Icy Box IB-MP303S-B Media Player - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 13th Mar 2008, 10:51

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...media_player/1

Raidsonic blends a basic home theatre PC into an external drive enclosure to create a low power Mac Mini look alike. All you need to do is drop in a SATA hard drive and off you go! Is it really all that, or does it try to do too much?

Spode · 13th Mar 2008, 11:09

What a disappointment.

I saw the price, saw the concept - loved it. But having to be plugged into a machine all the time? No Linux support? No Component out? No HD support I assume too :P

Darv · 13th Mar 2008, 11:19

Disappointing tbh. Could have been really good a few years ago, but just seems a bit lacking now.

Quote:

component/S-video these connections are the bottom of the barrel

I think you mean composite and not component.

Tim S · 13th Mar 2008, 11:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darv

Disappointing tbh. Could have been really good a few years ago, but just seems a bit lacking now.

Quote:

component/S-video these connections are the bottom of the barrel

I think you mean composite and not component.

Yep, my bad. Fixed now.

Bindibadgi · 13th Mar 2008, 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spode

What a disappointment.

I saw the price, saw the concept - loved it. But having to be plugged into a machine all the time? No Linux support? No Component out? No HD support I assume too :P

Yea, that's why we got one in. It wasn't until we used it that we realised it's not so great

Idioteque · 13th Mar 2008, 11:33

methinks an xbox with XBMC has far more potential...

sandys · 13th Mar 2008, 12:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Article

Next there’s the PS3 with its excellent interface – it's also very quiet but it can’t play back everything and again costs more. The Xbox 360 is noisier, but cheaper than the PS3 and while the interface isn’t as good as the former, it does provide the very useful Media Extender function.

PS3 also offers Media Extender via any DLNA server including Windows media player, worth pointing out in case people don't know.

The ICy box is pretty good for the money, for those that don't have HDTVs it would do, lack of a network port is bad news, do you think it would work with an NSLU2?

Of course that adds to the cost just wondered.

Xtrafresh · 13th Mar 2008, 13:17

This thing would get sooooooo much better if instead of a USB cable it operated via a USB-dongle

xion · 13th Mar 2008, 13:38

i've been looking to purchase something like this for some time: now i'm just confused...

networked player = no/limited local storage, limited to wireless, or homeplug where i live
divx player = arse of burning disks
media pc = yet another pc

i'm lost, if anyone has any suggestions please let me know!

Idioteque · 13th Mar 2008, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by xion

i've been looking to purchase something like this for some time: now i'm just confused...

networked player = no/limited local storage, limited to wireless, or homeplug where i live
divx player = arse of burning disks
media pc = yet another pc

i'm lost, if anyone has any suggestions please let me know!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000G2Y59E I've got one of these, component, composite and hdmi outputs, can play Divx files from disk or via it's USB port, I've got a 200GB external HDD attached and it works wonders.

upscales DVDs too, damn crisp picture.

Bindibadgi · 13th Mar 2008, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by xion

i've been looking to purchase something like this for some time: now i'm just confused...

networked player = no/limited local storage, limited to wireless, or homeplug where i live
divx player = arse of burning disks
media pc = yet another pc

i'm lost, if anyone has any suggestions please let me know!

Depends entirely what you can be arsed with doing - I'd personally go home plug + streamer given the extra features.

The upscaling player is really nice - and it has USB! EDIT: Like you just said

<A88> · 13th Mar 2008, 14:32

360 Arcade with Media Center- why get anything else?

xion · 13th Mar 2008, 15:11

hmmm... a bit of - "yes im working, there's a query running in background" -surfing later and i stumbled upon this LNX-TrustedReviews ... nothing a little modding wont fix...

It seems there's more competition in this area than i thought... Raidsonic has a fight on its hands alright

legoman666 · 13th Mar 2008, 15:48

just build an htpc. Won't be stuck with certain file formats, can stream media over the network, support for new codecs, can browse the web etc. etc. A device like this is about 4 years too late. Just buy the cheapest sempron you can get your hands on and a AMD 780G chipset motherboard and you'll be good to go.

djDEATH · 13th Mar 2008, 15:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spode

No Linux support?

its just a mass storage device surely? or did i read that wrongly?

Tomm · 13th Mar 2008, 18:55

I agree with the comments about various xbox solutions. I actually LOVE my xbox (1) running xbmc. It's on the same network as my 1Tb NAS. It all works beautifully. It doesn't like HD though, so when HD becomes more of a standard I'll have to change.

It seems like this Icy Box is a great idea, just executed slightly poorly. I think it'd be really useful if you wanted to take your videos round to a mate's house to watch them.

Cthippo · 13th Mar 2008, 18:59

It bugs me that no one can seem to get this concept right. We need a device that is both NAS box and also a standalone player with all the connections and a decent set of firmware and the ability to download new codecs as needed. Why is that so difficult?

Woodstock · 13th Mar 2008, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthippo

It bugs me that no one can seem to get this concept right. We need a device that is both NAS box and also a standalone player with all the connections and a decent set of firmware and the ability to download new codecs as needed. Why is that so difficult?

because then they cant the money off people when they realize v2 is so much better

Fozzy · 14th Mar 2008, 02:02

I'm planning on using my main system when I upgrade, I have a AMD 64 3200+ right now with 2gb's of memory and a onboard 6600gt of course I use my 7900gtx but the 6600 should play anything I throw at it. I'm still undecided as to whether this system is going in my car or my living room though ; ). But honestly I don't see why someone wouldn't just build a low end system anyways. I'm always going to rip my movies with the fastest PC I own because it takes so damn long. And then I just do a direct HD-HD swap which I have found is the fastest way to do it. Just make your HDD's easily swappable and it's no problem.

