HELP: Media Player for Parents

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opinionhated

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I'm looking for a cheap media player for the parents.

So the criteria are
  1. Cheap
  2. Simple

So far the options are

WD Elements Play 1TB
R 1300.00

OR

Asus O!Play Mini + 500 GB External Hard Drive

~ R1100.00

Hard drive capacity is NOT an issue/priority.

Ideas? Option 1 is a nice all in one package. Option 2, is cheaper. The interfaces both seems as simple and drab as you can get.
 
I have heard from users on here that both are great but if i were to help you choose, i say go for the WD Elements Play :)

Only that bundle was sold out not the player :p, now normal R699.00excl :)
 
Yuu said:
I have heard from users on here that both are great but if i were to help you choose, i say go for the WD Elements Play :)

Only that bundle was sold out not the player :p, now normal R699.00excl :)
Click to expand...

How do I go about buying from them. I have a customer account somewhere, but I've never actually used it.



Sent from my HTC Desire using MyBroadband Android App
 
This is probably the best value for money player (Boxchip F10 chipset) available at the moment (includes delivery to SA)
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mini-1080p-full-hd-media-player-with-av-yprpb-hdmi-usb-sd-mmc-55119
Local source
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/electroni...ers/isonic-a3hd-media-player-for-2.5-hdd.html

This LG player from Expansys might also be worth considering (Sigma Designs chipset and Ethernet)
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/41000921/LG_DP1B_Multimedia_Station_UK_Adapter.html
http://www.expansys.co.za/s.aspx?search=LG DP1B

Very cheap divx players (will not play back mkv or HD avi files)
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/?subcats=...=Y&q=MP109&dispatch=products.search&x=24&y=13
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/electroni...onic-2-5-is-mp405-sata-multimedia-player.html
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/electronics-and-multimedia/multimedia-players/playtime-hv0104.html
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/4339...layer_Enclosure_2_5_inch_USB_2_0_InStock.html
 
Last edited:
Yotch said:
This is probably the best value for money player (Boxchip F10 chipset) available at the moment (includes delivery to SA)
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mini-1080p-full-hd-media-player-with-av-yprpb-hdmi-usb-sd-mmc-55119
Local source
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/electroni...ers/isonic-a3hd-media-player-for-2.5-hdd.html

This LG player from Expansys might also be worth considering (Sigma Designs chipset and Ethernet)
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/41000921/LG_DP1B_Multimedia_Station_UK_Adapter.html
http://www.expansys.co.za/s.aspx?search=LG DP1B

Very cheap divx players (will not play back mkv or HD avi files)
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/?subcats=...=Y&q=MP109&dispatch=products.search&x=24&y=13
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/electroni...onic-2-5-is-mp405-sata-multimedia-player.html
http://www.ikonicit.co.za/electronics-and-multimedia/multimedia-players/playtime-hv0104.html
http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/4339...layer_Enclosure_2_5_inch_USB_2_0_InStock.html
Click to expand...

WOW!

Anway, I just bought the AC Ryan Playon Essential from Esquire R500 excl VAT. But that first one sounds unbelievable. At the SA price, though I don't feel too bad, considering I prefer a boxed solution for the folks - less moving parts the better. Also the interface (GUI) on the AC Ryan is very very nice, much nicer than those on the WD Elements Play, and the Asus OPlay Mini.
 
nadimm said:
Have you bought one yourself. Import or Local? The plug looks like i'd have to replace it.
Click to expand...

I haven't bought that particular model yet - I am planning to buy two though. I do have three other similar Chinese players (Nbox, Merlin etc). The Dealextreme player is much smaller than the AC Ryan Essential (11X8X2.5cm vs 18.5X15X5.5cm). The AC Ryan uses the Realtek 1055 processor which is slightly better (can decode BR iso etc.) than the Boxchip F10 but it costs quite a bit more. The ACR also has WiFi support which the DE model does not do.

You can buy flat to round mains adapters for ~R5 from Sybaritic.
 
PostmanPot said:
You had issues with audio, right? Newer FW fixed that, a while ago.
Click to expand...
Yeah, audio was an issue on the blue ray rips.

Great they fixed that with a firmware update.

My old man was annoyed at his WD though and returned it and swapped it for the trancend (I recommended it to him). He is as tech savvy as a lead pencil, so he really didnt want to jump through hoops to get one of the most basic requirements of a HD player working.

He wanted something simple and out the box working. I chose mine in the end cause it was cheap (while still maintaining quality and warranty) :D
 
Last edited:
Esquire are great

Just got the AC Ryan from Esquire. Its good so far. The text size is a bit small, and the automatic file type detection doesn't seem to go past the root directory. But I would prefer to browse via the file manager anyway. So far it plays everything I've given it.

Also Esquire were awesome. I ordered the router online at the special price assuming that the only difference would be that the bundled wireless dongle would not be included (the special was sold out). However I assumed wrong, the actual price sans dongle was R200 more. Even though it was my mistake - Esquire had explicitly announced the special was sold out, the sales guy on consultation with the manager gave me the product at the special price. Kudos and then some.
 
nadimm said:
Just got the AC Ryan from Esquire. Its good so far. The text size is a bit small, and the automatic file type detection doesn't seem to go past the root directory. But I would prefer to browse via the file manager anyway. So far it plays everything I've given it.

Also Esquire were awesome. I ordered the router online at the special price assuming that the only difference would be that the bundled wireless dongle would not be included (the special was sold out). However I assumed wrong, the actual price sans dongle was R200 more. Even though it was my mistake - Esquire had explicitly announced the special was sold out, the sales guy on consultation with the manager gave me the product at the special price. Kudos and then some.
Click to expand...

There is probably newer firmware than what shipped on it, which would be worth upgrading to.

Great service from Esquire.
 
Also looking for a player for someone else, but the whole need to do firmware upgrades etc is a bit of a concern. The person i am buying for is technically challenged.
 
Ecco said:
Also looking for a player for someone else, but the whole need to do firmware upgrades etc is a bit of a concern. The person i am buying for is technically challenged.
Click to expand...

You don't have to upgrade the firmware if you don't want to.

Generally it brings bug fixes and new features, so if you are unaffected by any of the bugs and don't care for new features, then don't upgrade.
 
I am holding back for the ACRyan Fluxx, its been on the watching list of various mediaplayer forums... Up till now, it wasnt even available on pre-order, but its started popping up on the EU sites and there is an expected release date mid September.
Thank goodness I am going to UK end September... with our wonderfull South African distribution networks... we will be lucky to see any of these devices next year June in South Africa.
 
Ecco said:
Also looking for a player for someone else, but the whole need to do firmware upgrades etc is a bit of a concern. The person i am buying for is technically challenged.
Click to expand...

You probably have to do it once maybe twice. You could set it up and be done.

If I was getting the player for myself I would go for a fully featured network attached solution like the wd hub.

But the AC Ryan is great since it has USB host controllers as well as the internal storage.

Sent from my HTC Desire using MyBroadband Android App
 
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