WD HD Live

[ZetaVu]

Interesting review, honestly if they just expanded the web browser it would really be awesome. For a wired network, this looks like an awesome media player. It can play local content (usb drives) and has an ethernet port. Also streams (Pandora, Youtube, not sure about Hulu). I assume you just setup your server directories as network drives, similar to what I now do with my Linux boxes. I was planning on getting a nettop for may basement, I might get one of these instead for $120. Probably wait until it drops under $100. Would be great if we could hack into btv live tv streams. (the box is open source)

Hands-On with Western Digital's TV Live HD Media Player - Page 1 | Maximum PC

[Nick Burns]

Since I already have a 640GB Freeagent Go, I'm kind of leaning towards the Seagate Theater+, though Seagate doesn't seem to sell the new one without a drive.

[bdlee420]

Will this not play a BTV live stream?

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by Nick Burns

Since I already have a 640GB Freeagent Go, I'm kind of leaning towards the Seagate Theater+, though Seagate doesn't seem to sell the new one without a drive.

I just ordered a "0-drive" model from New Egg. On sale $90.00 free shipping.

[Nick Burns]

Originally Posted by Rich A

I just ordered a "0-drive" model from New Egg. On sale $90.00 free shipping.

Thanks, Rich, but the $90 model (STCEA101-RK) is the original version. However in looking at that on NewEgg the newer model (STCEA201-RK) without a drive is $129.99, so I'll probably be buying that soon!

[ZetaVu]

Let us know how that works out, specifically HD PVR recordings if you have them. (or one of the download test samples)

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by Nick Burns

Thanks, Rich, but the $90 model (STCEA101-RK) is the original version. However in looking at that on NewEgg the newer model (STCEA201-RK) without a drive is $129.99, so I'll probably be buying that soon!

Oh rats! I didn't even think to check on the version. It was the first one in the list that didn't have a drive. What am I missing with the older version? If it is upgradable via a firmware upload I'll keep it. Otherwise I'll exchange it for the newer one.

[Nick Burns]

I believe the Theater HD+ offers an ethernet port for network discovery of other media content, internet access to online content and an HDMI 1.3 port.

Here are the specs for 101-RK:

Supported Formats
Video: MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB/ISO), MPEG-4 (AVI/DivX /Xvid)
Subtitles: SAMI(smi), SRT and SUB
Video resolutions: NTSC 480i/480p; PAL 576i/576p, supports video
(HD and upscaling) up to 720p/1080i*

Audio: MP3, AC3 (5.1 audio - Dolby® Digital) WMA, WAV, OGG
Photo: JPEG files up to 20 megapixels

Supported File Systems: NTFS, FAT32, FAT

Output

Video: Composite, S-video, Component
Audio: stereo, coaxial S/PDIF

* supports MPEG-4, Xvid up to 1280 x 720 60fps and supports MPEG-2 and photos up to 1920 x 1080i 30 fps

Here are the specs for 201-RK:

Supported Formats
Video Formats: MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (VOB/ISO), MPEG-4 (DivX /Xvid), DivX HD, Xvid HD, AVI, MOV, MKV, RMVB, AVC HD, H.264, WMV9, VC-1, M2TS, TS/TP/M2T
Subtitles: SAMI(smi), SRT and SUB
Video resolutions: NTSC 480i/480p, PAL 576i/576p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p

Audio: AAC, MP3, Dolby® Digital, DTS, ASF, FLAC, WMA, LPCM, ADPCM, WAV, OGG
Playlist: M3U, PLS
Photo: JPEG files up to 20 megapixels, BMP, GIF, PNG, TIFF
Supported File Systems: NTFS, FAT, FAT32, HFS+

Output
Video: Composite, Component, HDMI 1.3
Audio: Stereo, Optical S/PDIF, HDMI 1.3
Network: Ethernet 10/100 mbps
Interface: 1x USB 2.0 at front / 1x USB 2.0 at back
Note: Optional Wireless 802.11b/g/n adapter can be connected to front or rear USB host ports.


With the built-in Ethernet port the FreeAgent Theater+ HD media player can connect to your home network to access content from shared devices, including networked computers and NAS (network attached storage). The network connection also allows the Theater+ HD media player to access internet content such as pictures, weather, stocks, and more.

[Rich A]

Thanks for posting that information. Yup, I ordered the wrong one. Tried to change the order but typical NewEgg had it processed and shipped almost instantly.

It may still work out temporarily for me though. I can run a USB cable from the home theater to the living room TV which is directly above the HTPC downstairs. Wouldn't need a lot of cable. And I could just transfer the shows I want to watch from the upstairs TV via USB every so often.

[Nick Burns]

On further reflection, I might go ahead and buy the Theater+ with the 500GB drive. Dedicate that drive to pure media. The current Go HDD I'll keep using for general purposes.

[Rich A]

I sent the one I ordered back for refund. Actually found (IMHO) the perfect BTV link machine. For only 199.99 complete. All I'll have to do is add BeyondTV Link software.

Newegg.com - Acer Aspire Revo AR1600-U910H Intel Atom 230 (1.6GHz) 1GB DDR2 160GB NVIDIA ION LE graphics Windows XP Home - Desktop PCs

I've been trying to find a way to build a cheap Link-box. This item "should" fill the bill perfectly and is more than 100 bucks cheaper than I what I could build from scratch.

[bdlee420]

I have read some reviews of people not being able to get the 330 version of that to run BTV smoothly. So I don't know how well the 230 will do. It was going to cost me $235 with tax and shipping for that box. I ended up building my own for $279 which I know will run what ever I throw at it.

Let me know how that works out. I am anxious to see how good that box is.

[Rich A]

Originally Posted by bdlee420

I have read some reviews of people not being able to get the 330 version of that to run BTV smoothly. So I don't know how well the 230 will do. It was going to cost me $235 with tax and shipping for that box. I ended up building my own for $279 which I know will run what ever I throw at it.

Let me know how that works out. I am anxious to see how good that box is.

Just found out it won't be here until Monday. Rats .. thought I had a whole weekend to play with it.

I will certainly post info once I get it up and running. One problem is that it comes with a huge amount of "bloatware". They have trials and and such for hundreds of apps. Some guys are probably experiencing problems due to conflicts with the pre-installed junk. I plan to blow everything away and start with a fresh install of Windows. We'll see how that works. Guys who have done that report that it works much better once you nuke the bloatware.

[bdlee420]

Cool, I hope that works.

Do you think it would be able to run Hulu Desktop?

[HomeyFour]

Originally Posted by Rich A

I plan to blow everything away and start with a fresh install of Windows.

I think that should become a sticky at the top of all of Snapstream's forums!