Network media players are an essential element of the modern day entertainment center. Their main function is to allow streaming of video, or other media, to and from your computer, external storage devices, etc.
It is proper, even though rarely referred to as such, to call these devices Networked Media Tanks (NMT) or UPnP AV Media Servers.
Media tanks with network capabilities almost always have the ability to insert or attach a hard drive.
Technologically inclined media lovers employ these devices as the hub of their entertainment center since they allow one to easily watch high definition video downloaded from the internet on their home system with ease.
Not only can you watch video you downloaded through the internet, you can also stream from websites such as Vimeo or YouTube directly from the internet.
They also allow one to rip audio and video from CDs and DVDs, placing it on a storage device such as a hard drive.
Network media players have such a wide array of features it would be impossible to keep up with the intricate differences between them.
To keep up with technology, you should buy the newest, feature rich, media player you can find. There are few cases where a new release is worse than the predessesor.
Check the manufacturer website and look up the last time they updated their software and firmware for the unit. Do a quick search to see their reputation.
As far as hardware goes, make sure the device you're looking at has the super standard features like a remote, HDMI connectors, a USB 2.0 interface.
Next make sure the prodct has a good amount of RAM, flash storage, digital media card readers, and a hard drive or hard drive capability.
Examine closely what kind of hard drives you can connect. Shoot for SATA or eSATA for high speed data transfers.
Finally, as with any other electronic device, pay close attention to the warranty included.