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Thread ID: 102567	2009-08-24 09:42:00	My media dilemma	Lizard (2409)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
803833	2009-08-24 09:42:00	Let me introduce to you my dilemma. I have an external HDD, mains powered, which has all my media files - music and videos - and is also used for backing up files for all computers in the household. I have a wireless network - both the laptop and the desktop computer connect wirelessly. The external HDD is currently connected to the desktop computer, but is set up for sharing files across the network, so the laptop can access the external HDD anywhere in the house. My dilemma is how to use the media files in the lounge on the TV, without losing the ability to access the external HDD over the network for the laptop, and for backing up. In the past, I've run AV cables from the desktop to the lounge, but this is unsatisfactory for two main reasons - it's a pain having cables running through the house, and there's no easy way to control what you're watching, and when you want to watch something different, you have to go into the computer room and locate the new video, etc. A real hassle. Recently, I took an unused PC with some pretty weak specs (P4 2ghz, 512MB RAM), and installed XBMC for PC, and located that in the lounge relatively unobtrusively, with the external HDD attached. I set the PC up on the wireless network, giving the main desktop PC access to the external HDD over the network. It kind of worked, but failed on a couple of counts. It was unstable, and crashed after a couple of hours of video play (could be the weak specs, or an unstable build of XBMC). It also needed a lot of setup, and wasn't particularly user friendly. It needs to be user friendly so tech-phobic SWMBO will use it. We use iTunes for our music and iPods (which we are very happy with), and make use of the check/uncheck function for shuffling music. XBMC seemed to need a lot of tweaking to replicate the setup under iTunes, and didn't seem like it would be simple to add files as our library expands. Finally, it didn't have a simple remote control for navigation. A wireless keyboard doesn't really have wide appeal. So, the search for alternatives continues. I've looked at wireless AV sender/receivers, but they fail for the same reason that AV cables fail - no easy control over the content being viewed. I've considered consoles like the XBox360 and PS3, but from what I've read, a USB external HDD connected to a network-connected console isn't accessible by other computers on the network, meaning the HDD would have to be swapped back and forth to the desktop computer to update content and for backing up. I've seen some network-connected HDDs that have media capabilities (such as the Iomega Screenplay HD Pro, which has AV outputs), but don't know much about how effective they are. Having laid out all that information (congratulations for getting this far), any ideas on how I can: 1) play media files from my external HDD on my TV, while 2) keeping the external HDD on the network for other computers to use, and 3) control the media via a simple, ordinary remote? Cheers Lizard	Lizard (2409)
803834	2009-08-24 10:01:00	Umm all I know about the Xbox 360, is (I think) it needs to be connected with ethernet to a PC (since if you want the video and songs options on it to work). Media sharing needs to be enabled in WMP. I havent got any external USB hdds to see if whatever would work with it	Speedy Gonzales (78)
803835	2009-08-24 10:09:00	You could try getting an original xbox, getting a modchip for it, and putting XBMC on that - it's rock solid IME, and works well with UPnP over ethernet (Vista supports it without any extra software, not too sure about other OS's). I remember PC world had a review on a dedicated media box that streamed all it's content over a network and put it on your TV, with a bog standard remote. Not sure if these are the same as what I remember though: pcworld.co.nz pcworld.co.nz	ubergeek85 (131)
803836	2009-08-24 10:23:00	+1 For Geekster's idea. Except you don't need to get a modchip for it. A softmod should be fine. For a remote just use the xbox one. And connect the HD to your main PC and get the Xbox to connect to the SMB share. Or a media streamer, such as one of these: www.eoneonline.co.nz www.eoneonline.co.nz www.pcgear.co.nz Blam	Blam (54)
803837	2009-08-25 09:07:00	+1 For Geekster's idea. Except you don't need to get a modchip for it. A softmod should be fine. Thanks. But IMO a modchip is so much easier. If you buy an xbox with the sole intent of modding (like I did), with a chip, you don't have to track down old copies of games, xbox memcards and readers, etc. I thought I could just pick one up, and (for free) turn it into a media monster. Yeah, not quite. Just my opinion though. I'm not saying softmods don't get the job done.	ubergeek85 (131)
803838	2009-08-25 09:49:00	Thanks. But IMO a modchip is so much easier. If you buy an xbox with the sole intent of modding (like I did), with a chip, you don't have to track down old copies of games, xbox memcards and readers, etc. I thought I could just pick one up, and (for free) turn it into a media monster. Yeah, not quite. Just my opinion though. I'm not saying softmods don't get the job done. I've got the game and action replay kit if you want to borrow them.	bob_doe_nz (92)
803839	2009-08-25 10:09:00	Thanks. But IMO a modchip is so much easier. If you buy an xbox with the sole intent of modding (like I did), with a chip, you don't have to track down old copies of games, xbox memcards and readers, etc. I thought I could just pick one up, and (for free) turn it into a media monster. Yeah, not quite. Just my opinion though. I'm not saying softmods don't get the job done. You can easily softmod with an action replay kit or anything;)	Blam (54)
803840	2009-08-25 10:26:00	if it wasn't for the networking This from Western Digital (www.wdc.com) would do exactly what you wanted. AND they are available in NZ - one of my suppliers has them.	wainuitech (129)
803841	2009-08-25 10:31:00	if it wasn't for the networking This from Western Digital (www.wdc.com) would do exactly what you wanted. AND they are available in NZ - one of my suppliers has them. Yeah, couldn't for the life of me understand why they didn't put a NIC in that :illogical	nofam (9009)
803842	2009-08-25 10:52:00	Wait for the new one coming out;) nofam-I reckon its to cut costs. And as a note-it is possible to run custom firmware on the WD TV and have it networked, here are some links to get you started:) b-rad.cc wiki.wdtv.org wdtvforum.com Blam	Blam (54)
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