I'd look at the WDTV reviewed by CNET at http://www.cnet.com/products/western-digital-wd-tv-media-player-2014/
As to the videos that won't play, folk convert them as needed. There are thousands of posts about that so I'll pause here.
Bob
Help with A-V Issues, please!
I have an external storage drive that I connect to my laptop,
and then connect my laptop via vga cable and sound cord to my led hdtv,
so I can watch the movies and other videos stored on the eternal drive.
* I tried connecting an HDMI cable from my laptop to the tv and I got picture, but no sound (QUESTION #1).
QUESTION #2
- IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO CONNECT MY EXTERNAL STORAGE DRIVE?
- TO THE TV (HDMI/VGA?)?
- TO THE CABLE TV/INTERNET ROUTER (USB)?
QUESTION #3
- MOST OF THE MOVIES AND OTHER VIDEOS ARE WATCHABLE WITH WINDOWS,
HOWEVER A FEW REQUIRE VLC MEDIA PLAYER-
-IF I DO CONNECT MY EXTERNAL DRIVE TO THE ROUTER OR TV DIRECTLY (IF POSSIBLE),
HOW WILL ANY OF THOSE VIDEOS PLAY-
-DOES THE TV HAVE ITS OWN SOFTWARE?
THANKS!!

Chowhound
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