Set-Top Box: Online/Apps + Connect to Network Drive

[WinnieThePujols]

I'm looking for a set top box, and I'm having a little trouble finding what I need. It seems like these devices are capable of connecting to a network drive and playing media directly off of that (like, for instance, the Argosy HV335T that I own), OR are exclusively "cloud devices", that basically exclusively stream online content through Netflix, Hulu, etc...

I'm looking for something that can do both. I was really intrigued by the Roku, and I even see that there are private channels that allow you to connect to a network drive and stream content, BUT the Roku has a very limited number of codecs, and so it's limited to only a couple video extensions (notably, it can NOT play AVI files, and I have a large number of videos encoded in that); the thing that was great about the Argosy unit I own is that it supported every video format you could think of.

So, any recommendations on a unit that has access to online apps, and supports playing files over a network (including a huge number of encodings!?)

Thanks for the help!

 

[boomhower]

The WDTV boxes are pretty good jack-of-all-trades boxes. Play networked files well and have Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Youtube and others but no Amazon video.

 

[Drekce]

Boxer Box is my fave.

 

[smitbret]

If you set up your system with good DLNA front-end software that transcodes on the fly (Mezzmo, Plex, Tversity) and have a CPU that will be fast enough to do the transcoding then the Roku will be great.

If transcoding is an issue then the Boxee will be great but is a little on the expensive side. The WD Live doesn't do as many of the online services but still does most of the popular services and does local streaming and codec support better than anything else.

 

[Kaido]

The WDTV Live Streaming player does both. It's the next best option to an HTPC, imo. It does both LAN stuff (including high-bitrate MKV files) and Cloud stuff (Netflix, Youtube, etc.). No hacking required & family-friendly GUI:

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digita...dp/B005KOZNBW/

Looks like it's on sale for $79 too! The one thing I think it's missing is Amazon Prime streaming.