Is there a reason to choose a media streamer over an HTPC other than cost? It seems that various media streamers only play some or most formats but may stutter or not play with others while an HTPC could play everything. Just curious what the reason are why one would choose a media streamer over an HTPC. I'm still deciding what to do.

Is there a reason to choose a media streamer over an HTPC other than cost? It seems that various media streamers only play some or most formats but may stutter or not play with others while an HTPC could play everything. Just curious what the reason are why one would choose a media streamer over an HTPC. I'm still deciding what to do.

IMO HTPC, configured for 1080i/p display is generally more expensive and complicated to setup than a networked media player. There are those that have knowledge and access to used PC stuff and or are adept at purchasing used PCs like the Dell Optiplex that will argue that they can put an HTPC together for about the price of a network media player...but for the general public a good HTPC that can in fact play anything is $500+ not including PVR software and a Remote for the PC.

IMO HTPC is more complicated to setup and maintain because;
- You will need PVR software, therefore you will need to find one you like. Once that is done you will need to experiment with the settings to get the best display.
- Sometimes there is a lot of trial and error in getting the overlay to display properly on your TV
- You will need a remote (could use wireless mouse/keyboard) to control the PC for viewing. This too can have its complications
- Your HTPC will require virus protection if it is Windows based and is part of a network
- Rebooting your HTPC can be a little tricky depending on how you have it setup

In the end it really comes down to your preference....I have tried both and for my needs, which are fairly basic, the simplest, cheapest with WAF was to go networked media player (Linkplayer2 - $199) Runs day in and day out, never needs to be rebooted and my wife has fully accepted it. But as I said my needs are basic...mpeg2, HD ts, ISO....I would be hard pressed to get video in h.264 so there is no need....I do not convert perfectly good video to some other format to save HDD (wasted time and PQ IMO)

BTW if you do not have a fast enough PC and your video card is not up to snuff then you will also get plenty of video stuttering with an HTPC.

Lastly, unless your HTPC is a small footprint, like the Optiplex or the ACER or something like that, then IMO it can be a rather large unsightly and noisy thing stuck in your living room...point being not all HTPCs are created equal...to do it right so that it looks as good as most network media players would in your audio/video setup then you will probably spend even more money on it.

In my case i'm not using it for a PVR. I also don't bother with anti virus software in windows. With being smart about things I have never in my life had a virus.

I was looking at getting a Nvidia 8500GT, found one on sale for $62.99, that can handle H.264 all in hardware. So far my HTPC build would cost about $700 shipped. Found a remote for it too.
I could save money by going with a media streamer I know. I'm just concerned that they won't have enough power for high end HD stuff or won't support certain formats now or in the future. The tomacro seems the most complete but also the most expensive.

Decisions, decisions...

I agree with what digitalkid2 said.

I ended up putting my HTPC in the closet and getting a Tivo until a media streamer I like comes out.

In my case i'm not using it for a PVR. I also don't bother with anti virus software in windows. With being smart about things I have never in my life had a virus.

I was looking at getting a Nvidia 8500GT, found one on sale for $62.99, that can handle H.264 all in hardware. So far my HTPC build would cost about $700 shipped. Found a remote for it too.
I could save money by going with a media streamer I know. I'm just concerned that they won't have enough power for high end HD stuff or won't support certain formats now or in the future. The tomacro seems the most complete but also the most expensive.

Decisions, decisions...
I agree the limHD200i at $550 US without a HDD is priced too high and if that were my only choice I would go HTPC.

I recommend that you go with XP Pro and stay away from Vista. It will turn your PC into a slug and there are still lots software and hardware that is not compatible.

I have always been careful with what I do regarding the internet but I have in fact had a worm that destroyed everything.

Good luck!

I have Vista 64 on my main desktop and love it. Not a slug at all. In fact it's faster than XP for me. And all of my hardware and software are working fine. But I don't feel like buying another copy.
And I do have a spare copy of XP MCE....

If anything the software setup and tweaking is what concerns me the most about a HTPC as it will be connected to a projector and imperfections will be noticeable on a large screen.

With the recent death of my DSM-520, I've been trying to decide between another media player or an HTPC as well.

