LaCie unveils 500GB silverscreen multimedia hard drive

Remember that measly 40GB silverscreen from years past? Thankfully, LaCie has finally found time to upgrade that thing to a much more stylish creation, complete with a half terabyte of built-in storage space (or 320GB if you're short on cash). The USB 2.0-based unit still features DivX compatibility and plug 'n plug operation with your television, and it even plays nice with JPEG / MP3 formats as well as offering up an optical digital audio output for Dolby Digital 5.1 support. Buyers will also find a wireless remote bundled in, and for those with HDTVs, the silverscreen is reportedly able to upscale content via component. No word on availability just yet, but we're hearing that the 500GB iteration is set to cost around €240 ($338) whenever it lands.

[Via Gizmos]

[Tush @ Sep 26th 2007 4:57PM]

Are there any good (available) DVR's in the sub $500 range? I just want large storage and possibly HD recording. Oh, and it needs to be GP, Girlfriend (or grandma) Proof.

[Jon @ Sep 26th 2007 5:04PM]

I bought a £99 Philips freeview DVR with 120GB harddrive for 70 year old aunty a few months back. Never had a phone call from her on how to operate it.

[ryantrevisol @ Sep 26th 2007 4:58PM]

Hmmm . . . remind me again why I should want an Apple TV?

[Javi0084 @ Sep 26th 2007 5:01PM]

Because it will have the Apple logo.

[404error @ Sep 26th 2007 4:58PM]

mac mini ripoff

[Argot @ Sep 26th 2007 5:03PM]

No. This thing, unlike the Mac mini is actually useful.

[jmattick @ Sep 26th 2007 5:04PM]

Yes, because apple invented the small rectangular box...

I swear, I saw Apple suing General Mills for used their design in cereal boxes just last week.

[Jon @ Sep 26th 2007 5:06PM]

Looks beautiful compared to that Apple thing. Sounds easier to use to.

[Semantix @ Sep 26th 2007 5:07PM]

Ha, I was actually going to comment that (at least in this shot) this is a good example of a product with rounded square form factor that looks good without looking like a mac mini.

And Argot, confusing the mini and the Apple TV? The mini is a fully functional pc... say what you want about the OS, but the usefulness is undeniable.

[Rob @ Sep 26th 2007 5:19PM]

It looks promising. But, this is just another DivX box. Nothing against the format, but I can't see myself encoding stuff to yet another codec. MPEG-4 works on pc, iPod, PS3, and PSP. So, unless you have DviX encoded content, a MacMini or a Windows-based pc would probably be a better choice.

[Joe @ Sep 26th 2007 5:21PM]

Let me get this straight. You can store a bunch of media BUT you have to use the USB interface to load it, thus making the thing actually computer dependent (even though it says it isn't.) Now you have another remote in the world to figure out and lose and whatever people end up doing with their 5 remotes. Ok, bash away at the Apple TV, but essentially, the Apple TV looks better in some ways since it's wireless and you'll keep your stuff on a larger external anyway probably near one's system. Ok, DivX, yay.. that's it?

[Ry @ Sep 26th 2007 5:24PM]

Does it do DivX in HD resolutions?

[Brian M @ Sep 26th 2007 6:16PM]

Looks like it only outputs standard def.

"...for those with HDTVs, the silverscreen is reportedly able to upscale content via component."

[Eric @ Sep 26th 2007 6:44PM]

Yeah, I haven't bought an AppleTV because ... well, because it sucks. This look a lot better. Now, I wonder what I can do to make the series I bought from iTMS to show on this device, should I buy it. :)

[DG @ Sep 26th 2007 8:02PM]

I'm interested in this product, but at $250. For $400 or so, you can buy a very basic PC with a bigger HD and output directly to TV. This is an easier way of doing exactly that, but not quite cost effective.

[Taylor @ Sep 26th 2007 8:28PM]

And for what... $500 you can get a refurbed mac mini, which runs a full OS, web browsing, load your media wirelessly, etc etc. What's the downside?

[Addy Osmani @ Sep 26th 2007 8:59PM]

Could any one of you gentlemen point me in the direction of a good alternative to the Archos PVP/R range? (i.e something with tv out and a large storage capacity).

I'm bringing this up because I would compare these larger "living room" solutions to the more portable PVP versions - the trade-off being storage space as far as I can tell.

[Gizmo @ Sep 26th 2007 11:04PM]

I like this unit, but am looking for something that can actually record tv shows as well.... any suggestions?

[K-Canuck @ Sep 27th 2007 12:33AM]

I just ordered myself a 500GB Iomega Screenplay drive. It does all this does and more, including playing DVD VOB's, Mpeg 1,2,4, Divx/Xvid and will upscale up to 720p. I plan to use my Harmony remote with it, so the number of remotes isn't a problem. Hopefully it won't suck :D

There are other solutions out there, if this doesn't float your boat :)

[timmaughan @ Sep 27th 2007 4:46AM]

But does anyone know of a device that will handle HD .mkvs, incluinding subs etc?

[matthew @ Sep 28th 2007 12:01PM]

does this lacie box playback ISOs or VOBs directly. what outputs does it have

[Carlos @ Nov 28th 2007 12:39PM]

Hello,
last june i bought an iomega 500GB Iomega Screenplay drive and it sucks because some avi files cant be read and i've payed 280€ for it. A friend payed just 150€ and bought another multimedia drive that can read every file he puts on it. Iomega says in their site that we can update the codecs but that isnt true at this time.

so i dont sugest anyone to buy it.

[uncletoe @ Dec 23rd 2007 4:21PM]

What's the multimedia drive your friend bought that plays every file? i know a lot of these multimedia drives don't play DIVX6 files, which is what i plan to use it for.