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Buyer's Guide: The Best Monitors 
Storex Mpix 358HD
| Caractéristiques | |||
| Capacity | 160 GB to 1 TB | ||
| Interface | USB 2.0 | ||
| Connectivity | HDMI, RCA, SCART (via adaptor),<br>CF, SD, USB Host | ||
| Read speed | |||
| Video formats | MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (DivX 6, XviD, ASP), MP4 | ||
 Show all specifications
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| HD support | No |
| Audio formats | MP3, WMA, ACC, OGG, DD |
| Photo formats | JPG |
| Dimensions/Weight | 164 x 39 x 164 mm / 1.1 kg |
 Hide specifications | |
Régis Jehl
Test date: October 15, 2008
Test date: October 15, 2008
If you judged by the technical specifications on the majority of the multimedia hard drives that passed through our labs, you'd think support for High Definition resolution video was almost universal.
Unfortunately, though, very few models can actually access HD video directly, even if they'd like to suggest that they can.
In this particular example, Storex have gone one better by dubbing their product the Mpixx 385HD, but they're not necessarily lying--you just need to understand the trick they're playing.
Most multimedia hard drives have a component video output, and many also feature a HDMI output too, and both are capable of transmitting a signal at 1080i, that is, HD video. But what's the point in showing a picture at 1080 or even 720 lines when only SD files are being produced at the source.
Well, it's possible that a multimedia hard drive is better at upscaling--increasing the size of an originally lower-quality image--than your TV, but the reverse is equally likely to be true. Once you've worked out the best combination of cabling, then you'll be able to enjoy shaper, bigger versions of your photos, but if your multimedia hard drive doesn't support reading HD video, then movies will remain in SD.
Unfortunately, though, very few models can actually access HD video directly, even if they'd like to suggest that they can.
In this particular example, Storex have gone one better by dubbing their product the Mpixx 385HD, but they're not necessarily lying--you just need to understand the trick they're playing.
Most multimedia hard drives have a component video output, and many also feature a HDMI output too, and both are capable of transmitting a signal at 1080i, that is, HD video. But what's the point in showing a picture at 1080 or even 720 lines when only SD files are being produced at the source.
Well, it's possible that a multimedia hard drive is better at upscaling--increasing the size of an originally lower-quality image--than your TV, but the reverse is equally likely to be true. Once you've worked out the best combination of cabling, then you'll be able to enjoy shaper, bigger versions of your photos, but if your multimedia hard drive doesn't support reading HD video, then movies will remain in SD.
Storey's Mpix 385HD sports a fairly classic 'shoebox' design, unlike, for example, some Icy models which are upright.
This little black box doesn't feature a screen, offering just a few navigation buttons, making it unsuitable for playing music without first turning on the TV.
Fortunately, though, it comes with a full-size remote which feels comfortable in the hand, but its backlit buttons are so small that they tend to get stuck, which quickly becomes annoying.
No HD Compatibility
With an ESS ES6430FAA chip inside, we weren't expecting any miracles, even if Storex have plastered their packaging with labels proudly claiming its High
Definition performance, and even adding those golden letters HD to the end of the model number of this product.
That's all well and good, but the Mpix 385 only actually supports Standard Definition video ... and even then it hardly offers a huge range of formats, making do with MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 (DivX 6, XviD) and MP4.
A broader selection of audio files are handled, including old favorites MP3 and WMA as well as AAC, OGG and Dolby Digital.
The one image format, JPEG, will usually be enough for most digital photographs.
Subtitle files for foreign movies are poorly handled, with just SRT, SUB, SSA and SMI available.
Extras: HDMI and a memory card reader
The outputs on offer are fairly paltry, but all the basics are there.
There's just RCA, with a SCART adapter included, and a single HDMI port, which you'll need to enjoy your photos upscaled to High Definition (see gray box).
If all of this is a little disappointing, then the Mpix 385 does have another trick up its sleeve: a built-in memory card-reader for accessing photos straight off your digital camera.
Two separate slots are available, one for Compact Flash and one for SD, covering the two most common memory card formats available today.
A USB port also allows a second external hard drive to be daisy chained onto the first, or to look at photos stored on a friend's thumb drive.
Handily, this USB port is situated on the front of the case, rather than at the back, meaning you can quickly change from one USB device to another.
All of the cables you'll need to use the outputs on offer are included (RCA, RCA to SCART adaptor, HDMI and USB).
Pluses
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Built-in memory card reader
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USB port--on the front!
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HDMI output
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Supports multiple audio formats
Minuses
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Cheeky use of 'HD' and 'High Definition'--it isn't!
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Video support below average
Despite selling itself as 'HD', this device can only read videos in SD, and even then, it hardly excels. Nevertheless, if your primary use for a multimedia hard drive is looking at your photos on a TV, then the presence of a memory card reader might just convince you that it's worth it ...
