Comments on: What is the “perfect” digital media player?

By: Damian

Damian — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:18:20 +0000

@ Matt – I completely agree with you. As a Windows user I would need to see XBMC support Hardware Acceleration first, otherwise using it on an Ion based system becomes useless. I just started documenting different XBMC skins on my blog a few weeks ago and it amazes me how there is always a mod to the mod to the original skin, it gets a little overwhelming. The members over on the XBMC forums are very talented, but for the average person to try and read through your head is going to spin.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:32:52 +0000

I second the suggestion for XBMC. It can run on a variety of platforms: orignal Xbox, Linux, Windows, AppleTV, Mac. You can’t use an original Xbox for HD…hardware can’t handle it. XBMC has been around for a long time, before there were any real dedicated media player devices. I set up my first one almost 5 years ago.

It supports the most formats and allows so much customization of the GUI and the configuration that it borders on overwhelming. I have three of them currently configured to run my media using SMB and my HP Mediasmart server.

If there was a negative, it would be the setup and configuration is still at the “enthusiast” stage, especially if you want to put it on an original Xbox (softmod is required).

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:10:17 +0000

Damian,
Well, listed max storage is 7TB, but from my understanding that includes added external.
I’m all about a clean, neat minimal cluttered setup. So I’d really rather have more internal capacity. Or, maybe I’m just too greedy? 4 TB is a lot. Besides, by the time I probably fill that there’ll be some cool new gadget out that I HAVE to have. Like 100 TB on a clear piece of plastic….. or I’ll have a Tron disc with everything on it. Yeah!

By: Damian

Damian — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:53:02 +0000

@ Jason – is it definite that the Acer only supports 4TB (I am wondering if with their advertising they were just multiplying the 1TB drive that comes with the acer for the 4 bays, as no reviewers specifically stated that 4TB was the max)? Also, you can use a USB enclosure or enable Esata port multiplication to get further storage.

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:40:04 +0000

Damian,
I’ve had an MCE 2005 box since 04′. I have a new copy of Vista Ultimate so I’ll be going with that. Plus my wife knows MCE… so that helps me. I have thought about putting XBMC on a thumb drive…

I’m probably going to go with the Acer EasyStor WHS. Although my only beef is that it only handles 4TB…

By: Damian

Damian — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:45:40 +0000

@ Jason – the ASRock Ion 330 combined with WHS sounds like a great combination. I have absolutely no need for another HTPC in my house but am itching to see what this tiny bad boys can do!!! I may wait for the next round of Ion/Atoms which I think are due out by year end, but if anything that may just drop the price of the ASRock even further! Any idea what UI you would use with the ASROck (Linux w/ XBMC, W7 w/ WMC, etc…)?

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 20:01:44 +0000

I’m about 90% sure I’m going to go with an ASRock Ion 330 BD. It’s small, quiet, and will do all that I need. I’ll be getting a WHS too so I can stream movies/music/photos from there. If I keep it for 4 years it will be cheaper than my cable providers STB and does mouch more.

By: KaKoRoT

KaKoRoT — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:12:13 +0000

depending on your needs, I would say the old xbox 1 with xmbc is the best ever!! but i am seriously considering finding a smaller alternative, something like the apple tv thing but works like xbmc!

By: John Pombrio

John Pombrio — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:05:08 +0000

I own the PS3, XBox360, the original Popcorn hour as well as a laptop and 3 or 4 computers. I took one of those computers and turned it into an HTPC and have completely stopped using the other boxes since. My worst problem with a regular computer (in my bedroom) is the heat, the noise, and the pretty blue fans I long ago put into it!
A small form factor computer with minimal cooling needed and a large hard drive would be just about perfect. The dual ATOM with an ION chipset is close, but is just a little too underpowered for my needs. The other issue is upgradability. Cannot go a swap out components when something better comes along like a full form HTPC.
One box solutions will always be behind the technology curve until the software and hardware can be upgraded.

By: Damian

Damian — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:44:51 +0000

Yeah, it is the Inspiron Zino HD. Unfortunately I have not heard much else with regards to specs, price, etc… but supposedly it will have desktop parts (i.e. vs laptop parts in some of the other small form factor pcs)

http://dbone1026.blogspot.com/2009/08/are-htpcs-ready-to-go-mainstream.html