Networked video player for Divx etc

[Chunkers]

Will definitely give it a thought, no room for a standard Xbox in my rack in the lounge. Anyway I've always been a Sony PS fan (boi), now I've have a good go on a PS3 I may change my allegiance - just waiting to see what the good PS3 games are like (when they arrive). The (lack of) backwards compatibility and poor media capabilities of PS3 seem to push peeps like me in Xbox 360 direction.

Eventually I think I'll just bite the bullet and build a a proper media PC. At some point you would have thought they will start selling decent small form factor MS media centre extenders (apart from Xbox 360 I mean) - the current ones all seem a bit flakey when you read the reviews.

Oops, don't want to start a PS3 vs Xbox 360 flame war.

Maybe mediaMVP will tide me over til I get off the fence.

Thanks to all for good info

CHks

[b0redom]

Macmini

[dave87]

Macmini

Still not cheaper than a Kiss Media player...

[b0redom]

Still smaller form factor than anything most people would be able to build, running a nice front end (frontrow) with built in wireless, and able to decode pretty much anything you throw at it.

I've got XBMC, and the macmini beats it hands down - quieter, better picture quality, can play hidef etc.

[Chunkers]

Do you have to install windows on a Mac mini to function as a Media Centre extender?

Chks

[b0redom]

Nope, it comes with OSX (you don't need windows at all) and a tiny remote. It can talk over CIFS (Windows share) and will stream anything. I have the absolute bottom of the range (which is still pretty meaty) plugged into a 32" Samsung LCD, and it plays everything (including HD DivX) fine.

[Chunkers]

Thanks, when I am going for the media PC I will deffo look at this as they are so small and conveniently sized although I have no idea how much they cost!

Some great ideas from the Hexus brains as ever.

Chunks