Need some help choosing a player

[dcollis]

Not sure if this is in the right forum, sorry if it isn't.

Anyway, my homemade media pc is on its last legs - keeps crashing after multiple reinstalls etc etc. Fed up with it.

Now I was thinking of getting one of these media streamer boxes. They seem pretty good but each seems to have its advantages and disadvantages.

I'd like to be able to play media off multiple computers in a variety of formats. xvid,mp3,divx,wma etc
It would also be nice to be able to play off a networked harddisk. Though not essential - not sure if this is possible?
I want it to be simple to put together playlists etc. I don't want too much bloated software on my pc.

I quite like the look of the Buffalo LinkTheater and also the d-link 320rd - because both of these have dvd drives as well. Which would be nice. However both have had bad reviews for a variety of reasons.
I had a look at the pinnacle showcenter 200 - which seems nice - and there is even an open source project on sourceforge with server software for it. Which seemed interesting.

So... what do i do. Are there similar ones I should look at that i haven't yet?
I'm looking to spend about £150 or so. So my option is either something similar to these or to fix my homemade system (which i really can't be bothered with anymore).
I don't mind tinkering and am a programmer by trade. So if there is a complex option with better features, i'd be happy to go for that instead. - As long as when its up and running it is simple - as it will be used by novices.

What can people recommend?

Cheers,

dc.

[Hi-Jack]

Hi DC,

We could almost write a 200 page book for you but basically, if you have
used a PC all the time for doing all that, a player will not please you
against a PC based on the formats supported and playlist support as they
all would need software from PC to handle it.

Your options are all players in the 2nd generation forums like KISS, Snazio,
Trans-Gear, Buffalo, TViX, D-Link etc... All have their pro's and cons (check
our reviews at http://www.mpcclub.com/modules.php?name=Reviews )

They will get you started on narrowing down your options a bit.
Personally, the best available right now in Europe is the Snazio Net DVD
Cinema HD, despite a little cheap hardware, it has the best performance in
all our tests. If we widen our Horizon, then Zensonic Z500 would be the best.

If you looking for cheaper, look at the KISS DP-600 (299 Euro) or the Trans-Gear DVX-700 (259) which has expansion fo an internal Hard Drive including DVD support from HDD. 5beta support)

The best player for you depends on you.
No one can really say which player matches you as there are many players and many different people and needs... :-)

Enjoy
Hi-Jack

[dcollis]

Thank you for your reply. I hadn't looked at the snazzio yet. It looks good.
Its just a little more than the rest. I'm wondering whether the extra cost is worth it?

The buffalo player gets a lower score - but have the major issues been fixed with it now with firmware/software releases?
Would its score be different now?

Which system provides the largest amount of updates/support? Which has a bigger community? Do they support 3rd party software?

As an extra point, your reviews on this site are good, but something I feel would be invaluable would be a comparison chart (between similar systems). You could do a wiki or something and let people add to it when firmware releases etc come out. Just an idea anyway.

[Hi-Jack]

How is this: www.divxtest.com
It's a joined venture between MPC and our french friends.

Both players will be fine and have most issues resolved with FW updates
and both players are based on Syabas FW and suppor tthe same external
software based on uPnP. Personally, Biffalo's main target is not media
players but storage so we expect less updates from that side which does
not mean the player is not equally good or the better choice for you.

There are differences in connectors and looks/style and budget :-)

Enjoy
Hi-Jack

[dcollis]

Thanks, it does look like the buffalo one is worth going for - i have seen that for around 170, which makes the snazio about 80 more (it is 250 from the snazio shop listed on this site including postage).

With the various upgrades - and the fact that i have no plans to get an hd tv anytime soon, i can't see many advantages in the snazio. (feel free to tell me otherwise).

Thanks again for the help.

[Hi-Jack]

No prob m8.
Just come back when in need of help or tips... That's why we are running
this mastodont of a site :-)

[dcollis]

dammit. pretty much all stores are sold out of the buffalo player. No re-stock expected anytime soon - this is due to the same reason that the zensonic has been delayed - the ROHS issue. they're having to re-manufacture them and then send them out again.

then... i gave up trying to find one and condidered ordering the snazio instead - but i want next day delivery which you can't seem to do with the online order form. so i tried their sales number... which doesn't work. great.

I wish i could walk into a shop and buy one of these things. I went down both sides of tottenham court road the other day trying to find *any* streaming media player and i only found 1 - the pinnacle 200.

Anyone know of any london stores that stock either the buffalo or the snazio player?