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

[moserw]

Quite true! I've always found DVDs from U.S. have much better PQ and clarity. Don't know why but I've always felt so. Might be it has to do with our fascination for anything "phoren" but to my eyes at least the PQ from U.S. DVDs always looks much better than what we get locally even for the same movie.

TThanks
But again I've some doubts and thoughts....
1) I know that it will indeed require more effort to "DOWNGRADE" a movie

but then I think they have third world downgraded stuff as the companies make special copies for india the copy is

1) Censored
2) Without DTS ( Generally )
3) Most of the time without extras
4) May times the special versions we see is unreleased in India

That is why I want to see A vs B comparison - that to in Video....

Just a thought - As US single DVD has extras and additional sound options -so 9 GB black is used and Indian DVDs are minted on 4.5 GB SL Disks....?

Cause last 6-7 years I am hearing about Indian DVDs VS US DVDS and want to have a conclusion. I met people who buy DVD's from Amazon or import through contacts ,and not because cheaper price but for better quality...

Again I've limited trust on company spokesman.....In fact it is widespread belief that companies dump their second quality in third world countries ..( anyway I do not subscribe this view) ,,,but working in electronics in hardware I saw ,to make a point how senior management makes tall or false claims to junior management or distributors ...now think what will be their communication to general people!hyeah:hyeah:

 

[vinay]

[QUOTE Well I have seen a number of downloads including .MKV. None of them, in my opinion, come anywhere near a original DVD. In a way I am lucky as I have a supplier who gives me DVDs copied from Blu-Ray discs. The picture and sound of these discs are simply exceptional. As I mentioned in another thread, I don't understand how an additional compressions can improve the sound and picture of a DVD. Cheers[/QUOTE]

Venkat,

I know of people who say that the downloads, 720p, and onwards, pq & sq is very good, those files are above 500gb, and as I said earlier I have seen one download the pq was good. Please understand one thing importantly that by these downloads there are major benefits, the pq & sq is much better then the original dvds which we get in branded stores, we can get the movies way before they are available at the stores, and then importantly we should not forget that there are so many movies which will not be available in stores, but we can get them by downloading

About the supplier giving you dvds copied from blue ray discs, here your choice is going to be limited, as not more then 10% of the movies are available on blue ray. Furthermore depending on someone for the movies, why not download it yourself?

Please guide me.

Vinay.

 

[vinay]

i think when you are referring "dvd's which we get from planet m and cross word," means indian DVDs like excel,sa re ga ma or sony....

I watched some movies on dvds from US and found pq was better.
So another debate - are us dvds are better?I mean I heard this many times indian DVD's are lousy ( ya these are the words) and nothing compared to US DVD's...Is it true?Or it is psycological?

Are these DVD's mastered with higher resolution?

One issue I know is that Indian DVD's ,even english movies generally do not have DTS encoding ... and most of new UD DVD's are..

Anyone watched same movie on Indian DVD and US DVD/ any significant picture difference?

Hemant,

Indeed the dvds are of excel, sony, etc.

The imported original DVDs have to be much better in terms of pq and sq, then what we get here.

Therefore the people who understand the pq & sq, are gradually moving to importing the dvd's or are downloading them.


Vinay.

 

[venkatcr]

I know of people who say that the downloads, 720p, and onwards, pq & sq is very good, those files are above 500gb, and as I said earlier I have seen one download the pq was good. Please understand one thing importantly that by these downloads there are major benefits, the pq & sq is much better then the original dvds which we get in branded stores, we can get the movies way before they are available at the stores, and then importantly we should not forget that there are so many movies which will not be available in stores, but we can get them by downloading

About the supplier giving you dvds copied from blue ray discs, here your choice is going to be limited, as not more then 10% of the movies are available on blue ray. Furthermore depending on someone for the movies, why not download it yourself?

Vinay, my experience with downloaded material has not been good, and it is possible I am biased against downloaded material. Moser and MadBullRam seem to have had good experience.

