one box wonder media server,ripper,BR

[kgveteran]

I would like to put together a wish list of needs. Can you guys point me in the right direction

I would like a media center that I could rip BR, SD DVD. Then have them ready to play via remote control.

Is there a product out there that is a real plug and play. HDMI output.

KG

[ClosetSciFiGeek]

Look at Escient. They don't do Blu Ray, but everything else you described. Pretty spendy though.

[Kevin D]

Try again. Escient's Vision series was a year late, hardly worked at all for the first 6 months, sort of worked by the seventh month, and then was promptly discontinued and abandoned in the eighth month.

If Blu-ray is a requirement, you will need to look towards a client player with ripping/storage on a computer.

Kevin D.

[Alloroc]

My local A/V retailer has this in the store....

http://www.kaleidescape.com/

It looks impressive enough with a really slick interface. No real idea on how good it is in the flesh. DVD only - no BRD. I don't know of anything that rips BRDs and stores on a server.

The only things out there that comes anyway close to consolodating a BRD collection is the Sony CX7000ES 400 disk BDP changer. I saw it recently and that too looked really slick - the interface that is - the machine itself is huge!

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665925651

[Chris D]

Yeah, Kaleidescapes are very well known.

Speaking of Sony BD megachangers, I was actually looking at their latest model lately, the CX-960.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B002M78J70/ref=ord_cart_shr?_encoding=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&v=glance

[Alloroc]

Yeah, Kaleidescapes are very well known.

Speaking of Sony BD megachangers, I was actually looking at their latest model lately, the CX-960.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

That's a really dramatic price difference over the ES. It's excellent value. I've not spent time looking but apart from the ES build, what's the difference?

[crytklmass]

You can save Blu Rays to your P.C's hard drive using 123 copy dvd "media edition" software from best buy $69.00 or amazon.com or wherever.

[Chris D]

I'm not quite sure of the difference, Vincent, I haven't really examined it in detail. But I was thinking that it might be nice to upgrade the all-home DVD changer to include BD capability. I wouldn't need anything reference quality, it's for mass distribution for the family and I'd keep the high-end stuff in the theater.

Doing a search for a BD changer, it looks like there actually aren't any other options! I could have sworn that Denon or others had BD changers, but I can't find any.

[Chris D]

Vincent, did just a bit of checking. for that Sony BD changer, from the new CX960 model, the ES model adds: (at least)

- S-video output
- 7.1 analog output (960 model only has stereo analog and HDMI outputs)
- RS-232 control
- Triple the price-tag, $588 to $1899 on Amazon
- Rear IR input jack

So... not a whole lot of difference!

[Alloroc]

Vincent, did just a bit of checking. for that Sony BD changer, from the new CX960 model, the ES model adds: (at least)

- S-video output
- 7.1 analog output (960 model only has stereo analog and HDMI outputs)
- RS-232 control
- Triple the price-tag, $588 to $1899 on Amazon
- Rear IR input jack

So... not a whole lot of difference!

That seems amazing value.... I really like the way it thumbnails covers and gives you a sort of coverflow to brows titles - in a way similar to HDD based media boxes.

No sign of it making it's way over here to us.... I'd consider it.

[PewterTA]

Why not build a HTPC for roughly $400 (unless you have to get the HTPC case). Then you can put the rest into the Blu-Ray player, Raid controller and HDs. You can get a good 4 - 8 TB of storage for about $1200.

[Kevin D]

Why not build a HTPC for roughly $400 (unless you have to get the HTPC case). Then you can put the rest into the Blu-Ray player, Raid controller and HDs. You can get a good 4 - 8 TB of storage for about $1200.

Probable because of this requirement:

Is there a product out there that is a real plug and play.

Kevin D.

[kgveteran]

The Acer aspire revo looked good, but no where to be found. Matched with a HP SS it would have fit the bill. Oh, and an external BR drive.

The ASrock looks to get a litttle closer, but you will need to get Xbox media free or spring for windows7 or another op sys.

Just picked up a used fowflex, so this is off the desk for now, spent all my fun money.

[PewterTA]

Easy fix, pay someone else to build and install it.