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Compro vows to improve flawed Network Media Centre T1000W

by Parm Mann on 11 November 2009, 11:49

Tags: Network Media Center T1000W, Compro

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Having recently evaluated Compro's Network Media Centre T1000W, we found the unit to be a jack of all trades and a master of none.

Hoping to make amends, Compro has been in touch and has vowed to improve the product through a series of upcoming firmware updates. Addressing just some of the shortcomings found in our review, Compro hopes to "resolve a significant amount of potential complaints about the product" through at least half-a-dozen enhancements.

If you've already picked up the unit, and you're feeling as underwhelmed as we were, here's what Compro reckons you can expect to see improved over the next two months:

By the end of Nov 2009:

  • New DVD navigation method which would enhance the DVD playback.

By the end of Dec 2009:

  • A new DVB-T channel manager which gives user the control of channel list ordering and edition.
  • An easy access single click firmware update which eliminates the need of finding and downloading the correct firmware for your unit.
  • One touch EPG recording where a single press on the remote would complete the record programming .
  • Improved multi-tasking where users can use the music playback or photo slide functions while keeping the recording running at the back ground.
  • User configurable bit torrent interface to include download/upload limit and scheduled BT operation.

Compro adds that there may be other firmware changes along the way, but the above would go some way toward improving the end-user experience. We wait with bated breath.



HEXUS Forums :: 6 Comments

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You've got to wonder, if all this was is in the pipeline for the next 6 weeks, why they didn't delay the release to avoid negative reviews…
I think the price also needs to come down a bit, I'm contemplating an HTPC build for my dad for next summer and £200 would cover most of that so if this unit is £100 then I may well to tempted to give this to my dad instead since it seems to tick all the boxes. But £200 is too steep especially when you have to fork out for a hard drive on top of that.
That is a seriously botched launch of a product that, hopefully, has at best 12 months life in it.

Give me a new ATOM or VIA mini-ITX board that can play 1080p properly (no stuttering) has an expanion slot to support a dual digital tuner and a couple of SATA sockets for a Blueray player and an SSD and we can build something a lot better than the Compro box.

Windows 7 has a very good media centre (Linux can go with Myth TV), my mini ITX board would allow proper watching of TV, recorded TV and DVDs and allow me to browse the web from my living room.
cjs150
That is a seriously botched launch of a product that, hopefully, has at best 12 months life in it.

Give me a new ATOM or VIA mini-ITX board that can play 1080p properly (no stuttering) has an expanion slot to support a dual digital tuner and a couple of SATA sockets for a Blueray player and an SSD and we can build something a lot better than the Compro box.

Windows 7 has a very good media centre (Linux can go with Myth TV), my mini ITX board would allow proper watching of TV, recorded TV and DVDs and allow me to browse the web from my living room.

Granted, such a system would wipe the floor with this unit, but good luck putting that together for anything remotely like £200. Assuming you managed to get your hands on windows for £40, that'd leave you with £160 for the case, motherboard/CPU/RAM, PSU, SSD, BluRay player and dual DVB Tuner.

I'm not having a go - I agree that the sort of system you've proposed is far better than this standalone Compro unit - but you're not comparing like with like!

Roo
Roobubba
Granted, such a system would wipe the floor with this unit, but good luck putting that together for anything remotely like £200. Assuming you managed to get your hands on windows for £40, that'd leave you with £160 for the case, motherboard/CPU/RAM, PSU, SSD, BluRay player and dual DVB Tuner.

I'm not having a go - I agree that the sort of system you've proposed is far better than this standalone Compro unit - but you're not comparing like with like!

Roo

The ASrock ION systems go for about £230 - add XBMC and it'll play anything back (the bluray version is £300 but would need Windows to play bluray)