nas or usb hdd ?

[Cod3waX]

network it with ur laptop
or straight hdmi connection

[pj74]

NAS server is preferred solution if you want to share files over network and typically it provides extra data protection with RAID levels in multiple disk configurations. I really recommend NAS server.

[fireflex]

But as stated before, if you want to watch 3D HD movies a ethernet connection if the best solution

[Bann32]

Have you forwarded the ports used by the NAS on your router of your trying to use externally...

[mikk]

So will xbmc run independently (without pc) on an external hdd or would that need the nas? Would the drive require a format, I've been dumping films on the sata for a while now. I think it was format to ntfs.

[kudus]

NAS stands for Network attached storage. Therefore it can be accessed from anywhere in the home network or even the world if it has the required features. So for yourself you wouldn't need to transfer to your usb, rather keep everything on the NAS as your Smart TV will be able to see it along with any other computer in the house. Depending on your setup, you may get much increased transfer speeds as opposed to an of course also RAID comes into it, so you wouldn't ever have to back anything up again, you would need a with a minimum of 2 bays & one which supports your required Raid type.

[Curious123]

I might be wrong but if you want to use the USB port with your sata then it will need to be formatted in fat32.