Media player interface

[Soul Assassin]

I was considering buying a ION nettop to use as a full HD HTPC with XBMC as front-end, now I've decided it would be easier and much cheaper to just buy a media player, I want it to be impressive in both performance and looks, MKV support would be a bonus to help future proof, but I also want a good looking GUI similar to that of XBMC. Lets say my budget is R1500 ,what would you recommend?

Edit: I've included a image of what I had in mind and a link to a popular skin used by XBMC.

http://xbmc.org/skins/aeon/

 

[Freaksta]

I am in the process of doing exactly what you are doing...

I have decided after speaking to many different people that the eGreat (EG-M31B Review: http://www.rwlabs.com/article.php?cat=&id=55&pagenumber=6 ) will fit my needs. I also want the nice look XBMC gives off and at present they are working on a port to get XBMC working on the eGreats/Popcorn hours etc dont know to many technical details but it will be around sometime this year.. (Link: http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=40300&page=1 )

SO yea i will tell you why i choose this one.

It has/does the following:
Takes an Internal drive (1TB for me)
Can be put on your network (so you can stream from your PC)
2 USB ports for extra HDD
2 Esata ports for extra HDD
Does MKV, has HDMI out etc. . .
Egreat releases firmware updates(So future formats should be supported)

Now to get the whole xbmc look, it requires a tiny bit of work but it isnt actually hard at all.. Its just a matter of setting up a program (http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=23929) very good guide that will help you step by step, i tested it yesterday and it works very well.. (Once the XBMC update is out you wont have to do that) but for now that other version works.. the outcome should look something like this on your TV (http://www.blazedmonkey.com/uploads/files/1/yamjscreen.jpg).

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/201...p-yamj-yet-another-movie-jukebox-aeon-in-whs/ <READ THIS TREAD AND SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO SEE OUTCOME OF YAMJ

 

[dotVIBE]

I use a popcornhour A-200. I've loaded the YAMJ GUI with the AEON skin. Apparently YAMJ is available for the mede8er now too. works for me.

http://www.networkedmediatank.com/showthread.php?tid=25534

 

[Soul Assassin]

That's pretty much the exact answer I was looking for ,thank you so much, for lack of a better word the eGreat looks, well, great. It seems to be the same as the Popcorn Hour as they both use the sigma chip, meaning it plays pretty much everything and being able to use YAMJ on it means it looks great. It ticks all the boxes I asked, Great performance and looks and it costs exactly what I asked. Now the question is where did you buy yours from?

 

[dotVIBE]

bought mine direct from the popcorn hour site, shipped from china. $180 +$30 shipping + R350 import duties.

 

[Freaksta]

That's pretty much the exact answer I was looking for ,thank you so much, for lack of a better word the eGreat looks, well, great. It seems to be the same as the Popcorn Hour as they both use the sigma chip, meaning it plays pretty much everything and being able to use YAMJ on it means it looks great. It ticks all the boxes I asked, Great performance and looks and it costs exactly what I asked. Now the question is where did you buy yours from?

If you have anyone that can get products directly from pinnacle as they are the resellers that would be great ( get it at a bit of a cheaper price ) Otherwise you are going to have to search around and maybe get it online.

 

[Soul Assassin]

Now to choose between the two models, from what I can see and read on other forums the EG-M34A is exactly the same as the EG-M31B except that the EG-M34A can't take a internal HDD, are there any other differences I can't see?

 

[Freaksta]

Now to choose between the two models, from what I can see and read on other forums the EG-M34A is exactly the same as the EG-M31B except that the EG-M34A can't take a internal HDD, are there any other differences I can't see?

Not to sure i didnt even read further when i saw it didnt take an internal as this is an important part for me as i go away fairly often... Read around, but i would suggest you rather have an internal.. What if you want to use it on another tv not near your pc etc...

 

[Soul Assassin]

The thing for me is where you have a 1TB internal ,I have a 1TB external so I will be using that, and that means I would be able to save R300.

 

[Freaksta]

The thing for me is where you have a 1TB internal ,I have a 1TB external so I will be using that, and that means I would be able to save R300.

I guess so, but it is always easier to just have an internal drive then you do not have to carry around two items of hardware.. Why rather not leave the option open for later on?