Sorry Steve I can't really help. I am a network streaming kind of guy but if I was a kid, I'd probably just want a 2.5 USB external I could take everywhere with me.
I thought about that but this is going to be dedicated to the nmt and I thought a sata drive would just be faster when he wants to transfer stuff off my htpc.
I went ahead and ordered a Western Digital 1TB Black drive for him.
My wife and daughter had a Girl Scout thing tonight so I was home alone, and the Egeat came yesterday . . . perfect timing, eh?
Just as I got it unpacked my son showed up! He asked what I was doing so I had to own up that I was playing with his birthday present! :o
We played just briefly - I don't have the esata output port in my htpc yet as it just arrived today and I was recording some stuff so I couldn't install it till late tonight so I didn't have his 1TB drive loaded up yet, but he dug up an old 40gb usb drive from the closet so we copied some stuff over to it and it worked flawlessly. He couldn't wait to get home to play further with it, so I think he'll really enjoy it! It's not a full blown htpc runninng GBPVR, but I think it'll do what he wants just fine.
Thanks so much for your inputs Martin, they were much appreciated! (always nice to give a gift that really excites the recipient!)