Need advice on media players, Which one to get? Options

[polemon]

The scenario is like this: I run a pub with some friends. Now, the Idea is to use digital media players for music. We use CDs but it's a big pain in the ass changing them once every hour or so.

The idea is to use media players. Something with a USB port and an SD card slot.

Now, the best thing ever would be some sort of player that also supports at least DVDs, and BDs if possible. It should at least play all kinds of MP3, including the all VBR modes. Ogg/Vorbis and of course AAC would be nice as well. FLAC isn't really needed, since we don't do that kind of listening here...

Now, my first though was to get a small BD player that also has USB and SD slots, but there's a problem: It needs a screen so I can see what I'm selecting, etc.

Now, what I need it a standalone player, one where I don't have to connect a monitor or TV screen to it.

It seems this combination of requirements are pretty much impossible to meet, except for car audio systems. But using a car audio system isn't actually that easy, since I'd have to use a 12V transformer, that gives me the right amount of power for the system (which by no means is little).

Could someone please help me out? Maybe I'm going for a completely wrong approach here?

This post has been edited by polemon: May 7 2012, 16:59

[polemon]

Well, I don't think that using a small PC or laptop is the right idea here.

There's simply no room for a monitor, this also kinda puts laptops out of the question, since the sound equipment is in a location, that is not that easy to access (the bartenders job is to make and serve drinks, after all).

We don't want to move the equipment, since the bar has a certain layout, and the design is kinda important. The equipment has to be out of reach of fluids, that's why it is in a compartment at the back of the bar in ~1.8m height, so there won't be any beverages spilled on it, etc.

What I was thinking of, was something like those little media player boxes something like this thing: http://www.nearbyexpress.com/catalog/produ...28/image/27242/
but with an LCD display, so I can traverse directories or something. The Optical drive would be bonus points.
Also, super plus bonus points, when the optical drive is a front loading caddy, and not a drawer type loader.

It seems my needs are so niche, that no one makes devices of that kind...

[Arnold B. Kruege...]

Well, I don't think that using a small PC or laptop is the right idea here.

There's simply no room for a monitor, this also kinda puts laptops out of the question, since the sound equipment is in a location, that is not that easy to access (the bartenders job is to make and serve drinks, after all).

We don't want to move the equipment, since the bar has a certain layout, and the design is kinda important. The equipment has to be out of reach of fluids, that's why it is in a compartment at the back of the bar in ~1.8m height, so there won't be any beverages spilled on it, etc.

What I was thinking of, was something like those little media player boxes something like this thing: http://www.nearbyexpress.com/catalog/produ...28/image/27242/
but with an LCD display, so I can traverse directories or something. The Optical drive would be bonus points.
Also, super plus bonus points, when the optical drive is a front loading caddy, and not a drawer type loader.

It seems my needs are so niche, that no one makes devices of that kind...

The better blu-ray players have enough of a display that you can do at least basic things with it.

I like the idea of using a WD TV live with a smart phone. You still have the display, but its not in the work space.