HDX1000 Review #1 - Package List and Picture Set

Introduction

This is the 1st part of our HDX-1000 review series. Two things will be covered in the article:

1. The reason why we chose the HDX1000 as our first focused product in the Digital Media Streamer category.
2. A picture gallery of the HDX 1000 and the accessories included in the retail package.
   

Why We Chose the HDX 1000

As we discussed in the previous post, there are several digital media streamer solutions on the market. Although they are referred to by different names, their major function is the same: they can playback the digital contents stored in your digital library. After comparing the available products, we believe the one that uses Sigma 8635 chipset and the Syabas NMT software as the solution provides the most value. It offers H.264 high definition playback capability and has an acceptable user interface.

There are three major players using the above mentioned solution: Popcornhour A-110 from Syabas, iStarHD Mini 1.3 from ISTARHD, and HDX1000 from HD Digital Technology. We have contacted all three of them to express our interest in becoming their exclusive US dealer. (After experiencing the nightmare of waiting for months for a Popcornhour A-100, we want to stock enough inventory in our Houston warehouse and use AmperorDirect.com’s established e-commerce website to make the experience of owning a digital media streamer in the US much easier). The responses from the three vendors were totally different. For Syabas, they don’t care about setting up a US reseller. Their main purpose for the Popcornhour A-100 / A-110 is to promote their Syabas NMT Player solution. As to working with iStarHD, it has been a unique experience. Although we have already established the channel to purchase and re-sell iStarHD Mini 1.3, we still cannot get a physical phone number from them. Every time we send an email to them, we pray that the email will not be overlooked.

Our experience in talking to HD Digital Technology has turned out to be the best among the three vendors. Their Sales V.P. is very friendly and can be easily found on Skype. Their Tech Support guy works almost on US hours. Additionally, their Engineering V.P. is extremely knowledgeable (and very talkative in a good way…:)) about the digital media streamer market. He is even willing to sacrifice his bed-time to help a novice user like me across the pond to get familiar with the machine. Besides, he and my grandfather are from the same town south of Beijing. To a Chinese guy, “Lao Shiang” (pronounced as “Low Shawn”, and represents a group of people coming from the same hometown) means a lot. That’s why we chose HD Digital Technology’s HDX 1000 as our first main focus.

(OK, ok… this is why my boss cannot let me put this article on our website. I need to be more serious.) During the past several months working with HD Digital Technology, we feel that this company consists of good people and can provide a good product. “Good Products” and “Good Service” happen to be the two core values AmperorDirect.com wants to offer to our customers, as well. We are pleased to find a company that shares the same values as us. This is the real reason why we chose HD Digital Technology’s HDX 1000 as our first main focus.

The Package Includes:

1. HDX 1000
2. Remote Control Unit
3. Battery for the Remote Control Unit
4. One HDMI 1.3 Cable
5. One USB Cable
6. One Universal AC Power Adapter w US Power Cord
7. Four Rubber feet for the HDX 1000
8. Six Screws (for mounting HDD)
   

Here are some Pictures about the HDX 1000:

• Retail Box:
  

Just pretend you are listening to Back in Black from AC/DC
...
Cause I am back on the track,
And I'm beating the flack,
Nobody's gonna get me on another rap,
...

• HDX 1000 Front View:

• Card Reader on HDX 1000

• HDX 1000 Back Connection Panel:

• HDX 1000 Ports -1:

• HDX 1000 Ports -2:

• HDX 1000 Bottom View:

• HDX 1000 Accessory Set: (A little complain: the screws can be put in a small plastic bag...)
  

Stay tuned. We'll have more reviews on HDX1000 to come.

Read Rart 2 of the Review - Basic Functionality Test

Go to the HDX 1000 Product Page at AmperorDirect.com