I'm thinking about changing my Freecom wireless/network media player as it doesn't support mkv files. I would like to start watching blu-ray movies through my network and need some advice on the best player. It needs to be able to play all the basic media types (divx, xvis, etc..) but also h.264 mkv files (I think these are blu ray files). Suggestions would be very welcome. My PC is pretty quick with a q6600 CPU AT 3.1ghz and 4gb memory. I've also got a wired network so the media player doesn't need to be wireless. The ideal scenario would be that I could put a blu-ray disc in my PC and watch it downstairs on the HDTV. The alternative would be to rip the blu-ray to my PC and then play as normal.

To be honest your best option is a PS3, it'll do all the above, and play games.

You can get media players a lot cheaper, but most of them are cumbersome to use. The good ones aren't far off the price of a PS3.

The good ones aren't far off the price of a PS3.

The good ones are also far better at media streaming than a PS3.

How about this one, does everything you want, but not networked.

Asus O!Play HDP-R1 HD Media HDMI 1080p MKV/H.264/ISO Player inc RJ45/USB2/e-SATA, Dolby/DTS - TOP!!! - Scan.co.uk

And less than £80.

OR

This networkable one, slightly more expensive but still way cheaper than PS3.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/AC-Ryan-PlayOn!HD-Network-HDMI-1080P-H264-MKV-MPEG-WMV9-Xvid-AVC-DVDISO-Media-Network-Player

I'd just buy a playstation.

Then you've got a media player and bluray player all in one device.

Oh , and a decent games console too

I wouldn't play the games and that's why I didn't mention a PS3. If I bought a Blu-ray reader, it would be for my PC so that I could rip the disc to my PC (non-copyrighted media only of course) and then play through the network.

the Popcorn hour and similar products are all the rage these days..

have a look on AVforums.. they have a whole section dedicated to stuff like this