1TB media player to your TV

zod

€149 .. not bad!

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2041547/art/memup/3-5-mediadisk-lx-1-tb-usb.html

TM

€162.90 including P&P!

nc6000

Would this be suitable for copying recorded items from a Sky+ box onto?

Nody

Only keep in mind this part:

Pixmania spec wrote:

- Image resolution: 720 x 480 (NTSC), 720 x 576 (PAL), 640 x 480 (VGA), 1.0Vp-p (75 ohm)

godtabh

Nody wrote: »

Only keep in mind this part:

and its limited video support

flogen

By the looks of things it also lacks an ethernet or wifi connection... this means that if your PC isn't near your TV you'll need to unplug the media player from the TV, move it, plug it into the PC, update it, unplug it from the PC, move it back and plug it back into the TV every time you want to put new content on.

If you regularly download stuff it'd become a pain quite quickly I'd imagine.

(Although having a large SD card might solve that problem somewhat).

TerrorFirmer

kearnsr wrote: »

and its limited video support

What's limited about it? Divx/xvid (which would be 98% of my files) and vob/mp4 as well.

Looks OK to me.

Ron DMC

flogen wrote: »

By the looks of things it also lacks an ethernet or wifi connection... this means that if your PC isn't near your TV you'll need to unplug the media player from the TV, move it, plug it into the PC, update it, unplug it from the PC, move it back and plug it back into the TV every time you want to put new content on.

If you regularly download stuff it'd become a pain quite quickly I'd imagine.

(Although having a large SD card might solve that problem somewhat).

Yeah, it's an okish price for a terrabyte media drive but I can't see why anyone would want a media drive without networking.

I'm happy enough using XBMC on an original xbox connected with Ethernet. Far, far cheaper.

Fighting Irish

Ronny Mitchell wrote: »

Yeah, it's an okish price for a terrabyte media drive but I can't see why anyone would want a media drive without networking.

I'm happy enough using XBMC on an original xbox connected with Ethernet. Far, far cheaper.

xbox + 1tb is far cheaper than 160?

also this thing is smaller than the xbox

TerrorFirmer

Fighting Irish wrote: »

xbox + 1tb is far cheaper than 160?

also this thing is smaller than the xbox

An old xbox would be about 20, a 500gb ide about 40-50, so yeah you'd have less space but the world is your oyster with a modded xbox compared to any media drive...

zod

Correct .. this is not a streaming device, nor is it a NAS. It does not do wireless or wired ethernet. It doesn't play mk4 probably. I use xbmc and it's great.

It may however be the cheapest (and easiest) way to get 1TB of content (the most common kind DivX/Xvid) to a TV in a house with no geeks ( ie the other 95% of houses )

TerrorFirmer

Well I'd consider myself a bit of a geek and I've have zero problem just hooking up a drive for a minute or two to transfer files, it's hardly a strenuous effort....Also very handy for going to friends houses and the like!

Like recently when I got a HD TV as a present that turned out not to have vga or dvi input, would be a perfect scenario (well, I could get vga to component but you get the drift, currently just using a cheap xvid/divx compatiable matsui player. have an old xbox here too I really must get around to modding)

Ron DMC

Fighting Irish wrote: »

xbox + 1tb is far cheaper than 160?

also this thing is smaller than the xbox

Yes, xbox - €20
Hard drive e.g. http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=340274 - €89 (even cheaper if you look around).

And yes, it's bigger, but it's networked so you can add multiple PCs around the house as sources. Potentially limetless storage capabilities.

And you can store the stuff locally on your computer and not have to worry about plugging in the media drive to get stuff off it.

But to stay on topic, it is the cheapest media hard drive I've seen, and could well be exactly what people are looking for. Each to their own I guess.

Mmcd

nc6000 wrote: »

Would this be suitable for copying recorded items from a Sky+ box onto?

Far as I know only way to get items from a Sky+ box are either putting them on dvd or replacing the harddrive in it (which mess's up any warranty). There is a usb interface on it I think but this is disabled and not possible to change. I think there is plans though for future boxes to have it though!"

godtabh

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

What's limited about it? Divx/xvid (which would be 98% of my files) and vob/mp4 as well.

Looks OK to me.

What about HD encoding?

zod

kearnsr wrote: »

What about HD encoding?

