Topic: Media Player lifespan

[toys4geeks]

I wonder if my media player can outlast my VCR.

I think new tech toys, NMTs included, age due to firmware first, quality of boards second. My PCH C200 died on me 4 years after so is not bad. VCRs are a monster players and built like a tank the only thing that will really kill it is no longer have contents to keep its board warm and toasty weekly. 

[raptor]

I wonder if my media player can outlast my VCR.

My VCR is almost 20 years and still working, problem is lahat ng tape ko inamag na several years ago except for a few mini-VHS tapes from my video cam

[anya618]

if meron man media player na umabot 5 years, most likely wala nang bagong firmware update so new files ayaw magplay

[Clondalkin]

My A200 is about to turn 3 years old and I havent updated the FW since May 2011.   So we'll see what happens in 2 years - actually, Im hoping my A200 will last longer than that but Im not sure - SANA.   

if meron man media player na umabot 5 years, most likely wala nang bagong firmware update so new files ayaw magplay

[vortex1]

my egreat s100 conked out after 1 and a half years. i'm just using it almost every weekend lang.sayang sigma chipset pa naman. it read some of my iso files.

[toys4geeks]

my egreat s100 conked out after 1 and a half years. i'm just using it almost every weekend lang.sayang sigma chipset pa naman. it read some of my iso files.

I had a lengthy discussion with egreat on the S100. S100 is designed fanless, but unlike in China, tropical ang climate natin and sigma chip is a workhorse and heats up even in the 1st 15 minutes of play.

After getting 3 board replacements, i retrofitted the S100 with a fan to take hot air out and  ayun 3 years na siyang ok sa uncle ko, so if you still have S100s, fan helps. 

[Conan]

My Mede8er 500X is around 3 years old and no hiccups.

[nerveblocker]

How come old media players cannot play new movie files flawlessly as what it can do before?  It happens to mkvs pero avi files ok naman.

[toys4geeks]

How come old media players cannot play new movie files flawlessly as what it can do before?  It happens to mkvs pero avi files ok naman.

seems sa firmware nagkatalo, there's not much changes sa decoding ng avi, pero sa mkv likely daming audio decodes that emerge (in the same reason yung older Realtek 1055 cant properly play DTS-MA, firmware kasi naiiwan, abandoned after the NMT goes EOL (End of Life) not the EOSL (End of Service Life). EOL - sa sales, EOSL, - sa pagkuha ng parts.

[anya618]

How come old media players cannot play new movie files flawlessly as what it can do before?  It happens to mkvs pero avi files ok naman.

para mapilitan tayo bumili ng bago lol
kasi nga naman if until now meron pa firmware update, konti lang bibili ng new models 

[nerveblocker]

Yung Gen 1 WDTV and Xtreamer dami ng files nagstututter and naghahang. Yung HTPC ko running on an old AMD X2 proc with XBMC on board ok parin magplay ng newer mkvs, BD, BD ISOs and Remuxed MKVs. 

[Clondalkin]

For first gen media players, inherent limitations ng chipset (kasi these are based on low-power CPU-Videochip combination), immaturity and lack of continued FW (update) support.  I think among the early models, yung PCH-A110 yata ang pinakamahaba ang FW support, but eventually, meron na ring hindi ma-play.

PCs are really almighty. Almost 6 years na pala yung LATEST C2D based desktop ko  - and it's truly a workhorse and remains very capable in terms of playback - walang pinipiling format and the main limitation lang is whether I like to pay for newer (full version) software players or not.   

Yung Gen 1 WDTV and Xtreamer dami ng files nagstututter and naghahang. Yung HTPC ko running on an old AMD X2 proc with XBMC on board ok parin magplay ng newer mkvs, BD, BD ISOs and Remuxed MKVs.

[nerveblocker]

My Mede8er 500X is around 3 years old and no hiccups.

I think Mede8er is one solid player.  I sold my 1st Gen Mede8er to my friend who gets movies from me.  Wala akong rinig na reklamo. I won the player from one of the PinoyDVD Christmas raffle Nov. 2009.

[sting]

i bought my first media player, an Aivx from Sarotech in 2005.  It could play avi files very well, but ONLY avi's.  After almost 8 years, it still works. 

I had to buy a PCH A110 in 2009 because i was missing out on mkvs, wmvs etc.  Unfortunately, my PCH conked out last month so I'm on the lookout for a new player that could play everything and have both wi-fi and lan so i could stream files from my computers. 

[raptor]

I bought my TVIX M6500A media player back in Nov. 2008, and it's still working without any issues.  The last firmware update that I had was way back June 2010, but I haven't encountered any issues with playback, and I only use 1080p files and BD-ISO files on that player.  Latest movie I played was The Hobbit which is about 15GB in file size. I actually worry more about the internal 1.5TB HDD which was purchased on the same date as my media player -  that would probably breakdown first.

[KARTOG]

My PopCorn Hour A210 is three years old and still going great.  Daily use of around 8 hours.  Two years of heavy torrenting that's 24/7, this only stopped after we moved to a new residence, and it would have continued the torrent duty if not for the fact that I still haven't subscribed to a wired broadband service.

It also serves as a trusty media server for two tablets and a netbook, pumping out countless episodes of The Simpsons, Adventure Time, South Park and other content that my kids access whenever they are unable to take control of the TV attached to the A210.

