Looking for some opinions on the best route to go to get a media player for the big screen in my living room.
Currently I am using a PS3. While it was cool for a while I rarely feel like playing games any more. The Netflix stream is pretty good BUT the web browser sucks balls, new Youtube app doesn't work at all, it doesn't play certain video files and it recognizes cinava protection. It's wireless in G I think so streaming from the PC in the other room is slow. So I'm ready to get rid of it.
I'm thinking a WDLive player. $110. It supposedly plays every format, exports in 1080P, has netflix and has wireless N. But there will be no web browser.
The other option is to get a cheapish laptop with HDMI that will also output 5.1 audio. Is there a chance that a laptop with hdmi might not be able to output 5.1? Will a cheapish laptop be able to handle a 720 or 1080 video feed to my tv such as movies on USB/hard drive/Netflix?