media center or games console

[vix2000]

Hi, could someone advise me please?

I am looking to play media from my laptop wirelessly to my TV. I have a panasonic 42" panel and a sky+ box. I also have a buffalo linkstation on the network to store the media files, so would like to be able to play from this and my laptop wirelessly.

The set up I have seen is with a wii linked to the tv, and orb on the laptop. Not that good though, seems to struggle with different file extensions.

So my question is should I buy a media player, (I'm not interested in games) or a wii/ps3/xbox, which I believe you can do this with.

If the former, which media center would you recommend to play most file formats?

Thank you.

 

[NX3]

Wii and Orb are useful if all you have is a Wii but much better solutions available.

Sounds like you need a media player, something like WDTV Live would be quite good (update to latest firmware) as good codec/file format support and slick menus. It will play the files from your Linkstation and laptop. Also AC Ryan is good but menus not as slick as WDTV Live.

Running wires between the router, Linkstation and media player would be best as once you get above SD quality wifi G will run out of bandwidth. If its all wireless at the moment you might want to think about 200mpbs homeplugs if you don't want to run cables everywhere. Files from your laptop to the media box could be limited by the slow wifi, unless you have N ?

 

[vix2000]

Thanks for the reply. The linkstation and the router are already wired and it wouldn't be a problem to hardwire the media centre.
Excuse my ignorance but I don't know what200mpbs home plugs are, and what 'N' is.

 

[reevesy]

....i've been using my xbox 360 as a media player via usb storage as a stop gap....fine as long as you've compatible files.

....noisey though!

cheers.

 

[nacmacfeegle]

Homeplugs pass network over your house wiring, N is a type of Wifi, neither should worry you if you can connect the Media device directly to your router using a network cable (by far the most preferred anyways)

 

[NX3]

Homeplugs info, useful diagram
Homeplug | Broadbandbuyer.co.uk

Wifi comes in various standards / speeds, I'll stick to the most common. B (11mpbs), G (54 mpbs), N (150 or 300mpbs). If you have a Wifi router it will be one of these standards and your laptop with have a wifi card that is one of these standards. If your router isn't using wifi N then it will be too slow for HD video files over wifi and if any files are being played from the laptop and they are HD then its wifi card will need to be N.

Anyway, you said you can hardwire so thats cheap and easy for the mediacentre, router, linkstation.

 

[vix2000]

Right, got it. Thanks for the explanation. So wired is the way to go, and, tbh, the majority of stuff will be put on the linkstation to play it anyway.

Is there a particular wd tv live thats better than the others? The linkstation is 1tb but I dont have millions of files to store. I know hd video takes up a lot of space though, so do you think I'll need a media center with storage?

 

[nacmacfeegle]

WDTV Live is probably WDs most popular model right now. A nice community of users here too for some unoffical support if you get stuck.
It will do you fine and you can add more storage as and when you need it.
I like mine but it's the only movie streamer I've owned.
Only thing lacking is Dts ma support, IMO it's good one to start with.

 

[low-def.]

Well I've been using the ps3 for video playback since launch but all of sudden it's saying corrupted data 3/4 through a brrip. So I may well have to get a media player too.

 

[vix2000]

Are the cyclone media players not much cop then? They are less than £100 with 1tb storage. Just wondered as no-ones mentioned them.

 

[vix2000]

Ok have read the reviews and it seems wd tv live is preferable. Can I wire the wd tv live up to 2 tvs or do I need to buy 2 units? Thanks.

 

[NX3]

If you want it on 2 tvs you'll need a HDMI splitter, about £25 or more.

 

[vix2000]

Thanks. The 2nd tv doesn't have hdmi, only s video or component. Will that be a problem?