Conclusion:

The Western Digital WD TV has plenty of attributes to help it score at the top of the list of media players I have checked out so far. It has a slick but simple appearance, the user interface is attractive and easy to use, the system is quick to respond to commands from the remote control, it supports plenty of file formats, and it has HDMI connectivity.

While it can also handle music and photos, video playback is its obvious strength. It handled most HD samples I tested with ease, and it was able to play DVD ISO files without issue and with audio / video quality equal to the original.



On the downside of things, enjoying a large music library isn't very practical with a device like the WD TV, as the interface just doesn't allow for convenient management. But, I could say the same for the other media players I have used recently, too. In addition, DVD folder playback wasn't as simple as I had hoped. One thing that seems like it could be a simple fix is that attached drives don't turn off when the WD TV turns off. They continue to spin as power is passed straight through the WD TV from the wall outlet.

The Western Digital WD TV media player is available from a large number of popular retailers, including Newegg.com where the price is currently $99.99 (US). The price helps the WD TV compete with Seagate's two media players since the (more basic, HDMI-less) FreeAgent Theater is now $79.99, while the (HDMI-ready, networked) FreeAgent Theater+ is $129.99.

For those who like the WD TV, but want a network connection and a few extra refinements, you can opt for the WD TV Live, which is also about $129.99. Network connectivity is a big plus to me, and would make the Live version well worth the extra $30. Playing your media files from a portable drive is fairly convenient, but being able to stream media from your network or out on the Internet exponentially increases the appeal of such a device.

Considering everything the Western Digital WD TV media player does (and generally does well), it earns the Bigbruin.com "Recommended" award.



Pros:

» Handles plenty of multimedia file formats
» Attractive user interface is easy to follow
» System responds quickly to remote control input
» Compact remote control was easy to learn for no-look operation
» Simple but stylish housing
» Handles DVD ISO files nicely

Cons:

» USB connected drive continued to receive power even with WD TV turned off
» Music play back isn't the most convenient
» DVD folder play back required navigating into the folder to select files

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