Western Digital WD TV Live HD Media Player

[Apoptosis]

Western Digital WD TV Live HD Media Player

The WD TV HD Media Player turns your NAS or external storage drive into an HD media player. Connect your USB hard drive to this device and you can instantly play crisp HD movies, listen to high-quality digital music, and watch slideshows of your family photos on your TV. No need to figure out complicated home networking or reconnect AV and power cables. What could be simpler?



Article Title: Western Digital WD TV Live HD Media Player
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1118/1/
Pricing At Time of Print: $119.99 at Best Buy

[shaxs]

I still think the Xbox 360 is the best media extender... I was not digging the UI on this machine. My Buffalo LinkTheater PC-P3LWG/DVD server software does not work on Win 7. So, I had to buy a used Xbox 360 for only $70 sans games and controllers. All I need it the box and a remote I will buy at BestBuy.... still the best option. The Xbox 360 can now play HD MKV files.

[Digital Puppy]

I still think the Xbox 360 is the best media extender... I was not digging the UI on this machine. My Buffalo LinkTheater PC-P3LWG/DVD server software does not work on Win 7. So, I had to buy a used Xbox 360 for only $70 sans games and controllers. All I need it the box and a remote I will buy at BestBuy.... still the best option. The Xbox 360 can now play HD MKV files.

I hear ya. I think your solution *might* be the cheapest. I still like my PS3 for the Blu-ray and the media server combo. I don't know if you are using it, but the PS3 Media Server software works great for every OS platform (and for Xbox) and will let your stream everything but the dreaded Blu-ray ISO.

Still looking for the perfect box, but the WD TV Live is a good step forward with a good price point. I also think that if you have someone in your house who isn't exactly tech-savvy, then a simplistic OS is not a bad thing. I know that my kid loves the fact that he can check out his Transformers Animated on demand with a few clicks. It's good for him and it keeps him away from my computer and PS3! ;)

[Digital Puppy]

By the way, Western Digital has launched a community site for those interested in the WD TV. You will find the latest updates, news, resources, and tutorials there. Interesting to see a Windows 7 streaming tutorial there already.

[Digital Puppy]

UPDATE (11/04/09):

After the problems we had with the pre-production sample, Western Digital was kind enough to send us a replacement unit for testing. Our new WD TV Live had none of the “glitches” that we talked about above. The networking and connectivity to our NAS and shared network files worked flawlessly. 1080p MKV Blu-ray rips worked flawlessly over the network as well as M2TS streams. The only hiccup was our dreaded Blu-ray ISOs.