This media player from Western Digital is very interesting and worth trying. It does what the name implies: plays media files from attached USB devices. For more info see manufacturers information
The Good: it plays most picture and video formats including High Definition content as found on HD DVD and Blu-Ray discs. Backed-up DVDs are played well if the IFO file is made to skip ads and play the feature movie. There is no support for DVD menus. It reads large USB hard discs with NTFS format.
The Bad: It's HD compatibility stops at 24fps progressive scan or 30fps interlaced. Manufacturer does not specify maximum bit rate the processor can deliver. The unit hangs/freezes on some HD movies and needs power down to reset. Even if these movies fall within allowed specs of 24fps. User interface is very basic. This would not be a problem, but it is badly designed. The list of movies to pick shows only 10 items per screen leaving large unused top margin. This is very annoying while scrolling through the list of hundreds of items. The remote control is sometimes not responsive, it takes seconds! to react. To make a freeze-frame is a hit and miss.
Visual design has to be criticized too. It is in a shape of WD trademark book look-a-like, It would be just ok, but the use of black shiny plastic (black piano finish) makes it unacceptable. After normal use it gathers a lot of scratches and looks cheap. This is an inexpensive unit but why stick it to the buyer?
| visual design | 3 | shiny plastic |
| engineering | 4 | good |
| ergonomics | 3 | user interface needs improvement |
| marketing | 3 | fair |
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