NMP1000_01

Hands On: QNAP NMP-1000 Network Multimedia Player

By on November 30, 2009 in Digital Media Receiver Reviews, Digital Media Receivers, Network Attached Storage, News, Reviews

Local Setup and Features

Having moved to the viewing “lounge”, it is time to finish setting up the NMP-1000 and begin checking out the various media capabilities.  The following screen is what you will see from the NMP-1000 when first turned on.

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Clicking on “All Media” will bring you to this screen, which shows some of the “extras” that come with the NMP-1000, like YouTube, SHOUTcast and other Internet related media sites.

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Clicking on <Local disk 1> will bring up the following results:

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<Empty>.  Why?  I have not copied anything over to the local drive.  For the purposes of this review, I did not even make use of the local harddisk, as I wanted to demonstrate the use of my WHS machine as a media server with the NMP-1000 acting purely as a player.

Before I get to that, it is nice to be able to view current movie trailers

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try a bit of SHOUTcast

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or add some of you own favorite Internet radio stations.

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For those of you who are into Flicker, here it is nicely integrated into the QNAP interface.

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Then we have UPnP.  Essentially, this feature acts as a network browser of multimedia files.

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As you can see, the results can be somewhat variable.  I do not know why the photos come up so small

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and what comes up in the video files are the VOB files, and not the IFO files which manages the VOB files.

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This is not a unique trait to the QNAP device.  I kind of look at UPnP option as a “quick ‘n dirty” look around, and not for normal use.

Moving back to the main menu and proceeding to settings, we find the area where one adjusts the output options and display settings.

IMG 5167 thumb Hands On: QNAP NMP 1000 Network Multimedia Player

The method that the NMP-1000 may uses to adjust the various display settings may be the correct method (the 3 bars), but I like the ability to change these settings while watching a video.  I simply prefer the instant feedback that one receives that way vs. the 3-bar method.

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For the record, the remaining Setting features available to you.

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Moving back to the one of most interest to me is the Remote disk setting.  This is where you add networked drives to the to the media listings on the NMP-1000.  Clicking on Auto search will take one through the following screens to add various folders.

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Thank God you only have to enter the User name and Password once!

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Add your desired remote folders/drives, Connect them and you are done.

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About Jim Clark

Hello. I’m from the heartland of the U.S. Lots of corn and beans, although Iowa is a lot more than just farmland. It also has a few computer enthusiasts (no, not me!). I’ve been around PCs since I got my 1st PC XT aloooong time ago. WGS is one of the first sites I found centered around WHS. And the best. Every once in awhile, I do get away from the KB and enjoy time with and my wife and our 4 kids. And I do have a day job.
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  • don

    For $100. you can get the PCH C-200 which is a way better machine, plus you can add blue ray to it

  • jin

    Interestng subject. I have been wondering if I should consider adding a multimedia player like this, or just hook-up an PC next to my home AV receiver. As you mentioned, most of the disapointments came from functionality and file compatabilities, where no single hardware manufacture will be empowered to save the whole world. On hte other hand, as the ‘Media center’ is getting much better in Windows 7 than in Vista, No one would doubt that eventually whis home entertainment market will be Microsoft’s, just like the OS for pcs.

  • http://dbone1026.blogspot.com DamianP

    Honestly it looks like QNAP is trying to charge a premium price for outdated hardware (they are just now bringing the Sigma 8635 to the market when this chip has been out for over a year and manufacturers are starting to move on to the newer Sigma chip). I agree with don, I would rather recommend someone buy a C-200 for $100 less and at least get the latest sigma chip plus chance to expand with a BR Rom drive (I won a C-200 and although buggy at first the latest beta firmwares have resolved many issued I had). Honestly, for the price QNAP is trying to charge I would instead recommend the Dell Zino HD and get a full fledged HTPC for the same price.