Help me find a cheap external HDD media player

hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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So I saved up some cash (not a lot mind) in order to get myself something PC-related. However, there is not really anything I desperately need so I am instead looking for something for me folks.

I want an external USB HDD enclosure (IDE) which has either an S-video or RCA out or both and preferably a USB-in. This way I can connect it to the folks' TV to play movies and series and the likes.

Cafeviva in Claremont seem to have a basic enclosure for R350 but no USB in. I have checked the majority of online stores, Kalahari, Prophecy, Take2 etc to generally no avail.

I have a 60GB IDE HDD sitting here doing nothing, so I really do only need the enclosure.

Oh ya, and a remote would be useful. I presume most do come with one...
Anyone have any ideas?

:)
 
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Its not easy to find ones that use an IDE drive at a good price anymore unless you look on gumtree. I bought one from cafe viva a few months ago - QB100 Movie Pot and it works great. It uses SATA2 drives and has a usb input and s-video or rca output, and a remote. It was R599 I think. You get what you pay for though. Cheap generally means choppy playback and minimal codec support.
 
Sensorei said:
Its not easy to find ones that use an IDE drive at a good price anymore unless you look on gumtree. I bought one from cafe viva a few months ago - QB100 Movie Pot and it works great. It uses SATA2 drives and has a usb input and s-video or rca output, and a remote. It was R599 I think. You get what you pay for though. Cheap generally means choppy playback and minimal codec support.
Click to expand...

I hear what you are saying. A mate of mine bought a cheap one a while back and its playback is less than excellent.

The lack of IDE options is going to prove costly, I think. I only have spare IDE drives...
 
Ja, try and find a second hand IDE Mvix 5000 series without the hard drive. That is really the best you can do. I have one, but I am not parting with it. :p
 
R 349
IS-MP403
PlayTIME 3.5" MULTIMEDIA PLAYER , WATCH MOVIES ON TV , DIGITAL MUSIC JUKEBOX , JPEG IMAGE VIEWER FOR TV , PORTABLE 3.5" HARD DRIVE STORAGE , SUPPORTS IDE OR SATA HARD DRIVES , S-VIDEO & COMPOSITE OUTPUT , REMOTE CONTROL , EASY FIRMWIRE UPGRADING

From Cafe Java's site. Was quite a popular brand on this forum a while ago.

With "USB in" you mean the ability to plug in a flash drive and access files from it? Don't think the Mvix 5000 can do it either.
 
SiriS said:
R 349
IS-MP403
PlayTIME 3.5" MULTIMEDIA PLAYER , WATCH MOVIES ON TV , DIGITAL MUSIC JUKEBOX , JPEG IMAGE VIEWER FOR TV , PORTABLE 3.5" HARD DRIVE STORAGE , SUPPORTS IDE OR SATA HARD DRIVES , S-VIDEO & COMPOSITE OUTPUT , REMOTE CONTROL , EASY FIRMWIRE UPGRADING

From Cafe Java's site. Was quite a popular brand on this forum a while ago.

With "USB in" you mean the ability to plug in a flash drive and access files from it? Don't think the Mvix 5000 can do it either.
Click to expand...
Hey man, ya that is the only one I was aware of.

It seems if I want to get a cheap one, I am going to have to risk sacrificing quality, or quality codecs at least..I guess that is always the way.

Yes, by USB in I did mean the ability to play off a USB drive - but that is not essential. Maybe I should go and have a look at this enclosure at Cafeviva some time...
 
I haven't ordered from them myself - but I think that worldwide shipping is included in the price. Some other posters on this forum appear to have ordered from them - just do a search. Theft by the SAPO is probably the biggest obstacle.
 
Yotch said:
I haven't ordered from them myself - but I think that worldwide shipping is included in the price. Some other posters on this forum appear to have ordered from them - just do a search. Theft by the SAPO is probably the biggest obstacle.
Click to expand...

Haha, ok. Thanks.

That is a sucky obstacle, though.
 
hj2k_x said:
So I saved up some cash (not a lot mind) in order to get myself something PC-related. However, there is not really anything I desperately need so I am instead looking for something for me folks.

I want an external USB HDD enclosure (IDE) which has either an S-video or RCA out or both and preferably a USB-in. This way I can connect it to the folks' TV to play movies and series and the likes.

Cafeviva in Claremont seem to have a basic enclosure for R350 but no USB in. I have checked the majority of online stores, Kalahari, Prophecy, Take2 etc to generally no avail.

I have a 60GB IDE HDD sitting here doing nothing, so I really do only need the enclosure.

Oh ya, and a remote would be useful. I presume most do come with one...
Anyone have any ideas?

:)
Click to expand...

I can help you with a refurbished Divx player , the problem we had with them was the firmware which we have now fixed and cannot sell them as new , You can have one for R400 incl vat , normal price was R 800 when we brought them in , we only have about 6-8 units left , will still give you a full one year warranty on the unit
 
killadoob said:
What make mr esquire man.
Click to expand...

Hi Killadood

these are Esquire ED328TV , I know they not the best of quality and not as good as the Mvix or IaMM units but they work, and with the new firmware update they play almost all Codec’s and the sound quality has improved and the biggest problem we had was the 8 character file names which has been fixed to accommodate 40 characters and the menu system is much better ,

but for a little more then a HD Enclosure the unit is not a bad buy and it can support IDE up 250gb and SATA up to 500GB , but I would still recommend the Mvix or the IaMM units. IMHO
 
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Yotch said:
I haven't ordered from them myself - but I think that worldwide shipping is included in the price. Some other posters on this forum appear to have ordered from them - just do a search. Theft by the SAPO is probably the biggest obstacle.
Click to expand...

I have ordered ordered around 10 items from Dealextreme (through my uncle in Oz , since I don't have a paypal account or a credit card) and received all within 2 to 3 weeks. Just beware some of the product's aren't of the highest quality if you know what I mean.
 
Esquire said:
Hi Killadood

these are Esquire ED328TV , I know they not the best of quality and not as good as the Mvix or IaMM units but they work, and with the new firmware update they play almost all Codec’s and the sound quality has improved and the biggest problem we had was the 8 character file names which has been fixed to accommodate 40 characters and the menu system is much better ,

but for a little more then a HD Enclosure the unit is not a bad buy and it can support IDE up 250gb and SATA up to 500GB , but I would still recommend the Mvix or the IaMM units. IMHO
Click to expand...

Got a linky to a site or some pics or something?
 
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