Cheap Media Player

[123Eish]

Hi I have a simple question, What is the cheapest multimedia player that has network connectivity, No HDD is needed, GUI doesnt really matter, as long as it plays the popular formats, I would really like it to have network capabilities so it can access the harddrives on my network. A remote is a must.

 

[Yotch]

The Egreat media players appear to be very reasonably priced at the moment. I have not tested them myself though. The R6AII appears to use the RTD1185DD which is normally only installed in much more expensive equipment. You could also look at some of the AC Ryan models from Esquire (often available on special).
http://www.comx.co.za/computer-hardware-subcategories.php?cat=146
http://www.loot.co.za/search?offset=0&cat=b&terms=Egreat&x=22&y=21
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/?subcats=...d=Y&q=Egreat&dispatch=products.search&x=4&y=7

This is the cheapest 1080p model that I've seen without network support.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mini-1080p-full-hd-media-player-with-av-yprpb-hdmi-usb-sd-mmc-55119

 

[123Eish]

Thanks, Or should I rather buy A second hand Med8er/Popcorn Hour,etc

 

[Yotch]

You should first try to determine which of the media players of interest are currently available as many of them may be out of stock or discontinued.

A secondhand media player will probably be using an older processor such as the Realtek RTD1073DD+ (400MHz, 10/100 LAN, USB 2.0) etc. This processor has been replaced by the faster RTD1185DD (500MHz, Gigabit LAN, USB 2.0) and RTD1186 (500MHz, Gigabit LAN, USB 3.0). The RTD1055 (500MHz, no networking, USB 2.0) is now also being replaced by the RTD1005 (500MHz, no networking, USB 3.0).

You may still be able to pick up a cheap RTD1073 based machine such as the Apacer AL460 which is a good buy at less than R500 if it ever becomes available. The firmware can apparently also be replaced with third party software (Bast-Castle) that offers improved features.
http://www.prophecy.co.za/apacer-al460-full-media-player-p-81045.html
http://code.google.com/p/bast-castle/wiki/Screenshots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd6-ZDmJrbo

The new Mede8er 450X2 (RTD1185DD) is currently on special at Incredible Connection for R1799 which should have similar performance to the Egreat R6A-II. Egreat also has a cheap Sigma SMP8655 based player the S1A.
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/?subcats=...=Y&q=Egreat&dispatch=products.search&x=18&y=8
http://en.egreatworld.com/en/product-detail-247.html
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1576797

Egreat website ...
www.egreatworld.com
Screenshots, features of the R6A-II etc. ...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1080P-HDMI-...285?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cbca37b3d

This HP Proliant Microserver HTPC might be a much better option (upgradeable etc.) if your budget stretches to around R1600.
http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/333460-HP-ProLiant-MicroServer

 

[123Eish]

Thanks for all the replys and the links.

 

[Yotch]

HiFi Corporation have the Philips BDP2600 Blu-Ray player selling for R599 this week which can apparently play back 1080p media files (mkv, avi etc.) from a USB drive. The Toshiba BDX1200KE is selling for R799.