Set Box Media Players

I hope I posted this in the right section.

I'm looking for a set box media player that I can connect to my TV. I have 2x 3TB Western Digital My Book Essential HD's that I would like to plug into the media player. I'll be playing TV shows and Movies from the HD's/Media player. Mostly .avi .mkv and a few other file formats. So my needs are VERY basic. As long as the box can 1.) Detect my HD's and play the files from them without a hitch. 2.) Has a very nice looking UI. 3.) Doesn't crash or crash often. 4.) Will add content for the TV shows/movies via the internet. I.e. Cover art/Synopsis etc. If it can do these things and IT WORKS. I will be very happy.

I own a Western Digital Streaming Media Player, but I think It's a piece of crap, and It ejects my 2 external hard drives. (I think WD broke something in a firmware update.) Overall I'm just not happy with this media player. They tend to break more than they fix with firmware updates. It's pretty sad when you can't even get your own products working together.

I have been looking at the Boxee Box. Will the Boxee Box be able to operate my 2x WD My Book Essential HD's without a hitch?

What is the best media player for what I'm trying to do?
Also why is it that TV's can't seem to detect 3TB HD's? Apparently they can't do more than 1TB? I have a Samsung UN46D6420 LED TV.

Is anyone aware of a good forum specific for box media players? I'd like to do a lot of research before I buy another player.

Ok that's it for now. Thanks in advance!

Have you tried loading the B-rad wdlxtv firmware onto your player? it solves a lot of the issues the official firmware has.

I have one of the new WDTV players and it is a vast improvement over the old ones, especially with the added services, but it still doesnt scrape your media for coverart and info. When you have thousands of files, as it sounds like you do, the best solution is probably setting up XBMC on a dedicated box like a Zotac Zbox. Found this one on sale this weekend...

http://www.frys-electronics-ads.com...imedia-ZBOX-Mini-PC-Intel-ATOM-D525-Processor

XBMC is by far the easiest to view large directories of files and has no problems seeing large drives and network shares. You can either run windows on the machine or boot XBMC live and get you a windows remote.

The Boxee box will not detect a 3tb HDD via usb, but will over HDD and has a very good user interface and playback in my opinion. If you want to use any kind of harmony remote with it, you will need a WMC IR reciever to plug into one of the USB.

Unfortunately there is no perfect Media player. Apparently the ones based on Android are much better, but still.

Thing is that you can build an E-350 for less than 200 bucks that will blow away any settop box and the above mentioned Ion based Zbox..

FennecTheFox said:

What is the best media player for what I'm trying to do?
Also why is it that TV's can't seem to detect 3TB HD's? Apparently they can't do more than 1TB? I have a Samsung UN46D6420 LED TV.

Click to expand...

It's more than likely a firmware limitation, probably won't be able to do anything about it since samsung didn't really want the TV to be a all-in-one media center.

As far as your original post, read up the media streamer roundup at Anandtech. It should give you a little more of an idea of what to buy.

Personally, i would take the advice of "pissboy" and try flashing some semi-official firmware on your WD player. You should be able to find more information on how to do that from WD forum.

If you have your mind set on getting a new media player, look into the AC Ryan Playon!HD2 as well. I currently am using a Patriot Box Office and looking into putting together a XBMC htpc or buying the AC Ryan Playon!HD2.

Stoly said:

Unfortunately there is no perfect Media player. Apparently the ones based on Android are much better, but still.

Thing is that you can build an E-350 for less than 200 bucks that will blow away any settop box and the above mentioned Ion based Zbox..

Click to expand...

I have an Android one, it's a piece of shit.