I was mostly set on going the HTPC route, as I figured it would give me the most control and flexibility. Update the software as needed, switch video cards, as needed, etc. Unfortunately, it's a fairly expensive proposition when you factor in the hardware (motherboard, CPU, memory, drives, case, etc.), a new copy of Windows, the need for a keyboard and mouse to set things up, and so on. Then there's the issue of having yet another computer to maintain and upgrade in the house. (getting quiet fans and power supplies, keeping the noise and heat down, etc.)

I'm still considering the HTPC route, but it's looking less likely since I can't find PVR software that supports my tuner cards (QAM tuning on the HVR-1600) AND supplies a natural feeling fast forward/reverse (a priority for me). No matter how flexible the hardware may be, if I can't find the software I need I'm no better off.

So, I'm steering my attention back to media players. At this point, I'm considering either the EVA8000 or the Tvix 4100SH. Both seem to have their share of problems, but the EVA8000 seems to be more widely available, slightly less expensive, and appears to be having good support from the manufacturer right now. I haven't ordered yet, but I'm leaning towards the EVA8000.

My needs are simple. To watch standard and high definition MPEG2 videos with the simplicity of a DVD player (play, pause, fast forward and reverse in multiple speeds). It seems like the players get so bogged down with internet access and support for thousands of formats that basic MPEG2 playback gets lost.

Anthony

It's not an either/or decision, you can have both. But even if you prefer the HTPC, are you going to build six of them so you can put one in every room? The streaming players are good when you need something with the size and form factor of a DVD player, and appliance-like simplicity. That's usually what you want when you're equipping rooms beyond your primary and secondary theaters. I wouldn't put an HTPC in my kid's play/video game room for instance, but a media streamer goes perfectly in there.

For me it is either or. I'm only putting one in the living room.

HTPC's are not at all cheap, at least not for what I am looking for. It would need to play all HD material, that includes Blu Ray and HD DVD rips. Of course that is very difficult (I meant to say impossible) at this time for media streamers. But the cost of of HTPC, as far as I can tell would run at a very minimum $2000-one that plays "everything" without any studder, as well as all audio. Between the CPU and the graphics card one is looking at at least $600. Anyway, I have a Tvix 4100 and am pleased for the most part. It is certainly worth the $320 I paid from Digital Connection. I just wish it could stream VC-1 and MPEG4 blu ray rips better, as well as any .evo files. I have a feeling all that is coming with the next release however.

I have a Dlink 510 networked via powerline connected to my HDTV. While its far from perfect and doesn't do h.264 it does:
plays back HD mpeg2 recordings
small form factor
simple HDMI connection
relatively inexpensive

I think the next generation of mediaplayers with the newer chipset (8634?) to be released at CES Jan 08 will be a closer step toward the solution most of us are looking for. While I think I get a slightly better picture with my HTPC outputing 1080p directly to the display, h.264 playback is still not perfect and the HTPC has its own issues. I prefer the hardware decoding of a media player and just think we are relatively early in their evolution.

Are you married?

An appliance that works almost all the time for the spousal unit and kids is WAY more useful than something that requires hand holding to get working and keep running!

Well, I have both, HTPC and media player, but I use HTPC only as a "workaround" when media player doesn't support certain codecs or doesn't show foreign-language subtitles. Other then that, media player is my player of choice. I use SFF (small form factor) Shuttle PC and wireless mouse, all things work great, but computer, well, it's still a computer, you loose simplicity and user friendly interface.

what would you guys suggest for a media streamer with a good interface that plays ISOs and HDTV recordings, that has a PVR? i'm looking for something simple to use as a recorder, and stream from my dvd server (that is forthcoming)... that's all i need, with a simple user interface that looks good.

Hear that sucking sound?

It's your free time....being drawn, inexorably, into the htpc vortex.











I'm not a htpc hater, have a dual (ATSC HD) tuner SageTV box that I use for just OTA recording (media streaming I leave to XBMC as it is so damn good at it). But the HTPC was a long-time coming together, and exorcising all the demons (micro stuttering in 1080i for instance). So after months of trouble free operation, what do I do? Start thinking about S3 suspend states and saving cash by reducing Duke Power's CEO golden parachute.

Like all things htpc, it sounds easy at first. Then gets a bit more aggravating....Still not there yet, but I do have it waking from USBUIRT. Still gotta add a power toggle command to my SageTV activity (Harmony Remote) and that, in and of it'self requires hooking up the remote to a PC with internet access. Ain't technology wonderful!

YMMV

Are you married?

An appliance that works almost all the time for the spousal unit and kids is WAY more useful than something that requires hand holding to get working and keep running!

