My Xbox died, can someone recommend a standalone player?

[kdoggy]

Well, my original Xbox system with an Xenium ICE finally pooped out on me. I'm too lazy to go out and find another used Xbox and transfer the mod chip. The only thing I ever used it for was Xbox Media Center and movies I'd ripped to Divx and I see some of the newer stand alone players are doing Divx now.

I have a Western Digital 250 GB Passport portable hard drive that gets its power from the USB port.

I would like a player that I can plug my Passport into, that will power it and that I can watch my Divx movies on.

I've been looking at players like the Pioneer DV400, Philipies, RCA etc.

Can anyone recommend anything that will play multiple formats via USB and power my Passport?

These players are new to me, hell my current home DVD player wont even do VCD's or SVCDS lol.

Thanks.

[MJA]

check the philips 5982/5960 most popular players on this forum

https://forum.videohelp.com/topic324555.html#1671775

[jagabo]

The Philips players probably wont' supply enough power for the WD Passport.

[RdM642]

I recommend the philips as well.

Don't decide on a player or not based on getting 650 ma out of the USB!

Solutions:
1) get a $10 powered usb hub and
1a) spend five minutes with some e-tape and an extra usb cable from around the house and parallel wire your USB* or
1b) buy a premade parallel power usb cable for $15 to $20.
2) get a new full sized independently powered 500tb external for around $120. or a smaller one for much less.


* USB spec is 5 volts at 500 ma. Passports usually need around 650 ma but most PCs will do 650 ma so it is not a problem. Devices such as dvd players, cable boxes, some receivers and some mac laptops will not do more than 500 ma USB. But USB is four wires, two data and two power. Take spare a USB cable and take the "A" end (the end that goes into the computer) and cut it off with 12" of cable remaining. Strip 2" of the insulation off of an intact usb cable 12" from its A head. deadhead the green and white data wires from the single ended usb a you cut. strip the red and black on both cables and connect them. Dress with e-tape. Mark the head with only power with red etape. You now can power your passport either by dual porting from the same device (say a mac laptop) or with power lead connected to a cheap powered hub or the usb port you may find on the back of your moto cablebox dvr, or your receiver.

If you are not handy you could buy this:
http://www.provantage.com/apricorn-ausb-y~7APRC3M6.htm/


But I also recommend you look at just getting a self powered 3.5" external. Check slickdeals.net and fatwallet.com they are very cheap and you can use your passport for what it is intended, traveling, and concentrate on getting a player that is best rated for dealing with dvx and upscaling etc. The philips models go for $45 to $50. philipsoutlet has a refurb 5982 for $40 today with free shipping.