Cisco-Linksys Dual-Band Wireless A/G Media Center Extender WMCE54AG Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I really like this product. I really like Media Center 2005. But more than anything else, I LOVE the IDEA of this product -- a networked device that helps unite the living room to the home office, giving you one place to put your pictures, videos, and music. This is a great generation one product. I can't wait to see what the next couple of generations bring.
That said, here are the things to be aware of when purchasing:
1) You need to know (or find someone to help you who knows) the basic fundamentals of home networking and Windows. This is not a completely plug and play installation.
2) You must have a very strong network connection between your Media Center 2005 device and your Media Center Extender. Ideally, you would have a wired connection (i.e., using old fashion cables). But I use the Wireless-G option and it works great now -- but I had to spend a good deal of time tuning the placement of my wireless router to ensure optimal connectivity between PC and Extender.
3) Be aware: TV content labeled as Copy Protected will not play on the Media Center Extender. For me, this means one very bad thing -- I can't watch 99% of the shows on HBO on the Extender. This is very disappointing for our family, because we enjoy HBO and actually use the Extender on our main TV in the house (with the Media Center 2005 PC in our home office). Pay TV channels are the only area we have had problems with this, though, so if you don't need to watch these channels on the TV where you are putting the extender, don't worry about it.
4) There are a few other things you can do on the Media Center PC that you can't do on the extender. Mainly for me--the extender can't play content on your Media Center PC DVD drive (I get around this by first burning the DVD to my hard-drive using a product called Pocket DVD -- a perfect solution to put my son's frequently watched kid movies in a place that's easily accessible).
Overall, if you already have Media Center 2005 -- buy this product--it's really cool to have a central hub for all this content with multiple TVs hanging off it.
If you don't already have Media Center 2005, and are considering it -- I recommend it. But be forewarned that it's still what I would call an "early adopter" solution. Be prepared for a few stumbles and bumps -- but it's sure to wow your techie buddies.

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Bring your Windows Media Center PC's digital movies, live and recorded TV, pictures and music out into the living room! The Linksys Dual-Band Wireless A/G Media Center Extender lets you bring the digital entertainment available through and stored on your Windows Media Center PC to your Home Entertainment Center, without running cables through the house.Using a Wireless-A, Wireless-G, or wired Ethernet connection, the Media Center Extender displays home-made or downloaded digital movies and your digital photographs on the TV for the whole family to enjoy.And your digital music collection is finally freed from those little computer speakers and can play in full glory through your stereo system.You can also watch and pause live TV shows, or record them digitally for later viewing.Finding something to watch is easy with the free on-screen program guide.

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ASUS OPlay Air - Wireless N TV HD Media Player Review

