Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player - a HTPC replacement??

[suprateep]

now now guys - the popcorn hour is round the corner (within the next 2-4 weeks) and someone from amchi mumbai is taking the distribution of the same.

So offficially you can get it here in India with B&W.

Only problem is that great dude is refusing to fix the price below 22k - such a loser. (Could not convince him that getting one from Google checkout and paying customs would still cost around 15-16k).

Talk about the grey market of popcorn in India soon,

 

[udaji]

okay. i hav one question. does WDTV HD have analog 5.1 channel audio output (via RCA cables)? and does it play ALL mkv files, h263 h264 etc etc?

It does NOT output 5.1 audio over rca jacks. Only stereo via RCA. You need a receiver with hdmi or toslink input to render DD/DTS surround. (Not all receivers are capable of accepting audio over hdmi.)

Available on ebay around 7500.

 

[udaji]

Suprateep,

WDTV is incredible VFM. Unless you really need it on network. I used a laptop for htpc before. Now I am a total convert to WDTV!

 

[suprateep]

Suprateep,

WDTV is incredible VFM. Unless you really need it on network. I used a laptop for htpc before. Now I am a total convert to WDTV!

i know - but i have some HD content like Blue ray rips and a capable receiver. The WD TV cannot pass True HD audio via bit stream - only sore point in its armour.

Apart from it - its is completely VFM i agree

 

[udaji]

WD TV does not pass DTS via HDMI it passes it via Optical Put.

Er.. It does pass dts via hdmi provided you have a receiver that accepts and decodes dts audio over hdmi. It simultaneously passes dts via toslink too.

btw Pre-release 1.02.04 is out. Anybody tried it yet?

 

[udaji]

i know - but i have some HD content like Blue ray rips and a capable receiver. The WD TV cannot pass True HD audio via bit stream - only sore point in its armour.

Apart from it - its is completely VFM i agree

Hmm. HD audio. I dont think PCH will do that either, considering they use the same hdmi 1.2 sybas chip.

 

[suprateep]

Hmm. HD audio. I dont think PCH will do that either, considering they use the same hdmi 1.2 sybas chip.

actually it does A110, iobox 100HD, elektron 606 and a whole lot have specs like 1.3 for hdmi and pass true HD audio for decoding via external decoder.

 

[reju]

actually it does A110, iobox 100HD, elektron 606 and a whole lot have specs like 1.3 for hdmi and pass true HD audio for decoding via external decoder.

Yes, I agree. It is the Silicon Image HDMI transmitter responsible for the HDMI 1.3 audio features. This is not available with WDTV.
However for the other players, the deep colour feature of 1.3 is still not available, as the Sigma 8635 chipset does not support the same!

 

[reju]

Update : WD TV has a global warranty. SO if you bought the product from USA you can claim warranty in India also !

Can you confirm source of this information? The Warranty policy at the WDTV website reads as "No warranty service is provided unless the Product is returned to an authorized return center in the region (warranty regions are identified as Canada, U.S.A., Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, India and Thailand) where the Product was first shipped by WD, which may have regional specific warranty implications."

So warranty should NOT be global.

 

[frnd08]

Can you confirm source of this information? The Warranty policy at the WDTV website reads as "No warranty service is provided unless the Product is returned to an authorized return center in the region (warranty regions are identified as Canada, U.S.A., Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, India and Thailand) where the Product was first shipped by WD, which may have regional specific warranty implications."

So warranty should NOT be global.

its not an on-site warranty now is it?

 

[reju]

I am still torn between whether to buy the WD TV from the USA at $101 or get it from India with B/W !

My personal advice will be to buy it locally. I know it will cost about Rs. 2.5K extra. But this is worth the warranty. This technology is new and highly prone to malfunction after few months. Heating could be the main culprit.

FYI, I was quoted (2 weeks ago) 7.8K inclusive of all taxes with B&W.
Play safe.

 

[reju]

its not an on-site warranty now is it?

Yes it should be on-site as before.

The warranty policy only states that if you purchased in USA then you need send it back to US for claiming the warranty. Similarly if you purchased in India then you need to return for repair/ replacement in India itself.

 

[illusion]

Can you confirm source of this information? The Warranty policy at the WDTV website reads as "No warranty service is provided unless the Product is returned to an authorized return center in the region (warranty regions are identified as Canada, U.S.A., Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, India and Thailand) where the Product was first shipped by WD, which may have regional specific warranty implications."

So warranty should NOT be global.

Sure I can sir. You juts need to call up the Customer Care in India and they will tell you the procedure. All it involves is just to change a region code and shoot a mail to their specified email address for the same. But I really would like you to reconfirm the same and let me know.

 

[reju]

Sure I can sir. You juts need to call up the Customer Care in India and they will tell you the procedure. All it involves is just to change a region code and shoot a mail to their specified email address for the same. But I really would like you to reconfirm the same and let me know.

Please don't "sir" me. Your "illusion" will not work for me.
This is fantastic. I just called the customer care. It is indeed under global warranty, even HDD :clapping:y!!!!

Thanks for bringing it to our notice!

 

[illusion]

Please don't "sir" me. Your "illusion" will not work for me.
This is fantastic. I just called the customer care. It is indeed under global warranty, even HDD :clapping:y!!!!

Thanks for bringing it to our notice!

Reju SIR has been ILLUSIONISED . ROFL !


Anyways yes its a greta piece of info got to admit. However the price of the WD TV has increased to $101 !

 

[hemantwaghe]

WD Toll Free Number
1-800-2005789


Yes myself too called and confirmed....
US warentee is Global - and no documentation required.. their warenteee is activated on net ....

( Guys HP- Compaq offers similar warentee --- and that is why I keep on buying HP laptops - Currently using my 5 th in last 7 years ....)

Hope what I heard is true...

coooolll:yahoo::clapping::clapping:hyeah:

 

[illusion]

WD Toll Free Number
1-800-2005789


Yes myself too called and confirmed....
US warentee is Global - and no documentation required.. their warenteee is activated on net ....

( Guys HP- Compaq offers similar warentee --- and that is why I keep on buying HP laptops - Currently using my 5 th in last 7 years ....)

Hope what I heard is true...

coooolll:yahoo::clapping::clapping:hyeah:

5th laptop in 7 years !!!! Man you are rich. Dell laptops have a similar warranty thingy.

Now can we discuss about u giving me lots of reputation or do we take it offline hyeah: !

I am sure now max of us guys will get the ultra cheap media player from US !!!

@suprateep bhai hope you are reading this post. Ditch popcorn hour man and get this ! WD TV ROCKS !!

 

[frnd08]

WD Toll Free Number
1-800-2005789


Yes myself too called and confirmed....
US warentee is Global - and no documentation required.. their warenteee is activated on net ....

( Guys HP- Compaq offers similar warentee --- and that is why I keep on buying HP laptops - Currently using my 5 th in last 7 years ....)

Hope what I heard is true...

coooolll:yahoo::clapping::clapping:hyeah:

what did u do to ur older laptops? sold them?

 

[illusion]

what did u do to ur older laptops? sold them?

Nah he is rich sir. He must have donated them. Shit i should have been there standing in the line ! Just my luck !

 

[frnd08]

Nah he is rich sir. He must have donated them. Shit i should have been there standing in the line ! Just my luck !

now dont me Illusioned by calling me "Sir"!

and yeah, i would have definitely stood in line with u!