Suggest forum sub-category.

[mustardman]

I would like to suggest the creation of a sub-category under "Hardware & Software". This category would be called something like "Hard disk media players", and it's description would describe the many hard disk media players that are becoming more popular these days.

This is a difficult one, as the category "Hardware Players" tends to suggest that these 'hard disk players' are part of the existing group. However, this does not appear to be so, as all of the discussions center around set top players (mainly CD/DVD disc players).

These are the media players you can get on e-bay (and the like) for less than $50. I don't think any of them identify themselves with a brand name, not even internally (on the PCB). You install your own hard disk (2.5" or 3.5") full of media. They can play audio and video formats, and output direct to a TV (some have VGA output as well).

There are many forums on the 'net that discuss such devices, and I thought one on doom9 would be a good addition.

One thing which is severely lacking on any of the other forums, and I was hoping the calibre of technical readers on this forum would pick up, is the lack of detail on specifications and firmware... Most of these players are firmware upgradeable, but I have not found a site, or even a reference to a site, where firmware is available.

Cheers all.
MM

[foxyshadis]

Actually, those systems come up in the hardware forum from time to time. I take it that they don't more often because they're unpopular, hardly anyone seems to have answers when a question gets asked, but who knows. Hardware forum even extends to things like the 360/PS3 and advanced DVD players, it's not just your basic Divx set-tops.

[mustardman]

Yeah. I take your point.
I think one of the biggest problems with the devices are is that they have absolutely no identifying charactaristics (eg: brand or model). The best I have seen on other forums is actually specifying the chip number. Now that's pretty crude.

After googling the chip number, getting very few english pages, even less that were useful, I thought "ahhh... doom9 will have some goss..."

Like you say, maybe they are simply too unpupular and too hard.

MM

PS. The most useful site I have found so far is http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/hddplayers/ which also has some pictures of the things if anyone is wondering...

[dstarfire]

Ya know, I'd be VERY leery of a product without a manufacturer name, or even model number. In my experience that generally means it's cheap cr** that's not supported or even warrantied by anyone.

At least when a manufacturer puts their name on a product, you can count on them having SOME sense of obligation to their customers. Also, most manufacturers tend to stick to a certain price/quality (i.e. Sony tends to be above average cost and quality, Coby favors the "value" end of the spectrum, etc.)

[mustardman]

Very true.
Some might say I am old school, but I do like to go into a shop and walk out with the thing I just paid for, rather than trade over the 'net. But I do make occasional exceptions.
Sure, the gadget has no manufacturer or model number, but personally knowing someone who bought one goes a long way. They said it was good, I believed them, and was not disappointed. If they had said it was bad, I would have kept my dough.
For 50 bucks it was a good buy... then again, pyramid schemes work by taking a little bit from a lot of people...!

MM