I have resorted to buying as many original DVDs as I can. Bond original are available at 299 and I am collecting the whole lot slowly. Similarly many of the movies I want are available at 99, 199, and 299 from various companies.

Regarding the Blu-Ray to DVD, the guy who supplies to me seems to have a large number of movies (over 2000 movies), and it will take me a year or more to exhaust his stock. I have also tried a person in Bangalore who claims he can give you a high quality DVD of ANY movie you want. I tried 'Australia', and the PQ/SQ was simply superb. Again his copies have no menu and nothing extra as he uses the whole of a 9 odd GB disc to fill with the movie. Unfortunately, the DVDs come without any label or cover, and you have to take the effort of print and sticking the CD and box labels.

There is no harm in trying downloaded movies. In any case if each movie takes some 8 to 10 GB, I will be paying astronomical sums to my ISP. I can of course get one of those unlimited connections, but they are so slow, I lose patience after some time.

I find it cheaper and easier to go out into the market and purchase the movies I want. As I said, I buy most originals of all languages. For Indian movies, with Eros, Eagle, MB and others selling for 75 or less, I am happy collecting the movies I want. I have most of Dev Anand movies as well as evergreen movies such as Madhumathi, Sholay, Ram Aur Shyam, Kohinoor, etc.

I will see if I can borrow a good quality MKV and try it out again.

Cheers

 

[frnd08]

Vinay, my experience with downloaded material has not been good, and it is possible I am biased against downloaded material. Moser and MadBullRam seem to have had good experience.

I have resorted to buying as many original DVDs as I can. Bond original are available at 299 and I am collecting the whole lot slowly. Similarly many of the movies I want are available at 99, 199, and 299 from various companies.

Regarding the Blu-Ray to DVD, the guy who supplies to me seems to have a large number of movies (over 2000 movies), and it will take me a year or more to exhaust his stock. I have also tried a person in Bangalore who claims he can give you a high quality DVD of ANY movie you want. I tried 'Australia', and the PQ/SQ was simply superb. Again his copies have no menu and nothing extra as he uses the whole of a 9 odd GB disc to fill with the movie. Unfortunately, the DVDs come without any label or cover, and you have to take the effort of print and sticking the CD and box labels.

There is no harm in trying downloaded movies. In any case if each movie takes some 8 to 10 GB, I will be paying astronomical sums to my ISP. I can of course get one of those unlimited connections, but they are so slow, I lose patience after some time.

I find it cheaper and easier to go out into the market and purchase the movies I want. As I said, I buy most originals of all languages. For Indian movies, with Eros, Eagle, MB and others selling for 75 or less, I am happy collecting the movies I want. I have most of Dev Anand movies as well as evergreen movies such as Madhumathi, Sholay, Ram Aur Shyam, Kohinoor, etc.

I will see if I can borrow a good quality MKV and try it out again.

Cheers

as far as internet usage is concerned, you just get an unlimited plan for ur ISP. thats all.

 

[reju]

as far as internet usage is concerned, you just get an unlimited plan for ur ISP. thats all.

MTNL Mumbai has night unlimited for about Rs. 800/ month. On an average you can download 5 to 5.5 GB per night. That's little over one 720p movie very night BSNL may have similar. Of course you need the right sources & subscriptions...

 

[frnd08]

MTNL Mumbai has night unlimited for about Rs. 800/ month. On an average you can download 5 to 5.5 GB per night. That's little over one 720p movie very night BSNL may have similar. Of course you need the right sources & subscriptions...

my bsnl night unlimited plan costs me 500 bucks a month, 175 calls free and no rentals.

 

[reju]

my bsnl night unlimited plan costs me 500 bucks a month, 175 calls free and no rentals.

Is this 2 MBPS like MTNL?

 

[thevortex]

Venkat - I am sure downloading can give you as much if not better quality than the DVDs you are getting. Although the thing is there is not much to choose when it comes to a question of absolute legality, I guess

Which downloads are legal anyway?

 

[Dushie]

Well u do get excellent rips online and u get original dvd's too.

