Posts Tagged “Screenplay HD”

I recently got a call from a colleague who purchased an Iomega Screenplay HD. This unit is a media player that hooks up to your TV and can play various media file formats. The unit houses a 500 GB hard drive for media storage and playback. My friend was having issues with media file formats and the way in which the Screenplay HD works. So, I spent some time getting acquainted with this unit and tried to work the kinks out.

Initial product impressions

The Screenplay HD is finished in a matte black textured paint (feels like fine sandpaper, although they probably were going for suede). The finish just doesn’t feel right; it doesn’t have the polish of previous Iomega products. From an aesthetic and fit & finish point-of-view, I don’t think this product compares favorably with other consumer electronics products. However, this product functions as advertised. The unit works well as an external USB hard drive and plays back various media including video, digital stills and audio.

The remote control is very slim, about the size of three credit cards and it uses an inconvenient (and more expensive) coin cell battery. The remote control is designed to snap into the base of the Screenplay HD (I suppose for traveling or storage).

Shortcomings of the Screenplay HD

I was surprised to see just how many short comings this product has. Even though this product is made in China, I was expecting that it would be competently designed as many American-designed products are. Read the rest of this entry »