Agreed, anyone whose DivX/Xvid content is in HD, this is not the player for you, consider one with a HDMI connection also. Everyone else .. you're fine.

Gadgetman496

While the original Xbox with XBMC is one of the best going, I would imagine it's getting much harder to source an original Xbox now, is it?

-

vibe666

no they're still around, stock is still dribbling in to game and gamestop periodically, you just have to keep checking back with them.

also, for those with an hdtv, i have a component cable (you can get them off ebay) instead of the composite or scart one that will output from the xbox at 720p or 1080i. it still can't play back HD encoded files as they are too cpu & ram intensive, but it will upscale any SD content from divx's or dvd's better than just about any other player out there (inc. my ps3) and the gui works at those resolutions too.

as for getting content off a sky+ box, the only way is to use the coax output on the back and replay it and record it via a dvd or hdd recorder. you can't pull the video directly off the drive via a PC as it's all encrypted.

there is software that lets you copy it to a new, larger drive and then put that back into your sky+ box so you don't lose your existing content, but there's no way to actually pull it off the drive and watch it other than re-recording it manually. (unless something has changed in the last couple of months).

that media player is grand though for a non-geek or someone with no family geek they can rely on, although when I set up my bro in law, I gave him an xbmc xbox and a 500gb usb/nas drive and plugged it directly into it (no router or anything as he didn't have broadband at the time) for him and it works perfectly.

pissed

I just ordered one of these from 7dayshop, I was looking for peoples opinion before I purchased but got no replies in the home entertainment section. Seems all the experts are here . Comes in at £167 delivered. Good or not???

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_5&products_id=105082

vibe666

pissed wrote: »

I just ordered one of these from 7dayshop, I was looking for peoples opinion before I purchased but got no replies in the home entertainment section. Seems all the experts are here . Comes in at £167 delivered. Good or not???

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_5&products_id=105082

bloody hell that looks like a pretty good deal deserving of it's own bargain alerts thread if you ask me.

I actually have a friend buying something similar but it's not a patch on that so I might get them to cancel and pick one of those up instead, thanks!

Ron DMC

pissed wrote: »

I just ordered one of these from 7dayshop, I was looking for peoples opinion before I purchased but got no replies in the home entertainment section. Seems all the experts are here . Comes in at £167 delivered. Good or not???

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_5&products_id=105082

That is actually class. It has LAN over ethernet, 5 in 1 card reader, usb hosting AND it can record.
What a savage piece of kit!

pissed

Ok I just stuck it up as a seperate bargain alert, there is also a 500gb version available the comes in at £134 delivered from a different shop, creativesupplies. Link in new thread.

Tester46

pissed wrote: »

I just ordered one of these from 7dayshop, I was looking for peoples opinion before I purchased but got no replies in the home entertainment section. Seems all the experts are here . Comes in at £167 delivered. Good or not???

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_5&products_id=105082

Yeah, this looks like the dogs danglies alright. All those specs, plus it supports HD. I was going to buy the Dane-Elec So Speaky HDD, but will now order this PVR instead.

One question, how does the SKY Box connect to it? It looks like the only A/V inputs are HDMI and the Red/Yellow/White cables? How would this be set up in practice (for those of us poor folk who don't have a HD telly yet)?

Ron DMC

Tester46 wrote: »

One question, how does the SKY Box connect to it? It looks like the only A/V inputs are HDMI and the Red/Yellow/White cables? How would this be set up in practice (for those of us poor folk who don't have a HD telly yet)?

A simple SCART -> Component video adapter should do the trick. If you don't already have one, you can pick one up in any electronic shop.

JohnCleary

pissed wrote: »

I just ordered one of these from 7dayshop, I was looking for peoples opinion before I purchased but got no replies in the home entertainment section. Seems all the experts are here . Comes in at £167 delivered. Good or not???

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_5&products_id=105082

Does that only have HDMI out? What about us suckers with CRT widescreens which only have SCART ins?

Tester46

Ronny Mitchell wrote: »

A simple SCART -> Component video adapter should do the trick. If you don't already have one, you can pick one up in any electronic shop.

Thanks. I forgot about the magical world of cable shops where you can get any plug on one end and a totally different plug on the other end!

Ron DMC

JohnCleary wrote: »

Does that only have HDMI out? What about us suckers with CRT widescreens which only have SCART ins?