Guess both sides are right in their own way, i have come across many users who don't prefer to download stuff and buy most of the dvd's off the shelf.

On the other hand i know many active downloaders who have their pc running 24x7 and have every latest download that is available out there.


Well high quality Mkv look awesome and the PQ is excellent.

That's the reason why we have so many users going for the WDTV , so that they can play back HD content without worrying about buying blue ray players,disks and other expensive equipment.

So both sides of the story is there.

Personally i stopped buying dvd's off the shelf ages ago, i download whatever stuff i want and i am happy with the same ...

 

[moserw]

None of the DVDs compare with any of the online MKV/HD rips. If a DVD compares and really has that good PQ and SQ well then it's a copy of a Blu-Ray or a Blu-Ray rip (converted to SD DVD) and illegal too. In fact my local DVD rental has started doing this. Getting HD rips and converting them to SD DVDs with very good PQ that beats retail DVDs by at least 50%. The giveaway of course is a HD movies logo on the DVD copies he makes and rents out. For all I know even he may be d/l the movies instead of sourcing them from Russia.

Well u do get excellent rips online and u get original dvd's too.

Guess both sides are right in their own way, i have come across many users who don't prefer to download stuff and buy most of the dvd's off the shelf.

On the other hand i know many active downloaders who have their pc running 24x7 and have every latest download that is available out there.


Well high quality Mkv look awesome and the PQ is excellent.

That's the reason why we have so many users going for the WDTV , so that they can play back HD content without worrying about buying blue ray players,disks and other expensive equipment.

So both sides of the story is there.

Personally i stopped buying dvd's off the shelf ages ago, i download whatever stuff i want and i am happy with the same ...

 

[frnd08]

Is this 2 MBPS like MTNL?

yup 2mbps just as mtnl

 

[frnd08]

i have a question for people using WDTV. how do u store your movies? i mean of course not in ur HDD (that space is limited), where else then? maybe dvds, etc. but then, everytime u want to play a movie, you need to switch on ur PC, copy the movie from your DVD to your USB device and then play it on WDTV, isnt that a little bit cumbersome?

 

[reju]

i have a question for people using WDTV. how do u store your movies? i mean of course not in ur HDD (that space is limited), where else then? maybe dvds, etc. but then, everytime u want to play a movie, you need to switch on ur PC, copy the movie from your DVD to your USB device and then play it on WDTV, isnt that a little bit cumbersome?

If you had followed this thread more closely, you would have already had the answer.

But firstly why should HDD space be limited? I mean, say your EXT 1TB HDD is full you can always buy another one! At the moment they cost only about 5.5K. These can be attached to WDTV, to play movies stored on these HDDs.

If you find this beyond your budget. (Like me) I store them on Rs. 7/disc DVDs. Then you just need to connect an EXT DVD writer (eg. Moserbaer costs about 2K) to WDTV* then play your DVDs.

*this requires a simple flashing/ upgrading/hacking with modded firmware like WDLxTV.

I am not sure if there's anything other answer you were looking for?

 

[reju]

Well u do get excellent rips online and u get original dvd's too.

Guess both sides are right in their own way, i have come across many users who don't prefer to download stuff and buy most of the dvd's off the shelf.

On the other hand i know many active downloaders who have their pc running 24x7 and have every latest download that is available out there.


Well high quality Mkv look awesome and the PQ is excellent.

That's the reason why we have so many users going for the WDTV , so that they can play back HD content without worrying about buying blue ray players,disks and other expensive equipment.

So both sides of the story is there.

Personally i stopped buying dvd's off the shelf ages ago, i download whatever stuff i want and i am happy with the same ...

Very true. And I find it illogical to spend your hard earned money for a BD movie that you will see 1 or 2 times. Unless you are big collector of some sort.

I would have had to spend 5-10 lacs if I had to buy all the original stuff that I have downloaded. hyeah: I would never have been able to afford thathyeah:

 

[vinay]

Vinay, my experience with downloaded material has not been good, and it is possible I am biased against downloaded material. Moser and MadBullRam seem to have had good experience.

