ASUS O!Play Air HDP-R3 Media Player Review

Legit Mods and Ends Reviews

Manufacturer:	ASUS
Product:	O!Play Air HDP-R3
Date:	Mon, Jun 28, 2010 - 12:00 AM
Written By:	Ken Brown -
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Final Thoughts and Conclusions

It seems that the set-top media player business is booming. ASUS was one of the first companies with support for most of the newest and most popular codecs. The release of their O!Play Air just solidifies what the companies believes as a major part of their future business. When they originally released the O!Play Media Player, the Realtek 1073DD Chip did what few chips did back then…decode and display DVD ISO menus and pass HD audio. Since then, more and more companies are developing similar set-top boxes and ASUS’s response to that is releasing a new media player with extra bells and whistles – namely built-in Wi-Fi and a media card reader.

Admittedly, the Wi-Fi really didn’t move us since we couldn’t view 1080 files. For those who don’t have a wired connection to their network and just want to view video no higher than 720 resolution, this is one of the better solutions on the market. In fact, having the media card reader built in to the O!Play Air helps to give ASUS a true “All-in-one” solution.

We can’t help but compare the O!Play Air Media Player to its older sibling, the original O!Play. These are essentially the same exact boxes with the same exact capabilities when it comes to what each can decode. Both handle HD MKVs, AVI, VOB, and DVD ISO Menus with ease as well. The major difference is in the built in Wi-Fi and Media Card Slots. Currently you can get the original ASUS O!Play (HDP-R1) for $79.99 after rebate while the O!Play Air (HDP-R3) is $109.99 after rebate. If you really don’t need the wireless capability (or the media card slot) that the “Air” gives you, then you can save a bit of money by just sticking with the original O!Play. Both ASUS HDP-R1 and HDP-R3 O!Play digital media players come backed by a limited 12 month warranty.

Legit Bottom Line:
The ASUS O!Play Air is a solid choice if you are looking for a “do everything” set-top box. The internal wireless-N capability is huge plus for those who need it, but just don’t rely on the player to wirelessly stream any media files over 720p resolution with consistency.

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Review Index

Page 1 - ASUS Upgrades the Original 2009 O!Play
Page 2 - Inside the ASUS O!Play Air
Page 3 - A Closer Look at the O!Play Air
Page 4 - Setting up the O!Play Air
Page 5 - ASUS O!Play Air Performance
Page 6 - Final Thoughts and Conclusions

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