xbox 360 media center or media player ?

[mcdermott_c]

Hi

Hope you guys can give me us advice. I would like to be able to play my music home videos and pictures through my TV (not bothered about recording TV). I am trying to work out the easiest /best way to achieve this.

I have a few questions i hope you can help and answer

1. Can you get the media center interface on the xbox 360 without connecting to a media center PC (i.e. is there a skin download )

2. Would i better just buying a dedicated network media player such as DVICO rather than having to use a PC with windows media center and xbox 360 as an extender (not sure how good the interfaces on DVICO etc. are)

3. Im concerned about the ring of death on xbox 360 - is this still an issue with new xbox 360's bought now ?

4. I would love to be able to link my ipod video to whatever device i buy whether its an xbox 360 or DVICO etc... is this possible

5. can anyone recommend a good network media player with a good interface which i can add content to via ethernet from my laptop

Hope you can help me work out what is the best solution for what i need to do


Many thanks and hope this is postedin the right place

Thanks

Chris

[lempers]

I will try and answer this questions as best as I can:-

1) Yes, you just need to download the Microsoft media connect from MS to your and then stream videos, music and photos from your PC to your Xbox 360.

I am assuming your Xbox 360 and PC are connected to a router though.

2) Personally if you don't want to record and only view media on your PC the 360 is fine IMHO for this assuming it is viewable.

3) Possibly still an issue, but I recall something about MS offering a 3 year warranty some time back. I am on my 2nd 360 at the moment..........

4) You can't view view Ipod videos via an Xbox 360 although they might be some sort of hack/work around for this.

5) Take your pick....... I am seriously considering building my own. SO hopefully someone can put me right on any points I am wrong on and also recommend you a network player.

Thanks,

Darrell