[KnowItAll]

Has anyone seen a media extender in the market -- with HDMI outputs? Would be nice to have a standalone device connected to the TV... which can read vids from computers / network drives.

[beachball]

Lots of them available these days.

Neuston (http://www.neuston.com/en/home.php) was one of the first ones. TVIX (http://www.tvix.co.kr/ENG/Products/HDM5000U.aspx)
has been getting good reviews, but only so-so in my opinion.

Becoming increasingly common to build these units around Windows Media Center. This tends to help with the navigation if you have lots of media files - navigaiton is traditionally the weak point for most slave/"dumb box" solutions.

[KnowItAll]

The problem with building the solution is not many PCs have HDMI outputs (unless I'm missing something...) given that ATI has just gotten its chipset approved.

[beachball]

But they have DVI outputs which is compatible, so you can just get an adapter. Only thing is that you will need a separate cable for audio.

BTW, the Media Players I referenced above also have DVI (not HDMI - sorry did not read carefully) outputs.

[KnowItAll]

Yeah, looks like DVI-HDMI is the way to go.

[Raz]

Abit will release a new mboard in november called ABIT IL-80MV based on Intel’s 945GT chipset...and it will have HDMI output. A X1600 PRO with HDMI support is already on the market and you can find it here or here or here but again...then you have to build it yourself, and who has time for that?

[KnowItAll]

>> then you have to build it yourself

Fairly simple to ask someone at Wanchai Comp Center to do it ..

Anyways, xmas is still a few weeks away and I'm sure there will be some more choices hopefully.

If not .. looks like Apple's TV box will have to do.

[beachball]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

>> then you have to build it yourself

Fairly simple to ask someone at Wanchai Comp Center to do it ..

Anyways, xmas is still a few weeks away and I'm sure there will be some more choices hopefully.

If not .. looks like Apple's TV box will have to do.

WCC generally accepted to be useless. Mongkok and Sham Shui Po just so much better.

There are already lots of choices - for instance, I would probably take either of the products that I have mentioned over the iTV.

[PhilE]

...or a Mac Mini for 4700HKD (or just over 5000 with 1GB RAM)

DVI and Optical audio out, use it with OSX/FrontRow/AppleRemote or Boot Camp to Windows (including MCE if you want).

Its pricier than a standalone device but so much more functional/ flexible and powerful enough for just about anything except games. Good 'hand-me-down' PC/Mac for kids or (grand)parents in the future too.

[LostArt]

Originally Posted by PhilE

...or a Mac Mini for 4700HKD (or just over 5000 with 1GB RAM)

Its pricier than a standalone device but so much more functional/ flexible and powerful enough for just about anything except games.

I have to agree with the functional/flexibility bit. You can use it to play DIVX, XVID, RMVB, Mpeg, Quicktime, Google Video, YouTube..etc. (Heck you can even use it to play older games or SNES ones! haha)

On the other hand, I have heard that the Apple iTV is priced at $299.99-$399.99 USD. Definitely a lot cheaper than a Mac Mini.