Spreadsheet comparing all media players

Why not create a table in this post and keep it active/updated?

Might want to update to your information with the Mediagate MG-35. Definitely able to play ripped DVD video over a network with full IFO navigation intact!

Nice spreadsheet, jhue.

One suggestion... the term "High Definition" under Connections may be confusing, since it does not distinguish between HD decoding (which the MG-35 lacks) and HD upconversion (which the MG-35 has).

Can you post an HTML version?

Hey avsr's,

I recently started doin' what your doin' but your much farther so............


Here's a couple more to add:
1.GOVIDEO D2740
2.ADS TECH MXL-581 (DVI-D conn)
3.VIEWSONIC WMA100 (DVI-D conn)

I previously researched the Pinnace, Roku,Go Vid,Dlink,Buffalo, linksys, ADS, and Viewsonic. Only the ADS and Viewsonic have DVI connectors but no TS streamn,' so that's where I am. I am only interested in a media player that has the DVI or HDMI output and the network allows streamn' of the TS files. I want to rip the DVD's but not have to burn them, and then just stream the TS or ISO files from the HD w\\out takin' the time to wait for burnin.' Any of those others on your list have what I'm lookn' for?

I've dialogued w\\several of the ROKUr's and although it is only component and a VGA the streamn' is there and the High Def recording's (I own two HDTV's ) are, accordin' to those I queried on a scale of 1-10 on a 16x9 HDTV, they said, reproduce a 10. So.....any feedback appreciated.

I think it is important to add the Roku Soundbridges. The reason is that they can play DRMed music which is important to some people. Like me.

so which one is the way to go......i like the new tvix 5000.....what do you think?

Nice job, jhue. If possible, I'd love to see what other formats these players support, particularly dvr-ms.

If you can hold off i would wait a month and get the Zensonic Z500

thanks for that. the zensonic looks also good and its australian made!

I can help w/the Pinnacle ShowCenter SC200, if you tell me how!

My only quibble is with the name of the file (as with the name of this forum!). These are Media Players, not servers, though some/most NEED servers as noted on your ss.

I think you should add a modified Xbox. To me it is the one to rule all. I would like to see anyone who has a well modified Xbox and knows how to configure it compare it with any other video streaming device. I think I know what the comparison would show. Most other devices would have serious limitations in the formats they were able to stream or have at best only mediocre interface design.

One very important thing to seriously consider in setting up media streaming, replacement cost of the streamer. I just modified an Xbox for a total cost of $100. I used a soft mod that works as good as any chipped Xbox. Then, last night, just as my wife and I were settling in to watch some TV the Xbox I use in my living room suddenly would only boot to the MS dashboard. I grabbed the softmodded Xbox out of the bedroom and in about 3 minutes we were enjoying a couple of episodes of Lost (my wife didn't think she would like it last year but now she is hooked). The point of the story is - electronics fail. Having a clone replacement at hand can certainly be a factor to consider.

So Whats The Best Streamer. Ive Heard Alot Of Them Are Failures And Do Not Do The Job They Are Suppose To Do. Cables Are Still The Best..............

I don't get it.

Streaming is streaming, wired or not.

I'll stack my XBMC boxen against anything standard def. Very reliable streamer from an SMB share.

To be specific, it cannot stream .ts (transport stream) files.

XBMC can decode HD DivX & Xvid. But the CPU is at it's limit doing this, so results vary depending on the encoding / content.

Just moved apartment - will i be able to stream a DVD across a "G" wireless network?

Used to a have them wired - but wondering if i have to go through the hassle again.

Not sure where you are getting the content for the HD streams you speak of. The modified Xbox does put out up to 1080i although as I said there is a lack of available content to actually test this in a way that really has any meaning. The other devices seem to have a lot more disqualifiers, mainly in their inability to do what they claim to be able to do. This is not all their fault as the Xbox was designed to be sold at a loss so had higher level components than most of these other manufacturers are able to put into their devices and still sell them at a price people will pay. Now there are so many Xboxes out there they can be had dirt cheap.

A modified Xbox is so different from Xbox Media Center as to the point where you would have thought they were two enirely different products. The Modded Xbox has such a semi open source, fully user configurable, daily updated, and with scripts, uses that no other player can match and at a price point that no other player will come close to in the forseeable future that everytime I turn it on I sit in awe and amazment at the wonderful gift Bill Gates gave us, although unwillingly. I do not have an Xbox Media Center from Uncle Bill but I can only imagine the proprietary DRM'd nightmare it must incorporate to satisfy the the RIAA, MPAA, and Mr Gates' MS itself.

jhue what would you buy for streming dvds...................

Yeah alright mate calm down - i doubt it he did it on purpose its an easy mistake to make.

I think you might need to stop holding on so tightly before you lose your grip.

Ah, right. Well listing it by its interface instead of by the component was enough to addle my old brain. I do see that HD streaming is a factor if you have access to real ripped HD content. No reason a modded Xbox cannot sit alongside the HD streamer since it is caple of so much. Now with the XM and Serius scripts you can play your subscribed satellite radio over the XBox.

its so comfusing....im gonna wait and get the xbox360. you guys in the usa get it soon i heard.you always beat australia for things....................................

I doubt the xbox360 will be the panacea many think it will be.

Get ready to re-encode evertything to wmv10.

In looking at the spreadsheet, I see that the LinkPlayer2 and Buffalo units have "no" checked for DVD Medu Navigation and "yes -- ?" (respectively) checked for Chapter Navigation. The MediaGate MG-35 has both of these features checked.

So assuming I rip my Desparate Housewives Season 1 DVD to a VOB file...does that mean that the MediaGate will put up the menu just like the real DVD media is playing? So what exactly is Chapter Navigation then? Does it just mean that the unit simply lists the episodes and allow me to select. If so I guess I can live with that.

What about the "?" in the Buffalo unnits Chapter Navigation field. Can someone verify if this feature works or it doesn't?

SmokeBringer...

The mediagate is capable of IFO play, which means that it will play a DVD file rip with all the IFO and VOB files in a folder. So YES it will play your DVD rip exactly like the original DVD with the menus AND chapter marks.