want to buy a media player, alittle confused to all the options....

[stolt]

I like the idea of the media players that you drag over the files then plug into the tv and you can watch them on the screen.

i've has a little look around and all the usual sites are stocking them, but my main concern is the name, i'm assuming like hard drives sometimes paying a little more for the name band means that you have less problems with lost data etc.

i liked this one because of the size of the hard drive, but i know nothing of the namehttp://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Electronics/DVD+Player+%2F+Recorders/+Aria+500Gb+Media+Centre+Compact?productId=25569

if this one isnt so good could someone offer and alternatives?

thanks

[joconnor]

A couple of months ago I was looking at getting one myself.

I found here (http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/products.aspx?cat=33&subcat=0&brand=208) to stock the cheapest ones that had component and or dvi outputs, while Pixmania (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(15797)a(60823)g(120943)url(http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/10222/xx/xx/101/9/criteresn.html?s=10222&m=xx&t=xx&categorieid=9&cat=101&startrow=&sortBy=DESC&orderBy=Prix)) have the best range.

The only thing was the lack of information that put me off i.e. do they support hi res xvid or h264, will there be firmware upgrades to support new formats etc

I decided to save my pennies for a few more months and get a HTPC in the end. That way I know it won't be defunct in 12 months time.

[stolt]

A couple of months ago I was looking at getting one myself.

I found here (http://www.eclipsecomputers.com/products.aspx?cat=33&subcat=0&brand=208) to stock the cheapest ones that had component and or dvi outputs, while Pixmania (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p(15797)a(60823)g(120943)url(http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/10222/xx/xx/101/9/criteresn.html?s=10222&m=xx&t=xx&categorieid=9&cat=101&startrow=&sortBy=DESC&orderBy=Prix)) have the best range.

The only thing was the lack of information that put me off i.e. do they support hi res xvid or h264, will there be firmware upgrades to support new formats etc

I decided to save my pennies for a few more months and get a HTPC in the end. That way I know it won't be defunct in 12 months time.

thanks i'l check out those sites (i've used pixmania before and wasn't too impressed with them)
the media players on the other site, it looks as if you have to buy the hard drive and install it yourself, is that correct because i couldn't see any size of them.

also with regards to the htpc i guess thats something you will build yourself in which case thats far to technical for me. :nuts:

[joconnor]

the media players on the other site, it looks as if you have to buy the hard drive and install it yourself, is that correct because i couldn't see any size of them.



It's a really simple thing to do.

Unscrew the plate, plug the harddrive in, screw the plate back on.

[stolt]

It's a really simple thing to do.

Unscrew the plate, plug the harddrive in, screw the plate back on.

thanks, ok i might go that route then, seems a cheaper option, plus i can get a big hard drive to go in it aswell.

[Stevie G]

What about a Mac mini if you don't mind spending a bit more?