But from the beginning:
The VMP74 is a super-effective Media Player Streaming function, LAN connection and if wireless dongle available to use, and Wi-Fi. In addition, he can with two USB ports (1xUSB2.0, 1xUSB2.0 / eSATA) and jewils a composite, an optical and an HDMI output Attending. Cable for composite video and HDMI connection, as well as batteries for the remote control supplied.
Operation is via the very detailed and well pleasing remote control and optionally via a connected mouse and keyboard (it would test whether work together with the use of a proposed ViewSonic USB hubs mouse and keyboard). The front of the very small device has only a single LED, which indicates the operating state, all ports located on the back.
I connected the unit via LAN and could easily be integrated into the internal network, so that I can reach the locally connected USB3.0 hard drive of my remaining PCs and exchange data. The VMP74 can shared in return areas of the computers in the network use (user and group mapping provided).
So far I have had good experiences with DVD ISOs, FLV, AVI, MPG in the video area, also with MP3 and WAV audio details. Shared UPNP shares be easily read.
If purchased online, there have been major improvements in speed and presentation. BBC iPlayer has refused in the video area, play movies. Whether because or because I really access not available from abroad, further testing is reserved. In the radio sector, however, tracks are played.
Live 365 and Youtube now work much faster and trouble-free, but a keyboard is just for Youtube advisable because the displayed screen keyboard is cumbersome to use.
Shoutcast I angetestet short, but no opinion ;-)
Negative, but understandable is the lack of support for Silverlight, which precludes the use of the streaming offer from LOVEFiLM. A pity, but this was one of the reasons for the acquisition of the player.
All in all (and without fully respond to all the features of the VMP74) is the player to the one you wanted on Amazon about 50-60 euros (currently somewhere else for half) a real bargain.
Addendum on USB hub:
For whatever reason, the VMP74 to connect a USB hub and simultaneous operation of the keyboard and mouse has afterwards made problems that could be resolved only by resetting the device and remove the hubs. So now operating without a mouse and keyboard, as the Internet functionalities offered to the YouTube and Web radio deals anyway not work so hot completely.
Addendum on USB hard drives:
Meanwhile I run a USB3.0 hard disk on Kombiprt and a USB2.0 hard disk on USB2.0 port. The VMP74 recognizes both and makes them available, which means I can respond directly on the Media Player both plates.
Unfortunately this does not work over the network: If both drives plugged in and turned on, only one hard drive is displayed via network, but not the second. Since "wins" apparently the one that is first ready for operation. Once I turn off the active disk, the other disk in the network is visible. So I'm starting to think about a RAID1 NAS to expand the available disk space over the network to which the VMP74 can indeed access ...
Another addendum on USB 3.0: Here pointed out to me another user that the lower port apparently only USB 2.0 and eSATA support, but not USB 3.0. Since I was the original Amazon goods led astray, in the Kombi Port was named as USB 3.0 / eSATA. The fact is that my USB 3.0 hard drive to the Kombi Port a higher data throughput supplies than my other USB 2.0 hard drives.
Is then probably try out ...
01/22/2014: Although there are no longer new to VMP74 commercially, a postscript to operate with Synology NAS: The forums already discussed behavior that SMB shares do not work, I have to confirm. DLNA / UPNP is fine, but access to the shares not possible. Which reminds me UPNP fully sufficient for music and videos. Only drawback is it only with DVD structures because the VOBs are displayed individually. Here then provides a recoding to MP4 (H.264 with MP3 sound) to. Performance on a 100Mbit network and further via HDMI is good.
