How you feel about the TViX really depends on your point of view
By Peter Rojas 
posted August 22nd 2004 12:51PM
posted August 22nd 2004 12:51PM
You can either see it as a really crappy personal video player without a built-in screen (or a hard drive) or a really fresh portable hard drive case with a video out port for watching movies, but the one thing we do know about DViCO's new TViX hard drive enclosure (seriously, you really do have to provide the 3.5-inch drive yourself) which can playback MPEG-1, MPEG-2, and MPEG-4 video files and MP3, Ogg, and WMA audio files, is that at 19,800 yen it's pretty seriously overpriced all things considered.
i was thinking of getting something like that this morning...and low and behold it's on here. it would be good for the car if you have lcds in the car, stick in a 160gb harddrive and load on the divx movies. and you have a whole selection for the crowd in the backseat.
It's like he's never seen an IDE cable before. I've got two external hard drives, slapped together from two Speeze Metal Gear aluminum enclosures and two Samsung 160GB HDDs, sold separately.
And it would be great if they had video outs and software built in to play the countless XVIDs they're stuffed with on friends' HTPC-less TVs, so something like this would be high on my purchase list...
...except that, yes, I agree about the price being a tad high, at ~$180. Considering that the MPEG-4-playing Philips DVP-642 costs around $70 in most places, I'd feel far less guilty carrying around that DVD player and a binder full of XVID/DiVX-filled DVD-Rs (if only it weren't sold out everywhere I go); but the size of a portable HDD definitely has its sex appeal.
http://www.tvix.co.kr/eng/ in english...
...reading my own comment above, I realize that I spoke a little too quickly in assuming that everybody who reads this site can deal with the installation of a HDD. Though my first reaction to this entry was that contending with 3.5" HDD installation was an overblown non-issue, I concede that not all are willing to deal with assembly-required computer parts. And an enclosure at this price ought to come with at least a 20 or 30gb HDD.
Also, because it doesn't come with either the HDD or intuitive software for converting videos, I do not believe its most appropriate audience are those looking to play videos who like plug-n-play. Watching movies and recorded TV shows on it will be reserved for those few with the patience to deal with potentially confusing encoding sessions.
Leaving just its audio playing capabilities; which, although more flexible than most portables out there (supporting OGG, in addition to the ubiquitous MP3 and WMA - and as far as I can tell without any proprietary copy protection), are not alone worth the cost of this case PLUS a hard drive.
No, I feel most of the cost of this item goes into its unique video-out capabilities and MPEG-4 support - which appeals mainly to a very esoteric group of people with the fortitude to deal with video encoding. And although (personally) it's a big appeal, it's too much to spend for anyone (the majority) else.
I am happy, I dont have to dump (and pay, even if only 5$!) a 30GB drive and rather add my own 400GB harddrive, or whatever lies around.
I also prefer an enclosure where I can connect whatever hard drive I have lying around... If only this thing weren't so expensive! I've just started googling for some reviews, because I'm very curious about its success with different codecs, as well as its on-screen interface. The fact that screenshots show a remote control is very encouraging.
No luck finding any press (in English) on this enclosure outside of this blog entry... Best I could find was a thread in French that I ran (with little success) through freetranslation.com (apparently, something in the French tech lexicon translates to "flea"). I might just have to bite the bullet and try it out myself (at my next paycheck, that is).
I took delivery of my TViX yesteday, and with a quick firmware update and the addition of a 200Gb drive all is good.
The drive installs in under 30 seconds (no joke), even my father who is a big a luddite as you could find would be able to do it.
DVD quality is fantastic, and I've yet to find a video/audio format that this unit won't play.
The remote control is one of the better ones out there. The buttons are nice and firm and register well, unlike those of my previous DVD/Divx player.
The case is nice and solid, and while I wouldn't like to drop it, would probably be able to survive and small falls or tip-overs.
My unit came with 1.10 firmware which I easily upgraded to the 1.4 version.
You just unzip a couple of files to the firmware folder on the hard drive, hook the device up to your TV and turn on while holding the menu button. Easy Peasy!
I'm going to see how it looks via component video on my NEC projector, so far if the quality on my 80cm TV (via composite video) is anything to go by the component video will be stunning.
Its a little overpriced, but there doesn't seem to be anything else on the market that comes close to the ease of use and file format support of the TViX (its main rival only handles fat32 drives and no Ogg audio support).
The little cooling fan is my only gripe, being so small I can see it becomming noisy over time, while a larger one might not.
The RRP here in australia is A$399 but I got mine for A$50 less including express/insured postage.
I'm thinking of getting another one for a wedding present for 2 friends of mine who are getting married in Nov and who are both gadget junkies :)
Got mine today. I was like an 8 year old at Christmas when UPS arrived.
I have to agree with Zybch. This thing is friggin' great at what it's advertising it does. I have the Philips DVp-642, and it rocks, but the ol' DVD+R collection is getting a little unwieldy. I really like the flexibility of the hard drive option, and although the features of the Tvix aren't particularly sophisticated, its rock-solid playback more than makes up for that.
I have wavered between getting a full-blown media PC for the living room and a sinble purpose box like the Tvix (or a media gateway), but the thought of having to manage another box with an OS on it is just more than I want to deal with. It'd be cool if the Tvix had a PVR function, but that's about the only thing missing from it.
