WDTVLive VS Home Theater+ ???

[boofus]

HI Folks:

I bought a WDTVLive at Christmas and have been trying to make it work ever since. With all due respect to those that like the thing, it's been a piece of junk for me. WD support seem to be deaf.

Anyhow, I'm looking at a HT+ and am hoping to get some advice from you video "experts". My wants/needs are pretty simple. I don't care much about the "online" aspects of ANY device to stream from sites like Youtube or the ability to have network shares; things like that (maybe I don't understand the benefits???). Netflix support MAY be a really nice feature(probably is actually).

I do care about the ability to play blueray (hopefully natively), play DVD's natively (which I belive the HT! does) and a somewhat completely featured MP3 player (including playlists). A nice on screen interface is also desirable.

I'n also considering the new popcorn product but will probably try the HT+ first since I can buy it locally with a two weekreturn policy if I don't like it.

Thanks and TIA for any/all replies/advice.

Boo

[cal_tony]

Not sure what the HT+ is. When I goggled it The first thing to pop up was...
Arizona Colon Hydrotherapy | HT+

Hopefully you mean something else. The Seagate Home theater is usually referred to as the FAT+ . Free Agent Theater Plus.
If that's what your talking about I would say that it is different than the WD and I like it better than my WD but it's not that much different. It plays menus and the remote has some extra features but that's it. For playing BRs the best format to use is MKVs. Neither plays ripped BRs.

Tony

[jagabo]

I believe he's talking about the Seagate FreeAgent Theater+.

I don't know what you mean by "natively". Neither plays BD or DVD discs. I believe the Theater+ does support DVD/BD menus from ISO images and VIDEO_TS folders, unlike the WDTV/Live.

[lowellriggsiam]

The Freeagent Theater Does play DVDISOs menu and all, but BluRay ISOs it only plays the movie. The only downside I have had is that it can only do wifi with an optional wifi adapter, although it does have a ethernet port I have not used this feature.

[jagabo]

The Freeagent Theater... can only do wifi with an optional wifi adapter

Same as the WDTV Live.

although it does have a ethernet port

Same as the WDTV Live (and it works to play off network shares, media servers, Youtube, etc.).

[KTH]

Does the FAT+ handle skipping chapters on DVD ISO images and MKV files? If it does support chapter skipping on DVD ISO images and MKV files do you have to use menus to access it like in the WD TV or is it as easy as if you chapter skip on a DVD player? One last question does it support NTFS formated drives? I was looking into replacing my WD TV with a media player that has better chapter support.

[cal_tony]

Yes it does chapter skipping much like a DVD player. No need to go into the menu like the WD.
It does work with NTFS drives.
The new firmware (1.45)also includes to ability to move forward in 20 min increments. I like the WDs 10 min move better.
Tony