WD TV Live Media Player WDBHG70000NBK-HESN WD TV Live Media Player WDBHG70000NBK-HESN

Pros: Streams many formats, particularly the MP4's I already had converted for streaming via XBox. I needed a quiet solution that allowed to stream my media library from my Computer that also included Netflix and was wireless. This little box is packed with all sorts of nice applications on top of all this. It took me a little troubleshooting do to not working with a higher level of wireless encryption for me, but once I figured that out it works pretty flawlessly.

Cons: I had to do some troubleshooting to get it working the way I wanted it to and stream my network shared movies.

Other Thoughts: If they can make this thing stream a shared folder from a different network via the internet what else would you need?

Pros: This will do just about anything you would want out of a set top box whether that be viewing with local storage or streaming via a network or watching online videos through Netflix or your preferred streaming
service.

Cons: My only con with this would be navigating through the menus cant be a slow process but thats a small thing for something this great.

Pros: The product is fast and the interface is gorgeous and easy to use.

I was somewhat leery to purchase this because a few of the reviews said the product was slow. So far mine has none of those issues. The wifi streaming detected my Allshare server on my PC and loading movies from my PC was a breeze.

It also loads off USB3 smoothly. I'm in love with this and I'm glad I bought it.

I love being able to customize the background and filter folders by video, photos, etc.

Cons: So far none.

Other Thoughts: Hopefully it stays this way. I bought an extended warranty just in case.

Pros: What makes this media player the best device out there is its functionality. This device will play any format of video file you can throw at it. I've tried several others and was always let down when I found out that I had to waste time transcoding a file just to watch it. Also, WD is very good about regularly updating their firmware to address minor bugs and add new features.

Cons: As some have mentioned, the UI could use some polish and isn't always as fluid as it could be. Fortunately, I bought this device to play movies, not to admire a sleek GUI.

Other Thoughts: I see that some people have issues streaming files and internet vids. I wonder if they have updated their firmware since purchase, because I've had no such issues with my streaming.

Pros: It is useful, really small, and very light weight. It is also packed with features.

Cons: After having this for less than two days, I can can say that the online reviews and the marketing is all hype. For a device like this to win me over, it needs to be simple, easy to use, and have a wow factor. This did not wow me. The interface is clunky and slow and I also found it limiting. The functionality is there, it is just really disorganized and everything is buried in menus which I want to avoid.

Other Thoughts: Manufactures, if you want to see the future of what home entertainment should look like, take a close look at the Roku or the Wii. Those interfaces are smart, snappy, and very user friendly. If licensing and patents are an issue, fund an open source project like XBMC. That is what I would rather have XBMC that works like the rest of these devices and does Bluray playback. Time to build again...

Pros: I ordered from WD store as a refurb; it was DOA. After two weeks, they sent me a new, sealed in the retail box model.

Cons: Steaming pile of horsepucky. Had a previous model for 3 years and it played stuff off my WIRED network storage like a dream. Every format, every time, every subtitle file. NOT THE NEW ONE. Will not play an exotic format like the Windows Media File format...hmm...says they do in their book. Nope. Won't play. The older model had an "options" button that brought up an on-screen display to play or not play subtitles. This one has a button on the remote. Except, IT DOES NOT WORK. I changed the setup to default to SUBTITLES ON, still won't play them. PIECE OF you know... it's Western Disappointment at their finest. Will not be getting another version from them. Will try to get a refund or at least have AmEx do it for me. DO NOT GET THIS...LOOK ELSEWHERE -- ANYWHERE!!!

Other Thoughts: Older model was better than the new one.

Pros: Plays a large variety of media files.
UI is not bad
WD does work with getting firmware upgrades out

Cons: Gets warm/hot with sustained use.
Needs to be unplugged and restarted now and then
First unit came to me DOA

Other Thoughts: My experience is with refurbished units that were a good price, but the first was DOA. The next unit seemed to work fine except for occasional freeze ups and an inability to read files from my home network. All in all I'd say it is a good player for streaming the included apps, and using files from mass storage devices, (IF they're Western Digital... a list of compatible devices is available). I will probably get another, (new), one eventually, when the price is right for us.

Pros: Fairly easy to set up - had to use the composite connections to set the box up for my TV to use the HDMI.

Cons: The picture times out if left on for days - have to remove power and disconnect the HDMI cord in order to get the picture back

Other Thoughts: Bought it just to use for Netflix - work really well - i would suggest it to others

Pros: * Plays everything I put on a hard drive.
* Allows skipping to specific time in a movie (old one didn't have that).
* You can search video info online by year and it will tag a movie with information.

Cons: * Lags on netflix and hulu. (3 eggs for that) Family uses Bluray player for that stuff instead.
* Interface is a little laggy and slow.
* Locks up occasionally and requires restart.
* You cannot tag a folder for info, so if a drive contains folders of movies you don't see information unless you open the folder and view individual files in that folder. (minor complaint)

Other Thoughts: --- Thoughts ---
* Got for parent. Seems to be easy enough to navigate for someone older.

--- TIPS ---
* Bought this for playing movies over external hard drive, older model was good but much slower and clunky.
* I recommend Media Center Master to automate meta-tagging a bigger collection.
* Bought for $80 when on sale.

Manufacturer Response:

We appreciate your feedback and apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced with the WD TV Live Streaming, as this is not the typical experience with the product.
We recommend ensuring that your device is up to date with the latest firmware, as this may easily resolve the problems you are experiencing. Firmware updates are deployed to improve functionality of devices, as well as expand support. Information regarding the procedures of how to update the firmware for your device manually or automatically can be located at the following link.
http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5749
We would appreciate the opportunity to further assist you, and resolve any further concerns you may have with the device and/or your experience directly. You may contact us at 1 (800) 275-4932, or via our support website at: http://support.wdc.com/rs/. Please indicate within the online case creation or with the first support agent you speak with, that you are responding to a Newegg review, so we route you and your information to the correct team members.

Pros: Plays lots of different media types. When it works. I've only found one particular file type it won't play.

Cons: Oh, where to begin. Some files that "stutter" when streamed over the network play file from a USB thumb drive plugged into the unit. That makes no sense.

It likes to forget the username and password of network shares, then repeatedly tells you that they're not correct when you try to input them again...thus you're kicked off of that network share until it decides it wants back on. Also, that file it will only play from a USB thumb drive, the unit must be restarted through the system menu to even get that to work. Very annoying.

Also, it's pretty slow at everything it does, which is really the least of the problems with this unit.

Other Thoughts: This is the 2nd unit I've had. I contacted tech support about the above issues. They didn't even attempt to troubleshoot the problem, they just wanted to RMA the unit. Ok, I'll play. But lo and behold, the "new" unit behaves the same way.

Very poor design WD. I'm going to seek some sort of return here, but I don't have a ton of hope for it.

Manufacturer Response:

We appreciate your feedback and apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced with the WD TV Live Streaming, as this is not the typical experience with the product.
We recommend ensuring that your device is up to date with the latest firmware, as this may easily resolve the problems you are experiencing. Information regarding the procedures of how to update the firmware for your device manually or automatically can be located at the following link.
http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5749
Information regarding firmware releases, and the functionality that has been added can be found at the following link.
http://support.wdc.com/download/notes/WDTV_Live_Streaming_FW_Release_Notes_1_15_10.pdf?v=5316
We would appreciate the opportunity to further assist you, and resolve any further concerns you may have with the device and/or your experience. You may contact us at 1 (800) 275-4932, or via our support website at: http://support.wdc.com/rs/. Please indicate within the online case creation or with the first support agent you speak with, that you are responding to a Newegg review, so we route you and your information to the correct team members.