Buffalo Technologies Hi-Def Media Player

[JasonJoel]

I thought the Roku thread was getting a little 'cluttered' with the Buffalo hi-def media player talk, so I would start a new thread.

Here is a link to the device:
http://www.buffalotech.com/products/...categoryid=18#

This device does NOT have a Sage interface at this point (olne can hope for the future though!!), but it plays a lot of media formats natively so I thought it may be of some interest to the people on these boards.

I should be receiving mine tomorrow (3/11). However, I don't have an HD TV, so I won't be able to comment much there.

I mainly bought it for its (supposedly) good native DIVX, XVID, and WMV playback support.

I'll report back what I find...

Jason Bottjen

[newmedia42]

I received mine earlier this week, but unfortunately the one I got was defective - the DVD player did not work, nor did the component outputs, so I wasn't able to do a whole lot with the machine. I did get it working with Windows Media Connect, and got it to play an mpeg that Sage recorded, but I boxed it up and shipped it back for replacement the next day. I think the replacement is supposed to show up tomorrow, so if it does I'll certainly post my thoughts about the unit.

[falchulk]

Looks interesting but I dont see where it says it has Xvid support. Also, is the divx support via DVD and cdrom or just over the network? The reason I ask is because under features it specifically lists this:

• Built-in Progressive Scan DVD player supports DVD/SVCD and data formats

[JasonJoel]

It doesn't say it on the site. Talking to a few people that already own it, I found out it also plays Xvid (supposedly very well).

Also found out there is a bug in the firmware that won't let it play WMV-HD properly, but it will be fixed in the next firmware release. No big deal to me, as I can't wait for the fix.

Not sure if the Divx/xvid will play off a CD/DVD or not.. That was going to be one of the FIRST things I try when I get it today (or monday, depending on when Fedex delivers it).

Jason

Originally Posted by falchulk

Looks interesting but I dont see where it says it has Xvid support. Also, is the divx support via DVD and cdrom or just over the network? The reason I ask is because under features it specifically lists this:

• Built-in Progressive Scan DVD player supports DVD/SVCD and data formats

[idvsego]

Originally Posted by JasonJoel

This device does NOT have a Sage interface at this point (olne can hope for the future though!!)

I would buy a unit like this pretty quick if a sage interface was created for it. I am curious about this one as it sounds nice.

[insomniac]

Ditto. I would buy any device with a little more horsepower than the MVP if it had a sage client!

Originally Posted by idvsego

I would buy a unit like this pretty quick if a sage interface was created for it. I am curious about this one as it sounds nice.

[dvd_maniac]

Looks interesting but I dont see where it says it has Xvid support.

Under product specifications-> Video Files
dat, mpg, mpe, mpeg, m2v, m1v, vob, avi, asf, divx, xvid, rmp4, mp4, vro, m4v, m2p, hnl, wmv, wmv hd, divx hd


This looks very interesting to me as I encode all my recordings into Xvid and have been waiting for a player to play them successfully...

[JasonJoel]

Well, I received it today... Had an hour or so to play with it. The PC side software won't run on one of my machines, but runs perfectly on another. Go figure - I'll have to figure that out later.

Here is what I know now:
1. It definitely plays Xvid files. I tried the 10 or so I had on hand, and it played them all perfectly. No aspect ratio problems, nada. So I'm VERY happy there! I don't have any divx/xvid + AC3 audio on hand though, so I can't comment there. The MP3 audio track ones work fine though.

2. It will play Divx and Xvid (and other video) files from a CD or DVD as well as from the network.

3. Anyone know what a D4 video connector is? It has one, never seen one before...

4. The menus and slideshow, etc aren't bad. Nothing too exciting, functional. Not altogether ugly.

5. DVD player functions fine. Good FFWD/REWIND. Nice picture form component outs. Again, I don't have an HDTV, so I can't comment on the progressive scan side of it...

That's it for now I guess.

Jason Bottjen

[JasonJoel]

Copied this over from Atlantic's post in the Roku thread:


Went to www.cnet.com noticed they have added a new review video on their main page for the Buffalo Link Theater.

EDIT: Here is the actual link:
http://reviews.cnet.com/Buffalo_Link...-31290624.html

[atlantic]

Thanks

[mlbdude]

I am looking into this player as well. A couple of questions I have on it:

How well does it play ripped DVD's?

Does it do upconversion of DVD's?

[newmedia42]

I've only had a little bit of time to fiddle around with it, but here are my initial thoughts.

Currently I output via the component out from a NVidia 6600GT; the image quality between the two is pretty close - the colors look a tad more vibrant on the Buffalo, and it also appears to be quite a bit crisper. Of course both of these attributes could probably be tweaked in the NVidia driver, but out of the box that's the comparision (on an HD LCD screen).

DVD playback is fine; although it doesn't support much in the way of zooming modes, so it feels a bit limiting for things like chopping off a letterbox, etc. It's important to note that the zooming in DVD playback differs from zooming in PC video playback, so they could easily address some of these things in a future firmware update.

The remote is pretty poor IMO - the responsiveness is pretty bad, and there have been several times where I've been unable to get a response from the machine from several seconds - this may be the remote, or it may be the IR receiver in the unit - time will tell.

I configured the PC video playback using Windows Media Connect, which the device instantly recognized and got working flawlessly. The navigations is a bit clunky through it, but I'm hoping the unit supports the remote GUI functionality. My guess is that it does, and that's how it's doing the Internet browsing (since I don't have that option just using plain old WMC), and if so that means it would be MUCH easier to emulate SageTV through it. Navigation using just WMC is clunky, but it does the job.

All in all I think it is a pretty nice box - $300 nice? I would say a mild yes, because of the DVD player integration... Now, if it does support remote GUI, then I would give it a whole hearted hell yes, since it could potentially be an awesome SageTV client. Only time and some tweaking will tell...

BTW; someone asked earlier about the manual, and BuffaloTech has put that online now, so no need to scan...

[JasonJoel]

Haven't tried playing a ripped DVD on it - I will though and report back.

As I remember, it only 'upconverts' DVD to 480P (which isn't an upconvert, really), which I thought was lame. They say it is due to MPAA/DMCA/whatever laws restricting them from going any further.

Jason

Originally Posted by mlbdude

I am looking into this player as well. A couple of questions I have on it:

How well does it play ripped DVD's?

Does it do upconversion of DVD's?

[JasonJoel]

Just to confirm, the device WILL play XVID + AC3 sound tracks.

Got ahold of an XVID that had a 6 channel AC3 audio the other day. Played perfectly (in 6 channel audio).

Cool stuff.

Jason

[korben_dallas]

Wow. This would make a great Extender!

You'd be hard pressed to put together even a Linux box with this much functionality for $300.

[insomniac]

someone pllllllllllleaaaaaaaase take this damn thing on for a sage client!

[Jesse]

Hi,

Has anyone tested a ripped dvd as of yet????



Thanks,
Jesse

[JasonJoel]

Man, I keep forgetting to.

What's the easiest way to rip a DVD in the 'normal' format people would use this in?

Let me know and I'll test it real quick. Since it has played every other thing I've thrtown at it, I'm betting it works.

Jason

[GbrNole]

for me it doesn't necessarily need to be the buffalo device but it's almost imperative that something similar to this device be ported to sage. the mvp was adapted pretty easily by a talented guy and devices such as the pinnacle showcenter are being given alternate interfaces so here's hoping!

[Jesse]

Hello,

dvd shrink is free and seems to be one of the more popular choices for ripping dvds.

Thanks,

Jesse