According to their details here it's got component out, so you're laughing either way, and the HDMI output means you're future proof for when you eventually get the new plasma/lcd/inserttechnologyhere.

JohnCleary

Ronny Mitchell wrote: »

According to their details here it's got component out, so you're laughing either way, and the HDMI output means you're future proof for when you eventually get the new plasma/lcd/inserttechnologyhere.

Brilliant... think i've just found another impulse buy

Tester46

Ronny Mitchell wrote: »

According to their details here it's got component out, so you're laughing either way, and the HDMI output means you're future proof for when you eventually get the new plasma/lcd/inserttechnologyhere.

At the risk of getting too technical, the manual says the HDD is pre-formatted - 50% for recording and 50% for HDD. I presume they mean it is partitioned 50% and 50%. And they say the formatting is FAT32. Later on they talk about re-formatting the HDD and they say "First, FAT32 and NTFS partition: please dispatch FAT32 and NTFS capacity according to instruction information, press “ok” to next." I presume that means you can re: partition the drive?

Do you reckon that when you get the gadget in the first place that you can immediately re-format/re-partion it so that it is (for example) 75% HDD and 25% recording. In other words I want more capacity available to store files and less capacity for recording from the telly.

Ron DMC

Tester46 wrote: »

At the risk of getting too technical, the manual says the HDD is pre-formatted - 50% for recording and 50% for HDD. I presume they mean it is partitioned 50% and 50%. And they say the formatting is FAT32. Later on they talk about re-formatting the HDD and they say "First, FAT32 and NTFS partition: please dispatch FAT32 and NTFS capacity according to instruction information, press “ok” to next." I presume that means you can re: partition the drive?

Do you reckon that when you get the gadget in the first place that you can immediately re-format/re-partion it so that it is (for example) 75% HDD and 25% recording. In other words I want more capacity available to store files and less capacity for recording from the telly.

Yeah, looks like their translation from Dutch is a bit askew. I think what they're saying is that this formatting allows you re-partition the drive.

Even if not, you can always move files from one partition to other via PC, so you can probably just store media on the recordable half that way.

Tester46

Ronny Mitchell wrote: »

Yeah, looks like their translation from Dutch is a bit askew. I think what they're saying is that this formatting allows you re-partition the drive.

Even if not, you can always move files from one partition to other via PC, so you can probably just store media on the recordable half that way.

I have it in my head for some reason (probably from an old review of the So Speaky Media HDD rather than the PVR) that it is not possible in practice to just drop files into either partition from the laptop. I think access to the HDD partition (the NTFS partition) is ok from a laptop. But, access to the Recording partition (the FAT32 partition) is restricted so it canonly be used by the So Speaky PVR to record from TV. In that case, the space to store my own media files has shrunk to 50% i.e. 500gb.

Does that sound possible? I could easily be very confused .

Ron DMC

Tester46 wrote: »

I have it in my head for some reason (probably from an old review of the So Speaky Media HDD rather than the PVR) that it is not possible in practice to just drop files into either partition from the laptop. I think access to the HDD partition (the NTFS partition) is ok from a laptop. But, access to the Recording partition (the FAT32 partition) is restricted so it canonly be used by the So Speaky PVR to record from TV. In that case, the space to store my own media files has shrunk to 50% i.e. 500gb.

Does that sound possible? I could easily be very confused .

Hmmm.... that wouldn't be all that useful if that's the case. To be honest I'd hope to be able to at least read the FAT partition to be able to copy shows off the telly to the PC/other devices. Having to store recorded content locally would be quite limiting for the device.

getoffthepot

From what I've read recently the popcorn hour A110 is the way to go.
Plays mkv as well.

https://www.ripcaster.co.uk/node/329

podge3

getoffthepot wrote: »

From what I've read recently the popcorn hour A110 is the way to go.
Plays mkv as well.

https://www.ripcaster.co.uk/node/329

Almost twice the price though:eek:

dodzy

getoffthepot wrote: »

From what I've read recently the popcorn hour A110 is the way to go.
Plays mkv as well.

https://www.ripcaster.co.uk/node/329

Different class - Yes.

Different price - Most definitely.