I have held out as long as I could waiting or a wireless gateway, but nobody who has released a product in the US market has gotten it right yet.
For the price, given its portability, this thing is definitely worth it!
WOW! I was looking for something like this/I had tried everything you know wireless pc to tv/hard wired cable pc to tv.This is a dream come true.No need to partition,just make folders eg.Movies,Tv,MP3 etc.I have a 250Gb Western Digital in mine/I contacted the help desk to find out how to bookmark,they did not know[yea right a help desk]Anyway for those who would like to know I work it out here is how.This first step is the initial step/Press Bookmark,then setup/then any time after that/just press stop/then bookmark to resume{this feature will work with firmware v1.6 .Also with mine I have a power lead at my PC with the usb cable/and the other installed at my home theatre,and on each power lead I have installed a inline lamp switch[10 amp] available at Middy,s or Bunnings for aprox $10
so I can isolate the power when swapping TVIX between PC/TV.If you a considering this consider no longer/overpriced my A---- .this is sooo! good
Cheer's
Hey I have a quick question to you guys that have the TViX. Does it play High Definition content? (if converted to AVI or DVX) I see it has component outs but I'm wondering if it only does the same thing as a common DVD player, playing 480p, and only upscaling to 720p or 1080i?
The tvix promises alot....
But heres some point to note...
It promises xvid playing. In actuallity it plays around 30 percent of xvids,,,I have.
As xvid is the best compresion quality at present it doesnt quite cut the mustard.
Plus also after writing no less than 136 different e-mails for support from thier support center, and getting not one single reply. I have finally given up and sent the player back to the store minus my hard drive.
My friend is in the same position and his work friend as well.
great idea, but no follow ups or support.
a bitter disapointment, considering 80% of my media is in xvid
Byron,
Thanks for the tip... All of my encodes are XviD, too! Very curious, considering my XviDs play fine in my DVP-642, which is certified only for DivX. Perhaps you're using an advanced setting that isn't compatible with most MPEG-4 hardware chips out there, such as quarterpel?
This might have whet my appetite until I'd saved up to build a full-blown HTPC, but considering I encode almost exclusively with XviD, I guess I'll have to hold off.
Today I've got mine from Tvixusa (www.tvixusa.com) with "newyear" discount code.
Especially my wife love it deadly. Without changing dvd or cd, she can enjoy opera drama, movies, fitness program. Awesome. Also I've used it in my mini van during traveling to Las vegas. My kids didn't complain about long trip. They just enjoyed their movies.
It deserves that much cost.
I have two questions:
1. Can i copy every DVD to TVix or are there restrictions ?
2. I read nothing about the ability to make slideshows with own pictures. How can i create shows or show folders on the harddisk ?
Has anybody screenshots about the selection dialog ?
Thanks ! Andi
I have two questions:
1. Can i copy every DVD to TVix or are there restrictions ?
2. I read nothing about the ability to make slideshows with own pictures. How can i create shows or show folders on the harddisk ?
Has anybody screenshots about the selection dialog ?
Thanks ! Andi
You can pretty much copy any DVDs as long as they are yours. DVD shrink is a good free tool for copying DVD to TVIX and you can get it here http://www.dvdshrink.org/
For the slide show, all you have to do is store your pictures in a folder in TVIX. When you want to start the slide show, all you have to do is select any pictures in the folder and click the play button.
More information is available here http://www.tvixusa.com/
Simon
You can pretty much copy any DVDs as long as they are yours. DVD shrink is a good free tool for copying DVD to TVIX and you can get it here http://www.dvdshrink.org/
For the slide show, all you have to do is store your pictures in a folder in TVIX. When you want to start the slide show, all you have to do is select any pictures in the folder and click the play button.
More information is available here http://www.tvixusa.com/
Simon
Has anyone tested the rapsody mediaplayer?http://www.savitmicro.co.kr/
It looks similar to the Tvix.
Has anyone had their TVIX lock up while playing media (Video or audio). Mine
makes a buzz through the audio and then the video snows over.
Any clues on a fix?
I realise this is an old forum but just in case someone else finds it:
I've had the firewire tvix for a few months. I've been playing hi-def divx tv videos and it has serious draw backs. the playback stutters and eventually locks up as described in the previous comment. the solution is to defragment the drive before playing the videos and then they play great. needing to defragment every time is not convenient though. in addition, my TVIX has killed two drives in the last two months, possibly a combined result of running the defragmentation software.
if you plan on viewing hdtv, think again or ask others for their experience with hdtv before buying the TVIX.
All the problems people have whined about are fixed by upgrading the firmware.
My only gripe is that the 'management' software is anything but..... No instructions, no nothing. All I can manage to do with it is get angry and frustrated.
If I use windows explorer it's ok though
Does anyone know if the TVix plays DivX 6 format? I'm not concerned with the media features, only whether it will playback my movies with the .divx extension.
Anybody try MODIX HD-3510. It also takes 3.5” hard drive. Its only half the size of TViX or half the thickness. Saw one at http://www.divxtech.com. Spec seems to be identical. I am leaning towards the MODIX because it has a built in LCD screen. Does any body know of a comparison review between the two?