Media Player Recommendations?

[plutomok]

UPDATE --

NOT SOFTWARE - HD MEDIA PLAYER FOR TV 

 

1. Needs to be compatible with at least 2TB external hdd

2. file compatibility with mkv avi etc. 

3. Fast UI

tried WD Live and it was really slow when navigating through folders

[Matsy]

VLC.

[Bonsai99]

Windows Media Player + K-Lite Codec Pack or VLC

[Krillin]

Foobar200

[LonliestofAll]

XBMC straight up

http://xbmc.org/about/

[plutomok]

VLC.

 

 

VLC indeed. Most basic media player there is.

 

 

Windows Media Player + K-Lite Codec Pack or VLC

 

 

Foobar200

 

 

XBMC straight up

http://xbmc.org/about/

 

Sry i meant Hardware media players for TV's

Not software.

[LonliestofAll]

Sry i meant Hardware media players for TV's

Not software.

No problem, I would go for a console or build my own htpc and install XBMC, that way I can play games as well.

 

Edit: XBMC is an OS based on Linux

[Matsy]

Sry i meant Hardware media players for TV's

Not software.

 

XBMC.

[plutomok]

No problem, I would go for a console or build my own htpc and install XBMC, that way I can play games as well.

 

on a smaller budget. its a gift for someone else. just having a hard time finding one that meets my requirements

[LonliestofAll]

on a smaller budget. its a gift for someone else. just having a hard time finding one that meets my requirements

Chromecast if you can get your hands on one, don't know if they're still hard to get.

[Adnanklink]

you could look into the raspberry pi if you wanna save some money over building/ buying htpc. fulfills all the requirements but for performance, im not sure. I suggest looking into it.

[knight_40k]

You could give this a try...
http://www.amazon.com/Boxee-D-Link-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B0038JE07O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384826815&sr=8-1&keywords=boxee

 

or build a custom HTPC and install XBMC like others have said. I personally use the latter.

[Patrickkd]

You could build a little htpc using a Intel nuc (look at an earlier Linus video from this year)

[plutomok]

K so far you guys are telling me that none of the current products on the market are worth the money.....

Boxee was great when it first released but i think they have really just dropped supporting the product and feels unfinished. i tried a boxee a few months back. wasnt sold on it. and its expensive

 

Any other recommendations?I have tried a WD Live but im not sure if i got a bad unit or not. the scrolling through the folders was very sluggish

[dalekphalm]

UPDATE --

NOT SOFTWARE - HD MEDIA PLAYER FOR TV 

 

1. Needs to be compatible with at least 2TB external hdd

2. file compatibility with mkv avi etc. 

3. Fast UI

tried WD Live and it was really slow when navigating through folders

Normally I'd recommend an HTPC, like many of our brethren here are doing.

 

However, if this is a gift, and one likely for someone less technically inclined, then I HIGHLY recommend the Roku 3. Plays MKV's, compatible with all HDD sizes (incl. 4TB), has a good UI, and has support for PlexApp Media Center, which is just a cool feature if you/they ever get a proper media server.

 

It has tons of apps, incl netflix and youtube, and is just generally a solid device.

http://www.amazon.com/Roku-3-Streaming-Media-Player/dp/B00BGGDVOO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1384831313&sr=8-2&keywords=roku+3

 

Check it out, see what you think.