I got my dad the WD HD TV last Christmas, and he loves it. I love it because it just works right out of the box and plays every format I throw at it, yet it's simple enough for a 65 year old man who's afraid of the iPhone to use. I bought a 2 pack of seagate 2.5" external drives from Sams Club for 130 bucks back in January, and once a month I'll pop over to my folks house and swap out the drives, leaving him with fresh movies and tv episodes to watch. He loves to brag to his friends about how his kid is so sneaky, and gets him "Hollywood movies that are still in theaters."
He's happy, I'm happy, WD TV gets two thumbs up. #hdmediaplayers
@Cash907Censored: The WDTV is the first gen with out ethernet, this article is about the WDTV Live also know as WDTV 2. Its got eithernet and some other differences. #hdmediaplayers
@bigdave914:
Yeah, I'm aware of that thanks. Thanks to a recent firmware update, the only difference between the WD HD TV and the WD TV Live (version reviewed above) is the newer model has an ethernet port. #hdmediaplayers
Good article. I have been looking over this info for a while now and glad to see it collected.
i like the idea of the Patriot, BUT I just don't see them following up with sequential firmware updates like WD will do (and has done with the previous WD TV).
I LOVE the specs of the Popcorn Hour box, but at that price and size, I would go for a PS3.
For features, support, and price, I think I am going with the WD TV Live (as soon as it actually freaking shows back up in stock somewhere). #hdmediaplayers
@Unknown2U: You'll be happy, this I know from experience. The Creton 6 tuner card will cost more than any of these boxes however. These are all in one single purchase devices. It's not a apple to apple comparison. #hdmediaplayers
@Unknown2U: I understand. Currently I love my CC tuners and will probably build a new WMC box with a Centon Tuner. What I'm saying is that these boxes serve a simpler task and even the most expensive of them is $300. #hdmediaplayers
do you really need to kill apple tv? its not like it's popular like an ipod. Isnt' this kinda like saying, "which soft drink will be the Fresca killer?" #hdmediaplayers
@dallasmay: I've been thinking of going that route, mostly because the WD doesn't have Netflix/Hulu, etc. With a Mini, I can play literally anything (including the Flac-HD files that I can't burn to a disc that's readable by my Sony BD player).
I'm hoping WD will add those, or Roku will add Hulu and the ability to play media off a connected drive (which is rumored). But, if neither of those things comes to fruition by the end of the year, I'll probably go with a Mini. #hdmediaplayers
Anyone got other screenshots? Damn, I want this. Video is something the iPod Touch absolutely blows at, to the point where I don't use video at all. I'd ditch my iPod Touch for this no problem.
@Thao: I'm assuming that with foreknowledge of the touch's codec compatibility, you mean the actual video performance. I call shenanigans, as any touch in good working order is very good at actually playing the video.
If you mean compatibility, perhaps you should check before buying next time.
One of the issues with Blu Ray players is that they don't replace an excellent CD/audio system. If these have really good audio outs, then I'd think the prices are justifiable.
Plus, in the weird wacky world of hi-fi audio, these prices aren't even that high (not that Denon makes such awesome sounding audio gear anyway). So if these things do what they say - great blu-ray + great CD audio (able to replace an aging one trick pony CD player) hooked up to a great set of speakers - then $500 / $700 doesn't sound so bad to me.
People are still paying thousands of dollars for CD players that do nothing but play CDs, after all. OK, not entirely rational people, but living, breathing, wine-sipping people nonetheless.
Question: My TV automatically upscales non-HD content. I think this is a common feature in HD sets now. Does that undermine the utility of DVD player-based upscaling? Is this upscaling "better" than the kind done in the TV?
11/06/09
11/06/09
He's happy, I'm happy, WD TV gets two thumbs up. #hdmediaplayers
11/06/09
11/06/09
Yeah, I'm aware of that thanks. Thanks to a recent firmware update, the only difference between the WD HD TV and the WD TV Live (version reviewed above) is the newer model has an ethernet port. #hdmediaplayers
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
i like the idea of the Patriot, BUT I just don't see them following up with sequential firmware updates like WD will do (and has done with the previous WD TV).
I LOVE the specs of the Popcorn Hour box, but at that price and size, I would go for a PS3.
For features, support, and price, I think I am going with the WD TV Live (as soon as it actually freaking shows back up in stock somewhere). #hdmediaplayers
11/05/09
My PC has Windows 7, I purchase this thing next year: [www.cetoncorp.com]
I rent 1 cable card for $4 a month. That device will allow me to record up to Six Live HD Channels Simultaneously.
Then I just use my Xbox 360 to watch TV.
Beats the PS3, let's face it. Most people watch more TV than they do movies. #hdmediaplayers
11/05/09
11/05/09
The card pays for itself in one year if I get ride of my two DVRs from the cable company. #hdmediaplayers
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
[store.apple.com] #hdmediaplayers
11/05/09
I'm hoping WD will add those, or Roku will add Hulu and the ability to play media off a connected drive (which is rumored). But, if neither of those things comes to fruition by the end of the year, I'll probably go with a Mini. #hdmediaplayers
11/05/09
11/05/09
11/05/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
I'll buy it when it's between $5-$8.
06/13/09
Where do I sign up?
06/14/09
If you mean compatibility, perhaps you should check before buying next time.
05/11/09
Plus, in the weird wacky world of hi-fi audio, these prices aren't even that high (not that Denon makes such awesome sounding audio gear anyway). So if these things do what they say - great blu-ray + great CD audio (able to replace an aging one trick pony CD player) hooked up to a great set of speakers - then $500 / $700 doesn't sound so bad to me.
People are still paying thousands of dollars for CD players that do nothing but play CDs, after all. OK, not entirely rational people, but living, breathing, wine-sipping people nonetheless.
05/11/09
05/11/09