You don't even have to be married to look no further than a good streamer :p
(even the unmarried females have trouble...Very often I'm banned from acquiring new wonderful stuff for the HT)

I have installed a couple of HTPC for friends (from the braindead HW building, up to SW configuration)(also incl. selecting components), and I'm a happy camper with my streamer.
Sure, it's not the holy grail and can't do everything a HTPC might do, but I just don't have the need (nor the sparetime) to spend my movietime to "fix" the HTPC.

You don't even have to be married to look no further than a good streamer :p
(even the unmarried females have trouble...Very often I'm banned from acquiring new wonderful stuff for the HT)

...and unmarried males too! :D

...and unmarried males too! :D

LOL :p

I agree the limHD200i at $550 US without a HDD is priced too high and if that were my only choice I would go HTPC.

I recommend that you go with XP Pro and stay away from Vista. It will turn your PC into a slug and there are still lots software and hardware that is not compatible.

I have always been careful with what I do regarding the internet but I have in fact had a worm that destroyed everything.

Good luck!

The LimHD without at hard drive is $449...

K

The LimHD without at hard drive is $449...

K
At the time that I wrote that, it was $550...at least according to the GENDVD site but since writing that the price has been changed to $449 which makes the limHD more attractive but since I have absolutely no need for MKV/h.264 or 1080p (only marginally better than 1080i IMO and not worth investing in something that can play 1080p) it is still on the pricey side... I am in the market for another network media player so I will continue to follow the limHD threads.

At the time that I wrote that, it was $550...at least according to the GENDVD site but since writing that the price has been changed to $449 which makes the limHD more attractive but since I have absolutely no need for MKV/h.264 or 1080p (only marginally better than 1080i IMO and not worth investing in something that can play 1080p) it is still on the pricey side... I am in the market for another network media player so I will continue to follow the limHD threads.

I respect your view...as it is your god given right....but IMHO.....and just my point on view (on a 130" screen that is, not a 42" screen) I'm not sure I agree with your findings.....720p is (to my eyes) is far better than 1080i...I can't comment on the difference of 1080p as my setup is 720p and 1080i.

Yes, there are cheaper media players out there....so it's a question of choice...which can only be a good thing for us!

I also have to say, the latest beta cut of firmware I'm testing, the quality of 1080p (albeit downscaled for my setup to 720p) and 1080i is just awesome....and I do mean that.

K

I respect your view...as it is your god given right....but IMHO.....and just my point on view (on a 130" screen that is, not a 42" screen) I'm not sure I agree with your findings.....720p is (to my eyes) is far better than 1080i...I can't comment on the difference of 1080p as my setup is 720p and 1080i.

Yes, there are cheaper media players out there....so it's a question of choice...which can only be a good thing for us!

I also have to say, the latest beta cut of firmware I'm testing, the quality of 1080p (albeit downscaled for my setup to 720p) and 1080i is just awesome....and I do mean that.

K
Point of reference; SD compared to HD (720p or 1080i or 1080p) I consider this to be significant on almost any size screen. Upscaling SD is therefore marginal as is the difference between 1080i and 1080p. I will concede that on a monster screen of 130" there may be a more noticeable difference between 1080i and p but I am not going to ever have a screen that size.

I have a Linkplayer2 hooked up to a Sony 50" HD Monitor that I use to play 1080i ts files and they also look awesome so it is hard for me to imagine the limHD improving upon that. My point is that is my frame of reference, I paid $249 for it 20 months ago and it has not skipped a beat. If I had a need for h.264 or if I did have a monster screen and could play 1080p then limHD price would be more appealing.

From the work you have done and the good success that many are posting regarding the limHD I would say it is well on its way to being the top network media player available.

From the work you have done and the good success that many are posting regarding the limHD I would say it is well on its way to being the top network media player available.

Thank you....as I think we have all agreed, it's down to your av setup and what and how u want to watch it.....

K

Then which media player would you guys recommend for playing ripped ISO's of HD-DVDs and BR-DVDs over a home network? I have about 3 TB of all 3 DVD standards ripped to external drives and playing over my HTPCs, but the High Def media requires fa$ter PCs that are currently in my guest and bedrooms. I don't want to buy more high end PCs. I am a bit hessitant to buy ANOTHER media player after being burned by that *ahem* Pixelmagic box that came out last year...

hjackson