I've got a $200 or so budget. I kinda like the WD TV and an external HDD butI would ahve to manually turn the HDD on/off. Is there any thing like it with a built in HDD?

I found the iomega Screeenplay Pro HD which looks ok but it doesn't do mkv (I think).

I am more concerned with having DVD Isoplayback and either network connection or a second USB host port.

have you checked out AC Ryan's Playon!HD? http://www.playonhd.com

It's recently released, I just got it this week and it's pretty cool.

if I'm not wrong, for US it's $169 + US$20 shipping. So that's under your $200 budget. For the other things you mentioned, it's yes too.

Supports 3.5" HDD up to 1.5TB, has a network connection (also works as NAS drive), has 2 USB host ports, and plays DVD ISO (with menu navigation too).

Here's a thread about the Playon!HD http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1152967

I've got a $200 or so budget. I kinda like the WD TV and an external HDD butI would ahve to manually turn the HDD on/off. Is there any thing like it with a built in HDD?

I found the iomega Screeenplay Pro HD which looks ok but it doesn't do mkv (I think).

I am more concerned with having DVD Isoplayback and either network connection or a second USB host port.

You could always get a HDD like this: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/993015/Seagate-FreeAgent-Xtreme-External-USB-FireWire/ (There are also cheaper, smaller in storage versions of these self-turn off type HDDs)


It doesn't have a power switch and turns itself off when you turn the WD TV off.


Edit: A WD TV + a 500 GB WD passport would run right around the 200$ mark. (I know the Seagate turns it's self off when the WD TV is powered down. I think the Passport does the same.)


Passport:
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Passport-Essential-WDME5000TN/dp/B001F9LY14/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245448040&sr=8-1

WD TV: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-WD-Media-Player/dp/B001JZFQU4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245448032&sr=8-1


You could also look at something like the EG-M34A (Costs around 170$ with S/H): It's a superior player to the WD TV and Playon!HD. It also allows you to connect a internal HDD to the play externally (Which will power itself down when the unit isn't on).

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/1447/egm34a4.jpg


This set up for a 500gig HDD and Player would run you about 230$ S/H included.

HDD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RT5AE0/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

Player: http://www.egreatusa.com/egreat-egm34a-networked-media-tank-n34.html

The passport is a decent setup, my brother in law has it.

You could always get a HDD like this: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/993015/Seagate-FreeAgent-Xtreme-External-USB-FireWire/ (There are also cheaper, smaller in storage versions of these self-turn off type HDDs)


It doesn't have a power switch and turns itself off when you turn the WD TV off.


Edit: A WD TV + a 500 GB WD passport would run right around the 200$ mark. (I know the Seagate turns it's self off when the WD TV is powered down. I think the Passport does the same.)


Passport:
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Passport-Essential-WDME5000TN/dp/B001F9LY14/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245448040&sr=8-1

WD TV: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-WD-Media-Player/dp/B001JZFQU4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245448032&sr=8-1


You could also look at something like the EG-M34A (Costs around 170$ with S/H): It's a superior player to the WD TV and Playon!HD. It also allows you to connect a internal HDD to the play externally (Which will power itself down when the unit isn't on).

http://www.**********************/track/img/3358/s09v0317fvxp/00.gif

This set up for a 500gig HDD and Player would run you about 230$ S/H included.

HDD: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RT5AE0/ref=ox_ya_oh_product

Player: http://www.egreatusa.com/egreat-egm34a-networked-media-tank-n34.html

The passport is a decent setup, my brother in law has it.

Passport and a WD TV?

You could also look at something like the EG-M34A (Costs around 170$ with S/H): It's a superior player to the WD TV and Playon!HD.

Well both those players are based on the sigma chipset. Up till now, all the Full HD players are based on sigma.

Hardware.info is saying the Playon!HD using the new realtek chipset, has more powerful video playback than what they have seen, plays more formats that and also faster response. They have tested many mediaplayers. (For those outside NL, Hardware.info is a big Dutch site. Besides doing their own reviews, they also provide tests and comparisons for other print magazines, tv programs etc - so I would think they are a reliable source).

Also those 2 players do not have internal hdd. I'm for an internal hdd, in fact it was a must for me. It's neater, looks better in the living room, 1 device instead of 2, works as a NAS drive (easy for copying files to/from PC, or streaming it to PC too), and you still can add more USB drives if you wanted.

