My first deal, been waiting for this to drop again! enjoy!
Edit : BACK IN STOCK!
CamelCamelCamel.
Can I plug a external DVD and play upscaled DVD. I still have a huge collection.
I've had one of these for years originally purchased as a replacement for the WDTV (which was a handy media player in its own right). I've actually had mixed success using it for what I purchased it for (video playback occasionally stutters depending on WHAT I'm trying to watch). But I've found it good as a multi purpose device. I'm tempted to upgrade to the current version BUT I feel the stuttering would still happen (even though I've played back the same files on other platforms and they've had better performance).
local (direct) data or LAN network data? i find ALL stuttering is congestion on the network, always perfect when connected direct.
Actually I don't "stream" the content, I do the same as I did with the WDTV - play the content off a connected hard drive. The "stuttering" is coming from the Shield itself (as I've played back the exact same content through other media players as well as directly through multiple tv's playback services (eg: Samsung) and didn't experience the stutter that I do on the Shield…. sometimes it's every 2 minutes… sometimes it's every 20 seconds. No audio skips as such, it's the picture). Playing with the on screen resolution via the Shield settings (and Kodi) can alleviate it a bit, but it will still happen from time to time. Motion smoothing on one tv also can make the problem disappear (but motion smoothing comes with it's on caveats, being the picture moves too fast for the audio).
I have a 2017 model and routinely play 60-80GB 4k blu-ray remux backups with TrueHD and it works fine without stuttering. The issue you have is to do with your setup.
Is it better to use this or an old laptop as a Plex Server? From a performance and power consumption point of view?
What is required, and what does it cost, to use this for gaming? ie Cost of controllers (popular decent ones), game subscription service etc. And what are the pros and cons of gaming on this vs a console eg Nintendo switch (which my 10 yo son is nagging us for so he can play Fortnite - as his friends have it). Would this be a lower cost or better option? I realise you would miss out on the portable game play of the Switch handheld controllers. I don't have much need for its other advantages - I serve Plex off a Linux HTPC which is also my MythTV backend (yes - I still like to record TV shows), my Plex library is mostly SD, I don't have surround sound (and don't want it), and I have a Vodafone TV and 2 Xiaomi boxes which work fine for streaming (Netflix, Amazon, Binge, Disney+) - although they are pretty slow to start the MythTV frontend app.
If it's for a 10 year old son, for the love of god just get the switch. Not an nvidia shield…
LOL! Thanks. I thought so - but curious as to why you say that - and for what sort of gamer / gaming the Shield is a good solution?
Specifically relating to games, it's mostly for streaming games either locally from a PC or with from the cloud. You can buy native games which have been ported to android of which there are not many.
@[Deactivated]: Thanks. I don't know much about gaming but I think I get what you're saying - that for a kid it is better to buy a console and native games rather than muck around with streaming and buying accessories for the Shield.
I need a fast replacement for WD TV Live to play movies from hard drives, will this do the job?
I don't play games.
Thanks
Hell yes, and you will be glad to see the end of your slow as hell WD TV Live.
OOS
Thanks! , updated post with HN link.
Was thinking even though I don't need it, ha was still backorder this morning but not now.
Guess without Harvey there wouldn't be this price on Amazon before.
Great post, never seen this device that cheap. Just bought one on Amazon and I'll wait for it. Screw HN, that prick isn't getting any money from me.
In terms of maximising performance, was thinking of plugging this into the ethernet port of my Deco M5 downstairs with a network cable, and then from there using it as a plex server to cast to all our TVs in the house - does that sound like the best way to set it up? Or would 5ghz wifi be preferable?
Definitely hard wired.
In stock again.
$279 now.
Available again at $268. @zizoubka
Choose your ecosystem.