I have resorted to buying as many original DVDs as I can. Bond original are available at 299 and I am collecting the whole lot slowly. Similarly many of the movies I want are available at 99, 199, and 299 from various companies.

Regarding the Blu-Ray to DVD, the guy who supplies to me seems to have a large number of movies (over 2000 movies), and it will take me a year or more to exhaust his stock. I have also tried a person in Bangalore who claims he can give you a high quality DVD of ANY movie you want. I tried 'Australia', and the PQ/SQ was simply superb. Again his copies have no menu and nothing extra as he uses the whole of a 9 odd GB disc to fill with the movie. Unfortunately, the DVDs come without any label or cover, and you have to take the effort of print and sticking the CD and box labels.

There is no harm in trying downloaded movies. In any case if each movie takes some 8 to 10 GB, I will be paying astronomical sums to my ISP. I can of course get one of those unlimited connections, but they are so slow, I lose patience after some time.

I find it cheaper and easier to go out into the market and purchase the movies I want. As I said, I buy most originals of all languages. For Indian movies, with Eros, Eagle, MB and others selling for 75 or less, I am happy collecting the movies I want. I have most of Dev Anand movies as well as evergreen movies such as Madhumathi, Sholay, Ram Aur Shyam, Kohinoor, etc.

I will see if I can borrow a good quality MKV and try it out again.

Cheers

Venkatcr,

I appreciate your detailed writing.

Indeed there are several of them who will vouch for the downloading, as that is the way to go ahead.

I too will like to lay my hand on the bond movies. The well branded new releases dvds from retail store at 99 are quite rare but yes they are available at the upper price.

It is interesting to note the details on blue ray to dvd. Congratulations on such a good source.

The 720p I think is not over 6 gb, the cost for unlimited download will not be much, but the speed could be a issue.

It is nice to know that you are making a collection of movies, with me it is the other way round, once I know that I will not like to watch a movie again, then I just want to remove it from my collection.

I will look forward to your comments on the mkv, after you have seen the movie.

Vinay.

 

[srikarkav]

:Hi Guys,

Mahaveer computers, Ritchie st, chennai is quoting Rs 7400/- for WD TV.

btw venkat is the shootout between Oppo, CA DV99 and WDTV happening any time soon?

cheers,
sri

 

[vinay]

MTNL Mumbai has night unlimited for about Rs. 800/ month. On an average you can download 5 to 5.5 GB per night. That's little over one 720p movie very night BSNL may have similar. Of course you need the right sources & subscriptions...

Reju & Frnd08,

Thank you both for the vital information.

The price which mtnl and bsnl are offering is dirt cheap compared to what reliance is offering, I just checked with them they said for the unlimited plan during night for 1mbps is a huge 1,799/- rupees.

I hope some other members can throw some light how much are they paying for high speed downloads.

Thanks.

Vinay.

 

[vinay]

Very true. And I find it illogical to spend your hard earned money for a BD movie that you will see 1 or 2 times. Unless you are big collector of some sort.

I would have had to spend 5-10 lacs if I had to buy all the original stuff that I have downloaded. hyeah: I would never have been able to afford thathyeah:

Reju,

I have been buying original dvds and now am having about 250 of them, around 50% of them I will never see it again, another 30% I may see it once more, the balance 20% I will like to see a few times more, so at the end of the day it is not worth buying the original dvds when they are available for download. Moreover it is a great idea to have the movies in digital format.

Vinay.

 

[venkatcr]

I have been buying original dvds and now am having about 250 of them, around 50% of them I will never see it again,

Any time you want to save some space, I will be glad to take all 125 of them. I keep seeing movies I like may times. I must seen Die Hard some 20 times, and keep seeing it every 3o or 40 days. There are many such movies. I get this craze sometime, and I end up revisiting all Bond movies, all Sean Connery movies, all Tom Hank movies and so on.

Cheers