Eitherway, OP still posted a VG deal.

alowe

Sorry to jump on this thread - but I was looking at 7dayshop, and found this

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_5&products_id=104762

Its the cheaper more basic version of what the op posted. I'm just wondering, I'm just looking for a basic hard drive that will allow me to play movies and the like (divx format) on any tv in our house, and that I can take on holidays and view on hotel tvs. Is the above good enough?

thanks in advance and again, sorry for thread jumping.

Edited: Actually, don't worry about this. Have just discovered that i'd have to pay an additional 21.5%vat, so off to find a similar product within the EU.

JohnCleary

pissed wrote: »

I just ordered one of these from 7dayshop, I was looking for peoples opinion before I purchased but got no replies in the home entertainment section. Seems all the experts are here . Comes in at £167 delivered. Good or not???

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_5&products_id=105082

Just bought one of these bad boys - damn you!!

Tester46

JohnCleary wrote: »

Just bought one of these bad boys - damn you!!

Me too. Just got email from 7DayShop to say it's out of stock, even though it was in stock when I ordered it. I might wait for new stock, BUT:

Does anyone think it would be better to buy a freeview decoder with a HDD in it? When Ireland goes digital (and my Sky subscription runs out) I plan to re-use my Sky satellite dish to get all the Irish and UK channels free from the Astra satellite.

Would I be better off simply connecting the dish to a new freeview decoder and then I can program it to record channels, etc?

JohnCleary

I'm after getting an email from 7day shop saying that payment was declined because addresses didn't match. I don't want the items delivered to the address my card is registered to yet there's only one place to enter your address ie. you can't have different Personal/Delivery address :mad:

podge3

Mine has been dispatched . Hope the VAT is OK :cool:.

glineli

JohnCleary wrote: »

I'm after getting an email from 7day shop saying that payment was declined because addresses didn't match. I don't want the items delivered to the address my card is registered to yet there's only one place to enter your address ie. you can't have different Personal/Delivery address :mad:

I got the exact same thing, and when i entered the correct address i still get this error!! damn!!!

Tester46

podge3 wrote: »

Mine has been dispatched . Hope the VAT is OK :cool:.

Let us know if it arrives with no VAT issues.

JohnCleary - this seems to be a common problem now - some online websites will only post to the cardholder's address. Seems to be related to the credit card company and seems to be only smaller websites, so maybe it has something to do with the deal they have with Visa, etc?

Kinda silly, because you can't use those websites to send a gift to someone - that's a lotta lost business.

Tester46

glineli wrote: »

I got the exact same thing, and when i entered the correct address i still get this error!! damn!!!

I think it must be the address your credit card bill goes to - I have had ordfers declinedfor this before and they say the credit card company declined it. Try another retailer or have it sent to your billing address.

pissed

I had the same problem with the credit card not matching even though it did. Long story short I had to send them a utility bill with my name and address on it. The lack of a telephone number doesnt help either and the replies from the ticketing are not the fastest. Anyway mine on its way too, just checked the tracking number and its down as ON ROUTE TO CUSTOMER DUBLIN MAIL CENTRE DUBLIN 12 09-Jan-09 . So should get it on monday as postie has been and gone for the day. Will post back if I get caught for VAT etc but fingers crossed. The guy said they use airsure for their shipping.

Edit... Customer services also said my future orders should I have any will be ok re the card as they only need to verify the card once.

podge3

Tester46 wrote: »

Me too. Just got email from 7DayShop to say it's out of stock, even though it was in stock when I ordered it.

Looks like its back in stock now: http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?&products_id=105082

pissed

LOW STOCK.... either they are flying out of the shop or they only get a handful in at a time.

dodzy

podge3 wrote: »

Looks like its back in stock now: http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?&products_id=105082

I might have missed something here but I doubt that there is a 1TB drive included with this.

pissed

Multimedia External Hard Disk Drive Player / Recorder - 1TB / TO

dodzy

pissed wrote: »

Multimedia External Hard Disk Drive Player / Recorder - 1TB / TO

Yeah pissed.... seen that Stupid I know, but it still seems very high spec'd for the price. Interested in feedback on how the buyers get on. Best of luck.

byte

Tis well specced for the price, but then, 1TB drives are quite cheap now, and this is being sold without VAT.

Still a bargain compared to the Popcorn Hour though.

I'd have taken the risk too, if I hadn't bought a 1TB NAS from dabs a week earlier (which works OK via the PS3).

podge3

byte wrote: »

....and this is being sold without VAT.

It is being sold with UK VAT as I understand.