Best network media streamer for < $100

[Phantomaniac]

I've been using a softmodded original xbox as a media streamer for my bedroom for the last 3-4 years. Unfortunately the little guy has finally died, and instead of trying to frankenstein him back to life with PATA hotswapping, I'd rather just buy a cheap media streamer since I don't really play xbox games anymore. Requirements:

1. Handles H.264 .MKVs of at least 720P with good subtitle support.
2. Needs to have a video or s-video output as this will be used on a CRT TV.
3. Wireless would be nice, but not mandatory.
4. Less than $100. I already have an HDTV/PC setup, not looking to spend a lot on a secondary device.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Patriot Box Office would fit what you are looking for and is only around $49 and comes with wireless n adapter. The fw it comes with is lacking, but there is custom 3rd party fw that improves it quite a bit. Unfortuntately, there isn't any media streamer that matches XBMC currently that I"m aware of.

 

[Emulex]

an old pc sounds like a trick. people give them away. xbmx live - old geforce 5200/6200 had svid out all day long. hell if you were in atlanta i think i have an old sempron 3100+ and a poweredge sc420 i'd throw your way if you drag them out of the house (weigh alot).

lol.

 

[Phantomaniac]

an old pc sounds like a trick. people give them away. xbmx live - old geforce 5200/6200 had svid out all day long. hell if you were in atlanta i think i have an old sempron 3100+ and a poweredge sc420 i'd throw your way if you drag them out of the house (weigh alot).

lol.

Can you set boot/primary display to s-vid? I didn't think you could, and there won't be PC monitor I can use to configure stuff in my bedroom. Also gotta wonder how well that would handle H.264 rips even at 720P.

 

[Destiny]

The Patriot Box for $50 is good... can't go wrong with a WDTV Live Plus for your current set up.... (unless you're hooking it up to an audio receiver)...

 

[Rio Rebel]

Asus O!Play will play absolutely everything, and is an impressive little box with the latest firmware. Only issue is that the interface is not great, and you have to drill down several folders to play your movies.

But it will play everything down to my blu-ray iso files...

 

[Modelworks]

Just about any of the last generation boxes. I still use one of the WDTV Live boxes (not the plus). I have seen them on ebay for $50 . They all tend to use the same chips , either realtek or sigma , with the menus being the difference.

WD hase been good about keeping up updates for the older box even though they no longer sell it.

 

[boomhower]

Just about any of the last generation boxes. I still use one of the WDTV Live boxes (not the plus). I have seen them on ebay for $50 . They all tend to use the same chips , either realtek or sigma , with the menus being the difference.

WD hase been good about keeping up updates for the older box even though they no longer sell it.

Agreed, I love mine. They just put out another firmware a couple days ago. If I was to buy now I would probably go with a Roku but am very very happy with the WD box.

 

[Kaido]

I'd recommend a Patriot Box Office as well. It's the same unit as the Asus O'Play (same chip, same software), except that the remote has an instant replay button, which is really nice (the remote is also full-sized instead of mini). Plays pretty much everything I throw at it. The interface is very basic, but fairly easy.

I also picked up an AppleTV 2 recently, hacked it, and put XBMC on it. It only outputs 720p, but it has no problem automatically downconverting 1080p files. This is beta stuff though, so I wouldn't recommend it unless you feel like tinkering. The Patriot Box Office works very nicely out of the box as a basic HD movie player.

 

[Phantomaniac]

Where is everyone seeing the PBO for only $50? A quick google product search puts it at around the same price as the WD TV Live Plus, which I am more inclined to buy at the $80-90 range given its better UI and Netflix support. Also looks like it has a very active homebrew/custom firmware community.

 

[ImpulsE69]

It is on sale at newegg quite a bit for that price. Just keep an eye on the hot deals section here or other deal sites. Looks like it is $70 AR currently..