Had Sony, Returned, Bought Logitech

[GunnerJim]

Just returned Sony NSZ-GT1 Blu-Ray to Best Buy, got my money back, bought the Logitech Revue.

Both include Crackle, Netflix, Vevo, Amazon VOD (I think this is Logitech only), HBO GO, Napster, NBA Gametime, CNBC Real Time, Pandora, Twitter, Blip TV, cnet, NYT, the Onion, You Tube... Thats it for now...
Chrome Browser works well for a TV app, What's on is a good feature for sorting the TV Guide mess. Netflix needs some help, can not add from screen, kind of spartan compared to XBOX 360.

Logitech Revue Good...
-So far I like the seamless interface with the components in my AV rack, they actually get the model of your equipment.
-The DVR button pulls up DVR, the AV volume control works, the Dolby Digital 5.1 works.
-My HTC Droid Incredible app works like a champ.
-The Harmony remote system works with the Google TV.
-$100 cheaper, runs about the same... Little more intuitive.

Logitech Revue Bad...
-Long system update time, about 25 minutes on a 10/1.5 connection.
-The only issue now is getting my Air NAS and USB external hard drive right. Looks like I have to digress from a EXT2 format to FAT32...
-1 IR Blaster

Sony NSZ-GT1 Good...
-Blu-Ray looked good
-The keypad was compact and nice, mouse was only issue there.
-The screens looked smoother, but jumpy with the controller.
-8GB internal memory storage
-More USB ports
-Extra IR Blaster (2 total)

Sony NSZ-GT1 Bad...
-Had to factory reset 4 times, could not get an external USB HDD to mount and play music, videos, photos, etc... Got a flash drive to mount, that's all.
-Had the power lamp blinking red and dead until I did a factory reset.
-The Stereo Sound PCM 48 only was lousy... On Blu-Ray it was Dolby 5.1.
-The controller was kind of sticky with the mouse feature. The buttons did not integrate like the Logitech did at all.
-$100 more expensive
-My HTC Incredible could not control Google TV.

That's all for now, can answer most questions I think.
I like the Revue a little better...

 

[TJH132]

Thanks for this comparison. I was thinking of a Sony TV for the back room, but now I'm leaning towards a less expensive TV and another Revue instead. I LOVE the idea of running the whole works from my DInc!

TJH

 

[kamtsa]

Another pro of Revue is the built in IR blaster (non need to use the external IR head in most applications)

BTW, in this living room we prefer the Sony, mostly because of the compact remote.

 

[GunnerJim]

Follow Up Day 2-
- Revue does not list the cover art on music like the Sony just the typical unknown music symbol. I know the MP3 is good.
- Plays MPEGs well, AVI not so well (Codec Issue)
- My network attached storage (NAS) shows up in Media Player, but does not work. It did for the Sony Blu-Ray. I even re-formated the NAS with EXT2 file system (LINUX/ANDROID should work with this!), this makes me mad...
- Still no joy on getting a 160GB harddrive formatted as a FAT32 File System to be identified on the Media Player. I will not re-format my 1 TB harddrive to 895GB until I can prove it out in theory with a 160GB, this too makes me mad.
- HD Football playback kind of fuzzy at times, players moved slow for a 120 Hz LG Display. Not sure if it is my cable company or the Google TV. I kept switching back and forth the HDMI cable to see if the problem cleared up. Toward the end of the Viking/Packer Game it got better on Google TV. I called the Cable company to report the pixelation.
-No Facebook app, even though you can access through Chrome. The advertisements showed a Facebook App.

I am considering a call to Logitech to rectify the storage issues.

Will keep all posted...

 

[anon(879)]

Mine is showing album art fine from the networked media server.
Its just not the prettiest UI for the media player.

Once the market opens up, I'm sure were going to see all sorts of better options.

 

[krakerx]

I currently have the NSX-32GT1, and have been playing with certain features, and the FAT32 requirement is a pain that I hope they fix in the coming updates.

So far, I had to format my 320GB HDD to FAT32, since I am running WIN7 32-Bit, I was able to use the free version of EASEUS Partition Manager.

