Written by: Devin McCarthy
Is there an easy way to connect digital content to your High Definition television? The Western Digital WD TV Live Plus 1080p HD Media Player is a great solution. This Media Player supports every format that I can throw at it without a hitch.
The Western Digital WD TV Live Plus 1080p HD Media Player includes an hdmi connector (to go directly to your TV), two USB connectors, and a firewire connector (good for sending large files directly from your computer). I plugged it in and was brought to a simple but functional interface that offered me access to my uploaded video and audio files. A wireless card or hard drive are not included in this unit so I bought them separately in order to upload the videos from my computer. I went with a Western Digital 500 gigabyte hard drive and an Asus usb wireless adapter.
Fifteen minutes after installing the Western Digital WD TV Live Plus 1080p HD Media Player, I was watching episodes of the Daily Show. This Media Player also offers access to streaming Netflix and Blockbuster Online. I have Netflix and it can be a little slow to load a show but after that it runs great. The small remote that’s included is simple but serviceable.
Pros:
- Less expensive then other Media Players
- Supports most file formats
- Support High Definition TV Shows and Movies
- Easy to set up and use
- Access to Netflix and Blockbuster Online
Cons:
- No onboard hard drive
- No onboard wireless
- Netflix can be slow to load
- Does not play premium content such as media from ITunes.
In response to one of the above cons, Western Digital has recently released a version of WD TV Live this does include a hard drive. Is called the WD TV Live Hub. It does add on $100 or so to the price.
Conclusion: If you don’t already have a media playing device, I think the Western Digital WD TV Live Plus 1080p HD Media Player is worth the money. It is easy to use and it works so well that I have given up cable to use this exclusively.