need device that reads movies from hd and connects to tv

[verano888]

I have some movies stored on an external hd. I would like to get a device that will connect to it and then it connects to the tv either via composite cable and hdmi. Is there such a product out there?

[JamesA1]

Lots. That's what all the video players like WDTV Live, Patriot Box Office, Asus OPlay etc. do. But most modern Blu-Ray players will do that too. Right now in the Hot Deals forum you'll find a thread on the Walmart clearance sale where they're selling last year's Samsung BD-C5500 Blu Ray player for $34. That unit will do what you want. You can connect a USB hard drive and play back your video files in avi/mp4/mkv/etc formats. Plus it's an internet streaming client for Netflix, Youtube etc. And a Blu-Ray/DVD/CD player of course.

[Goober56]

If you got WDTV, get the Live or Live Plus. There is 3rd party firmware (legal) that makes it a whole lot better. I highly recommend it. And if you look on kijiji there are tons of used units for $50ish-$70ish.

[johnnydoe1894]

I have a 4 year old computer E7200 with lots of ram, an ATI 5450 HDMI video card and a couple of TB of drives in it. I use that as a media player. It cost me zip since it has been replaced twice over. Is there something these kinds of devices do that I can't do with this old computer?

[singhrh]

Depending on what TV you have, you might be able to connect the HDD directly to the TV and play them like that. No need for additional equipment. If you haven't already tried that.

[Mr Nobody]

I have a 4 year old computer E7200 with lots of ram, an ATI 5450 HDMI video card and a couple of TB of drives in it. I use that as a media player. It cost me zip since it has been replaced twice over. Is there something these kinds of devices do that I can't do with this old computer?

Its bigger, noisier, wastes more electricity, longer to boot up, (most likely) no remote. Other than that, a PC running XBMC would kill these little box players.

[johnnydoe1894]

Its bigger, noisier, wastes more electricity, longer to boot up, (most likely) no remote. Other than that, a PC running XBMC would kill these little box players.

So then really, no downside at all. Kidding, kidding. I also find it handy because I can download right onto that machine so no farting around moving stuff around. I had a look at XBMC, seems interesting, might be worth a trial. Have dabbled in various flavours of Linux off and on so one more to look at. Thanks.