE money to make it work.
I'm used to having so many remotes now. Just seems quicker for me to turn on tv, reciever and whatever source.
I find Harmonys are more for the technology challenge. Or people that want the cool factor.
Last edited by Cman333; 10-03-2011 at 11:24 PM.
| |
| | |
10-04-2011, 06:53 AM
|
#17 | | My bookmarks are Reddit and REVscene, in that order
Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 4,442
Thanked 13,465 Times in 1,814 Posts
Failed 1,625 Times in 307 Posts
|
So if my computer is the one running everything, and it is what hosts all me media on it. Why would I want this?
Am I assuming that this is if I want my computer in 1 room, then have my TV all the way across the house?
| |
| | |
10-04-2011, 07:44 PM
|
#18 | | Rs has made me the woman i am today!
Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Here! n There!
Posts: 4,149
Thanked 498 Times in 222 Posts
Failed 121 Times in 59 Posts
|
i have a boxee box and used to have a wdtv (original) that is now being used only for long trips (in the van)...
Never looked back since...its being used everyday and the best thing about is airplay with ios device...
__________________
Go Canucks Go!
| |
| | |
02-18-2012, 11:15 PM
|
#19 | | Where's my RS Christmas Lobster?!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 817
Thanked 120 Times in 62 Posts
Failed 21 Times in 14 Posts
|
Quick question is there a difference in quality between playing a file on an external harddrive vs on a harddrive that is directly connected to the media player? (ie lag?)
| |
| | |
02-18-2012, 11:49 PM
|
#20 | | I WANT MY 10 YEARS BACK FROM RS.net!
Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 22,123
Thanked 9,915 Times in 3,934 Posts
Failed 881 Times in 421 Posts
|
if you meant through usb or esata then no the difference should be negligible.
| |
| | |
02-19-2012, 07:16 AM
|
#21 | | I answer every Emotion with an emoticon
Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: somewhere
Posts: 7,906
Thanked 2,485 Times in 1,007 Posts
Failed 1,234 Times in 307 Posts
|
my parents bought the WD few years ago.. it was great.. it wasnt the live version... it didnt play rmvb files...
then i told them to change it to the Asus Oplay... that was a bit better as it played rmvb files..
| |
| | |
02-19-2012, 11:18 PM
|
#22 | | RS has made me the bitter person i am today!
Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada
Posts: 4,564
Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts
Failed 62 Times in 39 Posts
|
i got my asus oplay onsale for 49.99 does everything i need it to do.. only issue with all these media player.. the remote seems to be on the same frequency code as the shaw cable box -.- so everytime i turn on my cable box i turn the media player on too  | |
| | |
02-21-2012, 10:31 AM
|
#23 | | I Will not Admit my Addiction to RS
Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: vancouver
Posts: 586
Thanked 297 Times in 45 Posts
Failed 18 Times in 7 Posts
| | |
| | |
02-21-2012, 01:30 PM
|
#24 | | reads most threads with his pants around his ankles, especially in the Forced Induction forum.
Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Vancouver
Posts: 10,645
Thanked 2,191 Times in 1,131 Posts
Failed 929 Times in 340 Posts
|
got the Patriot box. Parents are pretty happy with it. Interfence seems a bit slow though but is pretty cheap.
| |
| | |
02-21-2012, 05:07 PM
|
#25 | | I have named my kids VIC and VLS
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 39,050
Thanked 15,841 Times in 6,431 Posts
Failed 2,140 Times in 734 Posts
|
so what determines what format these things play?
is it the computer they are running off, if that computer has the Codecs or is it determined by the box?
also is there any decent one that has a web browser?
__________________
Dank memes cant melt steel beams
| 
| | | |
Posting Rules
| You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
| | |
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:22 AM.
|
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!
The banners on the left side and below do not show for registered users!