Problems with Fat32, if you have backups of your BluRays or DVDs, they can't be over 4GB, otherwise you can't put them on your drive because of the limitations of FAT32. In my testing AVIs are larger than 3GB, the built in media player won't play them, but played the smaller files without any problems.

I've had no problems with MKV or AVI file types, other than the occasional hiccup with the way some package the audio channel, so I get video and no audio.

 

[krakerx]

Just tested splitting AVIs, and files that were 3.2GB and where hanging on playback, play just fine when split to 800MB files, and since the built in media player plays file one after the other, it's like you split them into chapters.

O and since I really didn't specify before, I have one 320GB drive hooked up the the USBs on the back of the TV.

The only cons I have really noticed is that you can only have 1 USB drive hooked up to the TV at a time, and you have to split large files down to smaller pieces

 

[GunnerJim]

Day 5 Follow up...
Got TVersity to work.
Got the FAT32 hard drive to display data.
Got media server set up and shared with the GTV.
Could not get it to hook to my AIRLINK 101 NAS... Regardless of hard drive format EXT2 or FAT32. Sony worked better in this area.
Still no music cover art, Sony worked in this area.
Noticed some lag during football game DVR recording playback.
Wish device had a static IP function vice DHCP assignment only.
Wish you could filter the network shared from GTV.
Like the noise level of the device compared to Sony GTV Blu-Ray, very quiet!
Like low profile nature and the keyboard is better than I first thought it would be.
More coming as I put it through paces.

 

[scorpiodsu]

I had the logitech one and took it back after a couple days. Got the Sony one and it's ok but not worth 400 bucks. I don't really care too much for blu ray, although I did want to have a box that would consolidate all my connections as well as content. But not worth the price. I'd would probably spend 200 on this. I'm a dish network customer so I'll go back to the logitech one when Dish starts selling them for 179 which is about right, not 300. I tried one for 300 just to see if I liked it and I could swap it out for Sony to test that as well and get my money back from BB faster and easier than sending something back to Dish.

Logitech controls all of your devices better than the Sony. But the keyboard isn't ideal for use when you're standing up or walking around. For instance my family room and kitchen is a very open area so often times I take the remote with me into the kitchen just in case I need to change the channel while I'm there. No convenient with a keyboard. I may get the mini controller because I'm not too fond of the non-backlit keyboard and want to have something handheld. With the Sony control, you have to press all different combinations hoping to find the right function. The sony control feels good in your hand but it just isn't intuitive enough. You still will have to keep your other remotes close by. With Logitech, you won't. This is a big deal for me. Software wise, they are pretty much the same except the Sony has lists of what it "recommends" like it does on all their other internet connective devices. But browsing and stuff is the same.

Of course each device has it's own issues like the frame rate issue with the Revue and audio problems with Sony but at the end of the day 179 is just a better price for this product than 400. I don't think I would spend over 200 for each device on it's own and I will wait a couple weeks to decide if I do want to kick out 129 for the controller that logitech should have included in the first place.

 

[GunnerJim]

One Week Follow Up

One Week Later...
- Can see my NAS, but regardless of File System type, the Logitech Revue cannot access it.
- The album art and folder photo icons are generic...
- You must use share function within Windows Media Center or TVersity to see the files on Revue, just sharing the drive on my Vista media server does not work, shows folder, no content....
- Folder arrangement within TVersity/Windows Media Center are maddening way too many listed. The slide show function needs some work for photos, hard to rid screen of the menu selection.
- Cannot search for TV guide listings outside of the current time construct, what is on right now for up to the end of that show only. Tried to find Football Game to add to DVR, but had to bypass Revue "What's On" and DVR Search function and rely on My Motorola DVR search function within the resident device and add the football game starting at 5 PM.
- Droid Incredible remote function works great, IR Blasters are working great.

Jury is still out...
I love Google and my Android phone, but the Video problem and media player have much to be desired. Wish it was a little more intuitive like the older version Apple TV I also own. I really want to get out of the Apple TV, because it clogs up my MacBook Pro hard drive having the music, videos, and photo's jam stowed there.