Something to replace a PS3 / XBox for streaming media / DVD

[thetapeworm]

At the present time I have an XBox in the living room which is used for streaming media from a Windows server running Tversity and for playing DVDs. I want to move this upstairs to sit alongside my PS3 and allow me to play games while my OH watches Eastenders etc but I need to replace it with something else.

Are there any good solutions to add (wired) networked steaming and DVD playback in one box?

[surfymark]

For network streaming I would go with a Popcorn Hour.

I have a C200 which has a bay that you can mount a DVD drive in but I would recommend saving the money and buying an A200 instead and then buying a separate DVD or even Blu-Ray player. Dedicated is best here really unless you have space issues.

I have had mine for about a year now and it will play anything you can throw at it. Brilliant piece of kit!

HTH
M

[BenM77]

Another xbox?

You already know the setup and could pick up a second hand one.

[thetapeworm]

BenM77 said:

Another xbox?

You already know the setup and could pick up a second hand one.

I'd probably add another PS3 if I was going to do this so I had bluray support but it seems a little bit excessive - maybe it's a good excuse to move from my huge one to a newer small model though... Mmm.

[Bullett]

My fat PS3 broke and I now have a thin one, it's cooler and quieter than the fat ones which was important for me.
That said it doesn't do MKV so I picked up a seagate goflex media player for under £50 to try out.

[aquarianone]

check out the Boxee Box, absolutely brilliant bit of kit, simple to setup easy to use and tons of content and the nicest (imo) interface...not too techy to get going, just point to your file/folder share and it'll scan the content and also download the coverart for your films/tv as well as synopsis etc...

..alternatively, if you want something really simple and dirt cheap then check out Sumvision Micro 2+...around £25 from Ebuyer...got one for the other half to get here streaming in HD...easy to setup and use...coax to the amp for digital audio and hdmi to tv...streams mkvs and everything else with no probs at all.

check out Avforums for plenty of other recommendations!

[aero93]

Another recommendation for Popcorn hour here.. I have the A210 model and just plays anything that you can through at it. I think the new (and cheaper) model is called Popbox from the same company.

[Disco You]

For networked streaming there are a few good options, including popcorn hour, boxee, asus oplay and the WD TV live. Of those I recommend the WD TV live, the boxee and popcorn hour are overpriced if you ask me. For a similar price to the boxee or a popcorn hour you could buy a net-top computer like an Acer Revo or an emachines er1402 which are much better buys if you ask me.

But none of those will play dvds. For dvd support and network streaming the best option is a small PC like a shuttle or something in a htpc case. These are obviously more expensive though.

[tim2100]

Many of the Blu Rays will play media off a server.

Such as Sony BD-380 etc.

[vladcjelli]

I have an old Dell PC, reclaimed from an office environment, and bought by me from a firm locally that flogs electrical stuff and old PCs.

Cost me £40, and another £35 for a suitable graphics card with an HDMI out. A wireless keyboard with built in mousepad later, and a cheap HTPC is all mine.

Ran it for a while on the Windows XP it came with, till one of the kids knackered it up in an as yet unknown fashion. Now got Ubuntu on it and a copy of the rather brilliant Boxee, downloaded for free.

Plays all my network stuff (and if Boxee has problems, can always use VLC as an uglier backup), has a DVD drive, and I suppose if I really wanted to, I could put a bluray drive into it. Boxee has a few apps for doing other bits and bobs, like youtube.

Also got an AC Ryan minihd2 for the bedroom. Again plays all the network stuff, but it seems a bit buggy at times. Might be able to improve it with fiddling, but as it's in the bedroom, it gets forgotten about. In hindsight I maybe should have spent a few more quid on the WDlive instead.

[Piersman2]

I've just gone through this very same decision myself.

I have a PS3 and QNAP connected to the 30MB router in the front room, affectively in 1 corner of the house. I wanted to be able to connect to the the other PS3 in the boy's room in the very furthest corner of the house AND be able to stream movies from the QNAP to the main TV in the lounge, which is connected to a Virgin HD box for it's TV access.

So I was looking for powerline adaptors and something to stream from QNAP to TV in the lounge.

Went to PCworld/Curries and had a look the Sony streamer... but it's just a streamer, I wanted blue ray as well. So had a look at the bluerays that could stream and they were sitting there about £130. Ended up though buying another PS3 (slimline) because it does all the above, with internet browsing etcc.. and can be used for gaming if people are round and the Singstar gets brought out to play.

4 Netgear powerline 500 adaptors and all is well. Both the 'remote' PS3s are now running at approx. 16 mpbs though the powerlines, compared to about 18 mpbs for the one hard wired directly into the 30MB router. The PS3 in the boy's room was getting 1.6mbps wirelessly before adding the powerline connection. I can stream movies, etc... to either of the 2 remote TVs with no lag at all. And I now have a nice neat little PS3 slimline sat on the shelf under the TV in the lounge.

Well chuffed, and all very, very easy to just plug and play. The powerlines are great!

[thetapeworm]

I ditched most of the wireless connections in favour of Homeplugs (and a few hubs here and there) so that side of things is covered - like you I think the pull of a new PS3 is too strong to resist, especially as my current one needs a drive upgrade anyway. Makes more sense to retire it and buy a 320GB PS3.

[Piersman2]

thetapeworm said:

I ditched most of the wireless connections in favour of Homeplugs (and a few hubs here and there) so that side of things is covered - like you I think the pull of a new PS3 is too strong to resist, especially as my current one needs a drive upgrade anyway. Makes more sense to retire it and buy a 320GB PS3.

I just bought the 160GB as I don't need it to be able to store any multimedia files as the QNAP has 2TB of space. I just needed something that could stream my stuff from the QNAP. The PS3 is a very versatile little box and I'm very familiar with the interface now.