And I really like the PopCorn remote with its illuminated buttons, though I understand not all share this fascination.

All in all the A210 is definitely well worth my money.

[Clondalkin]

We got a Mede8er 500X at around the same time (Dec 2009), but I sold mine to a relative last Aug 2012 and went all PCH.  Unfortunately, my relative told me that the Mede8er had just conked out.  EHome told him it was a board problem and couldnt be repaired (by them).  Well, who can repair such damage?  I have no idea how that happened because the Mede8er appeared perfectly alright when I handed over the unit about 8 months back.   Anyways, so it lasted 3 years and 2.5 months.

Now I'm thinking if I have to compensate my relative or not - close relative kasi.

I think Mede8er is one solid player.  I sold my 1st Gen Mede8er to my friend who gets movies from me.  Wala akong rinig na reklamo. I won the player from one of the PinoyDVD Christmas raffle Nov. 2009.

[Ppoooh]

My WDTV Gen1 is still much in use today. Do note that it really gets hot w/o a fan (no aircon as well). On playability of movies, nothing mkvtoolnix couldn't handle. Only problem is slow boot up (due to 2TB HDD scan). Otherwise still works fine.

Am playing with the new 512mb RPi w/ XBMC now. Might eventually replace (or augment) my NMT in the near future.

Might play with hacking the WDTV Gen1 with a USB WiFi dongle to have network (Internet) capability. Possibly media streaming as well. Hope that would solve the slow boot up problem.

[nerveblocker]

We got a Mede8er 500X at around the same time (Dec 2009), but I sold mine to a relative last Aug 2012 and went all PCH.  Unfortunately, my relative told me that the Mede8er had just conked out.  EHome told him it was a board problem and couldnt be repaired (by them).  Well, who can repair such damage?  I have no idea how that happened because the Mede8er appeared perfectly alright when I handed over the unit about 8 months back.   Anyways, so it lasted 3 years and 2.5 months.

Now I'm thinking if I have to compensate my relative or not - close relative kasi.

Bro baka power surge.  Did he plug it in an AVR or direct outlet? But then nothing lasts forever...specially in electronics.  Personally if the NMT passed 3 years already, I think sulit na yun.

[anya618]

Bro baka power surge.  Did he plug it in an AVR or direct outlet? But then nothing lasts forever...specially in electronics.  Personally if the NMT passed 3 years already, I think sulit na yun.

bihira din yata ang nmt na after 3 years meron pang update

[nerveblocker]

bihira din yata ang nmt na after 3 years meron pang update

Tingin ko talaga di naman nila gagawin immortal ang mga electronic equipment.  Paano naman sila kikita nun?

[anya618]

Tingin ko talaga di naman nila gagawin immortal ang mga electronic equipment.  Paano naman sila kikita nun?

oo nga, para bumili tayo ulit after 3 years LOL

[vtec3]

seems matibay nga yung Med500x. kasi yung sa akin na nasa brother in law ko until now ok na ok pa. and my nephew uses this gadget as if mura lang bili nila. i think isa ako sa mga una na bumili ng lumabas itong brand and model na ito sa Ehome which was several years ago. yung nmt ko mayron pa balot kapag hindi ko ginagamit. i hope i can say the same sa ibang nmt na na try ko 

[Clondalkin]

Could be but then I dont really believe that power surge can destroy the board itself.  Yung adapter nya pa siguro ang bibigay muna.  Anyways, dyahe naman pag-isipan ang relative na improper handling or extreme operating conditions ang cause even though I recall na talagang very robust ang Mede8er and should be able to sustain extremely heavy usage.

Anyways, Ive decided to give him back half what he paid...but what about the complimentary Century dock and other freebies?   hehehe

Bro baka power surge.  Did he plug it in an AVR or direct outlet? But then nothing lasts forever...specially in electronics.  Personally if the NMT passed 3 years already, I think sulit na yun.

[rony]

1st generation pa yun xtreamer ko. Ang naging problem lang is yun power supply after replacing it okey na ulit, bali na yun stand kaya nakahiga na lang siya. Upgraded na rin ng side cooler kaya yun exhaust fan di na rin umiikot. 2 movies per week kaya pa rin nya mag play without any problem.

[shainoy]

Still enjoying my Xtreamer MK1 bought from bitstream 3 or 4 years ago. Loaded with more than 3 terabites of movies, pictures and music. Upgraded Xtreaming with the latest version and now enjoying my xtreamer much more.

[Bluebeard]

My 3.5-yr old HDPro still works although it can no longer play latest versions of FLV and MKV files while my 2-yr old Kaiboer still going well.

[markee]

In 3 months, my Mede8ter500x will turn 3. Never upgraded the firmware since when I bought it and had only problems on playing 2 files since I've owned it. Hopefully it will last for 2 years more.

[raptor]

if meron man media player na umabot 5 years, most likely wala nang bagong firmware update so new files ayaw magplay

my TVIX is approaching 5 years, bought in Nov. 2008 ... no more firmware updates, but no issues playing new mkv files ... possible that the new standards are backwards compatible

[raptor]

OT: napansin ko lang, seems that there's very little development on the NMT area lately ... parang last year pa yung last release ng NMT's with newer features ... i've been waiting for one to replace my aging NMT