Trekstor MovieStation Maxi t.u (88570) 1TB Multi-Media SATA Hard Drive Review

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(More customer reviews)**EDITOR'S NOTE: 6 months into use, and the drive went senile. It failed to stay mounted long enough to consistently transfer files, had difficult turning on/off, likewise could not sync up with a superior media player in the Western Digital WD TV Live Network-ready HD Media Player WDBAAN0000NBK-NESN. Trekstor's Customer Service remained consistently absence and/or abhorrent despite several pleas to salvage this device's functionality. I recently abandoned its use in favor of the WD + External Drive alternative.**
Akin to the quest for the Holy Grail, I've spent months researching an ideal media player solution capable of transitioning over 100+ DVD movies to a more accessible and space efficient home.
Simply put, I grew tired of staring at rows of DVD movie boxes likely never to be re-opened, likewise the clutter they took up in the process. These problems were further exacerbated by being a Mac household; nothing out there media player-wise seemed willing to play nice with our two Macbooks and Mac network. (A shame, since the WD and iomega products appeared feasible at first glance.)
Thus, the semi-obvious solution appeared to be a PC desktop solely dedicated to the above purpose. Pricing out this system (1TB storage, appropriate hardware + video/audio outs) ended up near the $700 mark. Far too expensive plus not what I wanted (hardware-wise) in my living room.
While seemingly devoid of any product review and/or MAC compatibility, the unknown Trekstor MovieStation Maxi t.u fit the bill on all accounts. Robust storage eliminated the need for an additional piggyback drive. Being UNIX- based meant a clean file exchange from MAC OS 10.5. The cable system was both simple and fit my non-HDMI needs (for standard DVD's) nicely. Last, it was affordable enough to give it a whirl sans guilt.
Unfortunately, however, the MovieStation Maxi t.u proved itself a bit troublesome in actual execution. Playback software is VERY finicky in what it will allow - and successfully handle - format wise. For Mac users wanting to save hours of frustration, 1) Burn DVD's via MactheRipper (a robust, free software package with a semi-steep learning curve) in 'Main Feature Only' mode, followed by and 2) Via Handbrake (another free piece of software waiting to confuse the heck out of you), convert said DVD to -- THIS IS IMPORTANT! -- an .AVI file with an XVID/DivX (if you want fast forward) codec, 2-pass conversion. (Average final file size is ~1.6-1.7GB.) Any other format will - based on trial and error - simply not work. Ditto other conversion programs limited to specific codec and/or output formats.
TECH NOTE: .AVI files CANNOT be segmented into chapters. While you can manually fast forward within a DivX file, that's about it. A burn in Handbrake, followed by ffmpegx conversion to DivX totals about 1.5 hours per movie.
Similar challenges belie configuring the MovieStation Maxi t.u with an HD TV. Trial and error will yield appropriate settings, with the most notable confound in disparate settings for TV/OUT and file playback format. IMPORTANT: Saving settings requires reloading the settings function. (It took me a dozen attempts to realize this.)
Finally, a recent Mac system software update greatly inhibits the functionality of USB 2.0 devices, forcing them to unmount after short, timed intervals. This annoying snafu required an additional step of moving files to a firewire drive...then slowly and gradually (in increments) to the USB one.
All is not doom and gloom. For instance, I dig the no-frills interface (updating firmware is a breeze, ditto navigating its Hard Disk contents) supported by intelligent recognition of input shifts between TV and computer. Meaning, the Trekstor MovieStation Maxi t.u will power off visual outputs when connected to a computer, automatically restore them once the device is appropriately removed from this same device. Also - and while a tad blurry even on correct settings - the main menu is clean and makes sense. Last - and most important - the thing DOES work once you've conquered its moronic restrictions and frustrating quirks.
In sum, I would recommend the Trekstor MovieStation Maxi t.u - albeit with reservations - to Mac users looking for a cheap way of playing movies (and/or photos) on a TV. Still, keep in mind output is not in HD, and play close attention to ports (component or standard video for visuals; optical or analog for audio) to avoid purchase mistake. PC users might be better served by more popular alternatives (ie the WD mentioned above + a 1TB external drive).

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TrekStor MovieStation maxi t.u 1TB is an external 3.5” SATA Hard Drive that can connect directly to a TV or Stereo system to play stored movies, music, and photos without use of a computer. The MovieStation works with Windows, Mac & Linux and uses a High-Speed USB 2.0 connection. It can be used to play HDTV and multi-channel Audio as well as content from movie and music download services. In addition, MovieStation will play files created with digital cameras and camcorders. When connected to a TV, MovieStation offers an onscreen menu for playing all content located on the drive. MovieStation's built-in Zoom function allows users to eliminate black bars that appear above and below on some movies. The MovieStation plays HD(720p/1080i) Formatted videos to be watched on a suitable TV. Stored music can be replayed from playlists. Housed in a stylish, black anodized aluminum case, the MovieStation’s design allows for optimum cooling, without the need for a fan and offers whisper quiet operation. The MovieStation supports MPEG-1 (VCD), MPEG-2 (SVCD, KVCD, DVD), IFO, VOB, DivX3, DivX5, XviD) video formats. Music and audio books in MP3, WMA, WAV and OGG format and images in JPEG format are also supported. Data and multimedia content can be transmitted to the device via a High Speed USB 2.0 Interface from any popular computer operating system. Video pass through is accomplished via high-quality Component video connection (YUV/Y/Pb/Pr), or using the composite video connection. Audio signals make their way to the TV set or home stereo system via an Optical digital (Toslink) or Analog stereo (cinch) connector. The MovieStation incorporates the Nero BackItUp 2 Software for simple, and hassle free backup. Included: Infrared Remote-Control, Power Supply, AV & YUV Adapter Cables, USB 2.0 Cable, 2 Foot Stands, (2) AAA Batteries, Nero BackItUp 2 Essentials, Software/Driver CD. For customer support please call 1888-8-TrekStor or TrekStor@datastation.us

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