What device do you use to playback video files the most?

[yoda313]

So what device do you use most often to playback video files? (I'm talking about personally made video files - not commercially pressed discs - these could also be "backups" but for this discussion I'm not referring to commercially pressed discs).

Is it a game console? A pc? A burnt disc on a dvd or bluray player?

I would have to say it would be the pc the most. Though I can use my 360 or ps3 of course.

How about you?

[Number Six]

Do you mean any video file from any source ( ie: downloads, youtube, etc ), or only files that i would create myself via camera or PC software?

I would have to say via PC, but I do have a Zune that has backups of my movies and TV shows - would this qualify as a multimedia hard drive device connected to a TV? I do not connect my Zune to the TV.

Maybe you should include portable media players such as Zunes, Ipods, etc.

[Valnar]

My SageTV HD Extenders.

[gadgetguy]

I generally don't play back "video files". I convert to DVD and watch them on TV and my DVD players do not play non-DVD spec video. I really don't like just watching video on my PC. It's not the right viewing distance and it's not a comfortable chair to relax and watch in.

[redwudz]

I use my HTPC computer most times, sometimes my Intel box as it has a upscale graphics card. It also has a BD player, so I use it for that. Most of my archived video is on separate servers and I can access them with either computer. I also have a couple of DVD changers I use for my DVDs. All output is through a surround sound system and a HDMI output to my video projector.

[Xylob the Destroyer]

other for now.
My HTPC is fucked...
Gonna have to reformat and reinstall the OS.

[yoda313]

Maybe you should include portable media players such as Zunes, Ipods, etc.

Yes I have added the option. Don't know what I was thinking not including it.

Do you mean any video file from any source ( ie: downloads, youtube, etc ), or only files that i would create myself via camera or PC software?

I mean any file form. Something you would "obtain" by some means digitally that is not in the form of a store bought physical medium.

[rumplestiltskin]

AppleTV to my 32" 720p LCD. Works great!

[jagabo]

HTPC to HDTV, HDMI, 1080p

[Epicurus8a]

dvd

[paulw]

Popcornhour A100 connected to my 46" Sony TV..

[edDV]

I'm doing less with DVDR. The capacity is too small. I bought an HP MediaSmart home server on Black Friday and have been consolidating media files there with backups to external HDD or DVDR. I'm now a true believer in home servers. I can play any file at any computer or UPnP media extender (player) even remotely over the internet. TheHP server includes an IP for remote server access and remote control of the server plus XP Pro/Vista Ultimate PCs. I can log in and control the MCE and BeyondTV PVR's from the field so long as power stays on. I'm still working on auto power outtage recovery.

It also consolidates iTunes content from all computers so anything can play them. Also has user defined photo and media share over the web.

This is the future I suggest.

PS: There is a growing list of commercial and open source add-in applications for Windows Home Server including home automation and security. This product rocks!
http://forum.wegotserved.co.uk/index.php?autocom=downloads



http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs.asp
http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/whs_hp.asp

[budz]

I use my upconverting Sony hdmi dvd player to play standard DVD's and a Cyberhome hdmi upconverting dvd player for my region 3 stuff. I just hooked up my new Panasonic bd-35 Blu-Ray player which will be specifically used for blu-ray movies only. I must say the blu-ray is stunning! Netflix and Amazon here I come!

[misterbill]

In order of usage.

1. WD TV, purchased the first weekend in November. Ripping all my movies to a pair of 1T SATA HDs. Rip "movie only" with no compression. Also use the HD full of "STUFF" from my HTPC. Alls HDs with SATA to USB2 converters.

2. DVDR3576H

3. HTPC, with a new HD, although it hasn't been on much since WD TV arrived.

All viewed on 42" 120hz. LCD. Being an ol' fart, I'm easily amused.

[fritzi93]

All viewed on 42" 120hz. LCD. Being an ol' fart, I'm easily amused.

Plenty of 'ol farts here.

1) DVD player with compressed playback capability.
2) But the HTPC gets used nearly as often.

42" 720p plasma HDTV and 28" 1080p LCD monitor.

I'm envious of edDV's setup. :P

[jagabo]

home server... I'm still working on auto power outtage recovery.

Hook it up to a UPS with USB monitoring. Have it set to hibernate when the battery power reaches 50 (or whatever) percent. Make sure the BIOS is set to switch on when the mains power returns. On short power outages the server will just keep running. On longer power outages it will hibernate then come right back to where it was when the power comes back on.

[Constant Gardener]

An even split between the play-almost-anything Oppo and a PC for the rest, mostly h.264 and watch-once stuff.

I have a UPS on the PC, which is set to shut down on low battery. If it goes into standby, timed recordings don't always start when they should. (It took me a long time to figure that one out.)

[lordsmurf]

Philips 3575 DVD recorder, as DVR and player for DVD+XVID

[edDV]

home server... I'm still working on auto power outtage recovery.

Hook it up to a UPS with USB monitoring. Have it set to hibernate when the battery power reaches 50 (or whatever) percent. Make sure the BIOS is set to switch on when the mains power returns. On short power outages the server will just keep running. On longer power outages it will hibernate then come right back to where it was when the power comes back on.

Thanks, I intend to buy a dedicated UPS during after Christmas sales for use with the dsl wireless router and hp server. That will allow continued access for wireless notebooks plus remote access during frequent winter outages.

The power recovery problems are mostly with the PVR PCs but I'm making progress.

[Baldrick]

My computer hooked up to my 500" Pioneer and Yamaha receiver.

[jagabo]

Wow, 500" TV! You live in a drive-in theater?

[bacardi/avt]

TViX 6500 hooked up to my 46" LG Plasma and Pioneer 5.1 system. Streaming files from my Windows Home Server in a machine I put together with leftover parts (2.5 TB storage).
I keep all my video and music on it so I can access it from every device on the network, very easy usage. And as a bonus the Home Server makes backups of my main computer once every 24 hours.

[disturbed1]

A pc connected to a TV. Looking to add a ChannelPlus 3025 after the first of the year.

[redwudz]

My computer hooked up to my 500" Pioneer and Yamaha receiver.

And I thought my 144" screen was fairly large. Probably a metric size.



BTW, I seem to remember being banned recently.

[yoda313]

BTW, I seem to remember being banned recently.

HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM!

[TBoneit]

WD TV™
HD Media Player

600Gb of hard drives hooked up to it. It works for me. I don't want a networked 24 Hour a day server running. Small low power usage. HDMI to the TV and I'd swear that the SD content looks better than the Philips 5990 playback. Drives formatted in NTFS. Now if they'd add an option to delete after watching.

Some quirks such as showing no audio and then playing the audio now and then. I expect that a firmware update wll fix the quirks.

[Baldrick]

Wow, 500" TV! You live in a drive-in theater?

Yep. :P

[edDV]

I'm suffering here with snowbound cabin fever. I can imagine the Stockholm chill. Been there done that several times in winter but Helsinki was far worse. Almost lost toes to frostbite.

[AlanHK]

"dvd player with compressed playback capability"?

MPEGs are compressed. So in that case, my DVD player qualifies.

Or just what do you mean?

[jason]

I use my computer the most. Just bought a new Samsung 24 inch widescreen monitor. Beautiful picture.