Recommendations for a media player

[penguinsix]

This looked interesting. It's an ad in the USA so you'll have to adjust the prices / availability, but it's cheaper solution than a Mac Mini and might offer more functionality. Heck it even has Blue Ray...

Zino HD Mini PC with AMD Dual Core CPU, 3GB, 250GB, Blu-Ray & Radeon HD 3200 $284.24 - Dealcatcher

[pin]

I have a zino hd
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[jgl]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. I'm going to look at the Tivx, Patriot Box and CinemaTube devices as they seem to fulfill most of my criteria.

I'm *really* not interested in the htpc approach- I'm after simplicity at the expense of wide functionality. Hence the preference for dedicated devices.

[jgl]

This is in PCM this week, supports ISO mounting,

[url=http://hk.f2.page.auctions.yahoo.com/hk/auction/b15029242?u=ronniewongcds]VIBE

Quick update- I bought this amusingly named player over the weekend as I discovered it's a reboxed Patriot Box Office with some improvements. Namely the ability to take a 3.5" internal disk and better designed ventilation. Same hardware, same OS.

It's looking good so far. The interface is passable- someone counterintuitive for some things, but that seems to be par for the course with cheaper media players.

[Laserbrain]

While i am somewhat of a geek, I am not hardcore.

when choosing media player, its simply this:

If you have a need for quality and already/planning to own a high end AV system ( $15000HK will suffice) go for a Sigma chipped media player.

Otherwise,

go Realtek chipped player, they are fast and budget.

I recognize this is not very comprehensive advice, but if you follow from what i have began here, it will take you to the right course. I personally owned both. A sigma one for my 40" and realtek for my 22". I have tested both players on my 40" with StarTrek (good benchmark movie) and the difference in quality is obvious.

Cheers
J

[MrMoo]

Make it simpler:

1) Basic requirements: WD TV Live, Popcorn Hour.

2) More esoteric requirements: Ion based Atom nettop with XBMC or Boxee.