I own an older vernon WDTV
this: http://www.legitreviews.com/images/revi ... Live_2.jpg
Any how I saw the new one, this:
and it has Wifi and a better remote control.
i am wondering if any one tested both? I am particularly upset with the forward rewind speed on my WDTV, its really slow and those who has it will know what I mean.
Is it worth the upgrade?
Another thing, should I consider buy a roku or a boxes? are they the same thing as WDTV or are they dedicated to streaming service like Netflix and others? If that is the idea I am not going to do it , because outside the US nothing works any way so its use less to me.
I am looking particularly for a device that will play all kinds of media with a good GUI and snappy RW and FF.
Apple tv is out of the questions since it forces you to use HDMI(crt here) and it will play only iTunes stuff, or so i understand.
WDTV and others
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samsonlonghair
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- Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:11 pm
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Re: WDTV and others
Roku is for playing streaming content; it is not for playing media on your local network.
Re: WDTV and others
it won't play media even if I attach it to a hard drive with music+videos?
what about boxee ?
what about boxee ?
Re: WDTV and others
I haven't tried the new Wifi version of WDTV Live, but I have used several different revisions, and the FF&Rewind is the exact same on all of them (except the very earliest versions crash sometimes while seeking).
As far as I can tell, the WDTV is the best deal/bang for your buck. I've tried a few other affordable (not $250+) ones and found that all of them came up short in some way or another worse than WDTV. The WDTV Live at least plays everything I've thrown at it except the oldest codecs - It can do OGG audio, 1080p H264 @ super high bandwith, xvid highest setting with warp points, Realmedia, DVD raw&iso files and it supports my 4 Terrabyte drive - None of the others I've tried can do even close to all that stuff.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.58325
I do like this one, but it's compatability is a bit worse (some h264/x264 stuff has timing issues and it doesn't support xvid with warp points). Also it's only component output and doesn't do 480i. The built-in screen is really good. and seeking works much better. The interface is a bit flashy, but works just fine.
I've heard good things about the Popcorn one (except it doesn't do OGG audio).
If your computer is decently fast, and you have either an Xbox 360 or PS3 you could just run a media server on it - TVersity is free, pretty easy to set up and works great - it streams all directly compatible media and realtime reencodes everything else (if your computer can play it then your console will).
As far as I can tell, the WDTV is the best deal/bang for your buck. I've tried a few other affordable (not $250+) ones and found that all of them came up short in some way or another worse than WDTV. The WDTV Live at least plays everything I've thrown at it except the oldest codecs - It can do OGG audio, 1080p H264 @ super high bandwith, xvid highest setting with warp points, Realmedia, DVD raw&iso files and it supports my 4 Terrabyte drive - None of the others I've tried can do even close to all that stuff.
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.58325
I do like this one, but it's compatability is a bit worse (some h264/x264 stuff has timing issues and it doesn't support xvid with warp points). Also it's only component output and doesn't do 480i. The built-in screen is really good. and seeking works much better. The interface is a bit flashy, but works just fine.
I've heard good things about the Popcorn one (except it doesn't do OGG audio).
If your computer is decently fast, and you have either an Xbox 360 or PS3 you could just run a media server on it - TVersity is free, pretty easy to set up and works great - it streams all directly compatible media and realtime reencodes everything else (if your computer can play it then your console will).
Re: WDTV and others
Hmm...I am ok with the WDTV, I just hate the RW and FF its so choppy. I tend to rewind and FF a lot .
the TVersity is great! thanks I never knew about it! i will keep it in mind big time! or a $100 more on the wdtv price, I get a ps3 AND a bluray player!
No one talked to me about boxes yet, what is it? is it just a streaming device or will it play content?
the TVersity is great! thanks I never knew about it! i will keep it in mind big time! or a $100 more on the wdtv price, I get a ps3 AND a bluray player!
No one talked to me about boxes yet, what is it? is it just a streaming device or will it play content?
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samsonlonghair
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- Posts: 5188
- Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:11 pm
- Location: Now: Newport News, VA. Formerly: Richmond. Before that: Near the WV/VA border
Re: WDTV and others
Boxee is also for streaming content over the internet; like roku it is not for playing your downloaded digital files (whether they may reside on a LAN or USB drive).
If you want to play your own media or media you..uh..."borrowed" from sources of dubious legality, I suggest Seagate Freeagent Theater+
http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-video- ... 59262.html
You can use any USB hard drive with this device, not just one made by Seagate.
If you want to play your own media or media you..uh..."borrowed" from sources of dubious legality, I suggest Seagate Freeagent Theater+
http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-video- ... 59262.html
You can use any USB hard drive with this device, not just one made by Seagate.
Re: WDTV and others
But I do have WDTV for exactly that!! And WDTV cheaper, and I think it plays more media type, so why buy this.
samsonlonghair wrote:Boxee is also for streaming content over the internet; like roku it is not for playing your downloaded digital files (whether they may reside on a LAN or USB drive).
If you want to play your own media or media you..uh..."borrowed" from sources of dubious legality, I suggest Seagate Freeagent Theater+
http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-video- ... 59262.html
You can use any USB hard drive with this device, not just one made by Seagate.
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samsonlonghair
- Next-Gen
- Posts: 5188
- Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:11 pm
- Location: Now: Newport News, VA. Formerly: Richmond. Before that: Near the WV/VA border
Re: WDTV and others
Seagate Freeagent Theater+ rewinds and fast forwards quickly. It plays all my media without bugs, or format changes, or file name issues.
Otherwise, the WDTV is a fine media player. I have no particular dislike for WDTV; this is mostly a matter of preference. Maybe if Western Digital released a firmware update, they could make the WDTV the superior product. I simply prefer the drag-and-drop ease of Seagate's FT+ over the cumbersome WDTV. I find Seagate's FT+ easier to use.
To put it simply, "it just plain works".
Also, the Seagate Freeagent Theater+ has come down in price. If you buy it without the Seagate brand hard drive, it costs the same amount as WDTV.
Otherwise, the WDTV is a fine media player. I have no particular dislike for WDTV; this is mostly a matter of preference. Maybe if Western Digital released a firmware update, they could make the WDTV the superior product. I simply prefer the drag-and-drop ease of Seagate's FT+ over the cumbersome WDTV. I find Seagate's FT+ easier to use.
To put it simply, "it just plain works".
Also, the Seagate Freeagent Theater+ has come down in price. If you buy it without the Seagate brand hard drive, it costs the same amount as WDTV.