Zade · 14th Mar 2008, 16:51

Hi there.
What you are looking for is a Popcorn Hour - A100.
I don´t own one myself due to the lack of the units, still in dev and Sweden gett them in 04-10 or so.
But i have read that runs .MKV (matroska) files flawlessly.
Here are some specs http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/

Both HDMI and Component and as for audio its coax.
The player also have DTS passthroug.
sorry for bad language.

13th Mar 2008, 10:51	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Icy Box IB-MP303S-B Media Player http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/200...media_player/1 Raidsonic blends a basic home theatre PC into an external drive enclosure to create a low power Mac Mini look alike. All you need to do is drop in a SATA hard drive and off you go! Is it really all that, or does it try to do too much? __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

13th Mar 2008, 11:09	#2
Spode What's a Spode? Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: UK Posts: 21	What a disappointment. I saw the price, saw the concept - loved it. But having to be plugged into a machine all the time? No Linux support? No Component out? No HD support I assume too :P __________________ http://www.thinkbikes.com

13th Mar 2008, 11:33	#6
Idioteque Telephasic Mongoose Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: UK Posts: 538	methinks an xbox with XBMC has far more potential... __________________ “There's sparrows in my mind!” "I have just received the lamest high five ever. It was like woo, are we high five-ing? wait are you?, no, ye, no, maybe just a five then” "Have you noticed how all the contestants for Miss Universe all come from Earth?" -Glorious Ross Noble

13th Mar 2008, 13:17	#8
Xtrafresh Blame it on the Boogie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Nijmegen, Holland Posts: 1,914	This thing would get sooooooo much better if instead of a USB cable it operated via a USB-dongle __________________ AXGS Blog: A fresh look at P55. Fresh Fusion: Unfinished \| FFF: Name change and text update 19-11

13th Mar 2008, 13:38	#9
xion Multimodder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: West Mids Posts: 160	i've been looking to purchase something like this for some time: now i'm just confused... networked player = no/limited local storage, limited to wireless, or homeplug where i live divx player = arse of burning disks media pc = yet another pc i'm lost, if anyone has any suggestions please let me know! __________________ "No keyboard found: Press F1 to continue..."

13th Mar 2008, 14:32	#12
<A88> Trust the Computer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 4,797	360 Arcade with Media Center- why get anything else? __________________ TheCounterfit.co.uk Twitter Facebook Last.fm Flickr! FriendFeed

13th Mar 2008, 15:11	#13
xion Multimodder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: West Mids Posts: 160	hmmm... a bit of - "yes im working, there's a query running in background" -surfing later and i stumbled upon this LNX-TrustedReviews ... nothing a little modding wont fix... It seems there's more competition in this area than i thought... Raidsonic has a fight on its hands alright __________________ "No keyboard found: Press F1 to continue..."

13th Mar 2008, 15:48	#14
legoman666 Beat to fit, paint to match. Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Ohio, USA Posts: 786	just build an htpc. Won't be stuck with certain file formats, can stream media over the network, support for new codecs, can browse the web etc. etc. A device like this is about 4 years too late. Just buy the cheapest sempron you can get your hands on and a AMD 780G chipset motherboard and you'll be good to go.

13th Mar 2008, 18:55	#16
Tomm I also ride trials :¬) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fallowfield, Manchester Posts: 2,233	I agree with the comments about various xbox solutions. I actually LOVE my xbox (1) running xbmc. It's on the same network as my 1Tb NAS. It all works beautifully. It doesn't like HD though, so when HD becomes more of a standard I'll have to change. It seems like this Icy Box is a great idea, just executed slightly poorly. I think it'd be really useful if you wanted to take your videos round to a mate's house to watch them. __________________ Carrot cake cheesecake Shuttle SN85G4V2 \| A64 3200+ / Apple PowerBook 12

13th Mar 2008, 18:59	#17
Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 4,473	It bugs me that no one can seem to get this concept right. We need a device that is both NAS box and also a standalone player with all the connections and a decent set of firmware and the ability to download new codecs as needed. Why is that so difficult? __________________ Notice: If we see you flaming we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate measures - The Bit-Tech Fire Brigade.

14th Mar 2008, 02:02	#19
Fozzy Ultramodder Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Olympia, WA Posts: 1,386	I'm planning on using my main system when I upgrade, I have a AMD 64 3200+ right now with 2gb's of memory and a onboard 6600gt of course I use my 7900gtx but the 6600 should play anything I throw at it. I'm still undecided as to whether this system is going in my car or my living room though ; ). But honestly I don't see why someone wouldn't just build a low end system anyways. I'm always going to rip my movies with the fastest PC I own because it takes so damn long. And then I just do a direct HD-HD swap which I have found is the fastest way to do it. Just make your HDD's easily swappable and it's no problem. __________________ Sponsors: http://www.koolance.com/images/homeimage01.jpg http://www.dangerden.com/templates/r...eader-wide.jpg http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/e...age00001-2.jpg

14th Mar 2008, 16:51	#20
Zade What's a Dremel? Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1	Hi there. What you are looking for is a Popcorn Hour - A100. I don´t own one myself due to the lack of the units, still in dev and Sweden gett them in 04-10 or so. But i have read that runs .MKV (matroska) files flawlessly. Here are some specs http://www.popcornhour.com/onlinestore/ Both HDMI and Component and as for audio its coax. The player also have DTS passthroug. sorry for bad language. Last edited by Zade; 14th Mar 2008 at 23:31.