I'm using the internal drive for all my current movies and music, ocasionally hooking up an external usb hdd with old downloads stored away in a drawer :)

Well both those players are based on the sigma chipset. Up till now, all the Full HD players are based on sigma.

Hardware.info is saying the Playon!HD using the new realtek chipset, has more powerful video playback than what they have seen, plays more formats that and also faster response. They have tested many mediaplayers. (For those outside NL, Hardware.info is a big Dutch site. Besides doing their own reviews, they also provide tests and comparisons for other print magazines, tv programs etc - so I would think they are a reliable source).

Also those 2 players do not have internal hdd. I'm for an internal hdd, in fact it was a must for me. It's neater, looks better in the living room, 1 device instead of 2, works as a NAS drive (easy for copying files to/from PC, or streaming it to PC too), and you still can add more USB drives if you wanted.

I'm using the internal drive for all my current movies and music, ocasionally hooking up an external usb hdd with old downloads stored away in a drawer :)

My intent isn't to get in a debate with you. :)

I suggested the WD TV or Egreat, because he said he was on a 200$ (USD) budge.

According to the PlayonHD website a Playon!HD with a 500GB HDD is 199 (Euro) which is 277$ (USD) (Not including S/H). If we guess S/H is 20 (EURO) which is what the Xtreamer charges to ship from around the same area. That's another 27$ (USD) that brings the unit to a total of 304$ (USD) before import taxes.

Also, I don't think they even ship the the US. Under the, "Choose your shipping country (Shipping cost)" tab it doesn't have the US as a destination.



In regards to playing more media types, it's seems like the only difference is it play Real media files while the WD TV and Egreat-34A do not. However, RM files are very rarely used in the US. Most high def media is MKV.



Realtek chip wise: I've yet to see any specs from the new realtek chips being used. So I personally haven't seen any proof of their being more powerful. I wish they would do something like Sigma and list their speeds, rather than just saying they are more powerful than sigma chips. I like honest comparison rather than boasts. :)


Also, does the playonhd offer DTS downmix?


Edit: I am in no way putting the Playon!HD down because I don't own one, so I can't truly give a personal opinion on them. I was answering his questions from a purely money stand-point trying to stay under or at the 200$ (USD) budget. WD TV and Egreat 34A are the two cheapest media players on the market for people living in the US. (To my knowledge)

My intent isn't to get in a debate with you. :)

I suggested the WD TV or Egreat, because he said he was on a 200$ (USD) budge.

According to the PlayonHD website a Playon!HD with a 500GB HDD is 199 (Euro) which is 277$ (USD) (Not including S/H). If we guess S/H is 20 (EURO) which is what the Xtreamer charges to ship from around the same area. That's another 27$ (USD) that brings the unit to a total of 304$ (USD) before import taxes.

Also, I don't think they even ship the the US. Under the, "Choose your shipping country (Shipping cost)" tab it doesn't have the US as a destination.



In regards to playing more media types, it's seems like the only difference is it play Real media files while the WD TV and Egreat-34A do not. However, RM files are very rarely used in the US. Most high def media is MKV.



Realtek chip wise: I've yet to see any specs from the new realtek chips being used. So I personally haven't seen any proof of their being more powerful. I wish they would do something like Sigma and list their speeds, rather than just saying they are more powerful than sigma chips. I like honest comparison rather than boasts. :)


Also, does the playonhd offer DTS downmix?


Edit: I am in no way putting the Playon!HD down because I don't own one, so I can't truly give a personal opinion on them. I was answering his questions from a purely money stand-point trying to stay under or at the 200$ (USD) budget. WD TV and Egreat 34A are the two cheapest media players on the market for people living in the US. (To my knowledge)

Don't want to debate either, but you used the phrase "superior" player. I think that's highly subjective at best. It may be better on some things, but by all accounts (reviews, tests, comments at mpcclub and elsewhere) the ACRyan has faster response and superior video playback and handled some very difficult video (test) files well. It also plays FLV (up to 720p) as well as RM RMVB, which might be useful to some.

Big, big difference which *will* rule it out for many, is that it is not an NMT (syabas), though it has many similar features, i.e. networking, inet radio, similar feature set, and so on. But you are totally dependent on ACRyan. They're a good company, but that might put some off.

They do ship to the US and they have a US distributor. I realize you posted awhile back, so this may well have not been the case at the time of your post.

Just clarifying these things for those searching here for info (like me!).

Thnx!