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(More customer reviews)Only a few short months after the debut of the ASUS O!Play HDP-R1, Asus gives us the O!Play Air (HDP-R3). It adds wireless connectivity and a media card reader to an already solid media player. For users in search of a versatile wireless media device, this is a serious candidate for your entertainment dollar.
Physically, the Air is identical to its predecessor. It's the same boxy plain-Jane black housing except with a new LED indicator (for Wi-Fi) on the front and 3 media reader slots on the left side (CompactFlash, SD, Memory Stick). Inside, it is the same Realtek chipset and software, therefore, it inherits all the strengths of the R1 as well as all its flaws. For more details on the usability issues, please read my review on the O!Play R1 page.
Instead, I'll focus mostly on the wireless playback capability of the Air, since it is marketed principally as a wireless media player. If you don't need wireless, by all means, save yourself some $ and go with the R1. But if like me, your router and storage devices are too far from your media player/TV and you don't want to be running wires all over the house, then the Air is for you. An alternative is to use powerline ethernet technology, which sends network traffic through your home electrical wiring, but such adapters like the ZyXEL PLA401 200 Mbps Powerline HomePlug AV Wall-plug Adapter (Starter Kit--2 units) are an extra $80-150 to start (and you need at least 2).
Like the R1, set up was a breeze. Do you have to supply your own HDMI cable though (only a composite is included). The AC adapter is very smartly designed and is a regular 2-prong plug like a laptop adapter, not an awkward wall-wart that blocks other sockets. A side benefit of this design is that it affords you about 12 feet of extra cordage to position the Air at a convenient spot on your desk or entertainment rack. Upon plugging it in, it goes to the configuration screen where you enter the video and network settings. It took several tries to find my SSID and connect to my network initially, but once configured, it works without a hitch and connects instantly upon powering up. It's now happily streaming hi-def content off my media servers in the basement (a DNS-321 and DNS-323 NAS (network attached storage)). The interface is still ugly, spartan, and a bit obtrusive (it'll do a needless connection speed test for EVERY file before you can play it), but now I have all the power and flexibility of the R1 without being tethered to a router.
As reported by the unwanted speed test, I get anywhere from 11-17 Mb/s on average from my D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless Router running in mixed mode (g/b/n). Sometimes it's higher, but it's adequate for all my content which are mostly 720p MKV files ranging from 4GB to 11GB. It is able to see my Mac on the network and connect to it, but it couldn't see any files. Comparison to WD TV Live:
-------------------------
I'm pleased with the ASUS O!Play line so far, and there's definitely a lot of room for improvement, but you are probably wondering how it stacks up against the Western Digital WD TV Live, its main rival. First, the Air gives you wireless connectivity straight out of the box. With the Live, you need to purchase a separate compatible N dongle (about $30), giving the Air an edge on price. With RMVB playback, a media reader, and an e-SATA port, the Air is a better value pound for pound, but it is twice the size of the Live and not much to look at.
The Live has the edge on overall polish, design, and user-friendliness. The interface is beautiful and very intuitive. I don't have to drill down several layers through redundant network folders just to get to the videos directory. On the O!Play, I have to jump through a series of hoops. From the main menu I have to select: Movies -> Folder -> Network -> Workgroup -> DNS-321 (my NAS) -> [login popup dialog] -> then finally the drive volumes -> file listings. If you tell the player to save it as a shortcut, it's still a series of hoops: Movies -> Folder -> Network -> DNS-321:/ -> drive volumes -> files. The first 3 menu layers are totally unnecessary and this is a major impedance to usability, particularly if you are trying to explain this to less tech savvy users, like my dad.
Note: It is important to use the Network browser menu option, not UPnP, which is spotty on all devices I've tested. UPnP just doesn't work at all for me. Only a handful of files show up on the list. With Network, all the files are there.
The Air's remote is big, but a bit oddly arranged. The remote on the Live is small, making it easier to lose, and skipping ahead is quite awkward. With the Air, you can set it to skip at a fixed interval (1/5/10/15/30 mins) and just push on the remote. On neither device, however, can you go to a specific time code.
The Air lets you change the encoding of external subtitle files on the fly, sparing you the hassle of re-saving files as UTF-8 that you'd have to do on the Live. If you're dealing with non-Western characters, this is important. Subtitles are easier to read on the Live, however, because it puts an outline around text. On the O!Play, I found myself having to change the colors repeatedly when I was watching one movie because it kept blending into the scenes.
Lastly, the Live has YouTube and Pandora streaming, giving you access to web content. It can also check for update itself and install them. The Air has no access to the outside world.
Overall, I like this player a lot. The ASUS has proven itself to be a versatile and capable media player in my home, despite all its warts and rough edges. The Live and the O!Plays are the only two serious contenders in the home media player market, in my opinion, and you can't go wrong choosing either one of them.
UPDATE: 2/15/2010 - Wow! ASUS just released a firmware update today (1.09) greatly expanding the capabilities of this player! (A corresponding update with the same features was also released for the HDP-R1). It adds internet radio, Picassa, Flickr, weather, and internet TV (but no YouTube)! I watched some educational programming from NHK about Japanese candymaking. The video is blurry, like most internet video, but this is a very exciting addition to the device! There are 100 channels on the list, from all over the world. The top ones on the list are from Asia, and further down, I saw sites from Egypt and other parts of the world. This won't replace cable by a long shot because of the low video quality, but it's a nice add-on for those who enjoy international programming and don't want to pay high cable fees for additional channels. (For me to add Japanese TV, it's an extra $25/month! That's for ONE channel.) I am upgrading my rating to an enthusiastic 5 because of this new functionality. The interface still needs a lot of polish, but the features definitely make the ASUS R1 and R3 an excellent value for your money.

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ASUS O!Play Air - now with integrated wireless N and a built-in card reader, it is the most convenient way access your media files to your TV/monitor.Stream your media content wirelessly or through the LAN.Also equipped with a eSATA, USB, card reader for a variety of storage support.This device is easy to use and highly compatible with many video and audio formats. Experience full HD 1080p playback through the HDMI port.

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Iomega ScreenPlay WiFi Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)the item was described compatible with iomega ScreenPlay HD which is not true,, the item is only compatible with ScreenPlay Director,,


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The Iomega ScreenPlay Director WiFi Adapter is a great accessory that adds wireless functionality to your ScreenPlay Director Multimedia Drive & TV Link Director (wireless router required). Simply plug the 802.11N WiFi adapter into your multimedia drive?s USB port, then enjoy wireless access to your entire collection of videos,music, and photos on your Iomega ScreenPlay Director Multimedia Drive.

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NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Live (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Traditionally known for their routers and network devices, Netgear offically entered the growing home media player market this September with the Digital Entertainer Live. After owning the superb but ethernet-less Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player, I was looking for a device that could play all the 720p/1080i/p MKV videos directly off my D-Link DNS-323 2-Bay Network Storage Enclosure - NAS server and D-Link DNS-321. I didn't want to have to copy files off the network onto USB hard drives then walk them over to my media player just to play them on my TV. After testing this device for several hours, I am disappointed and can say that the EVA2000 is definitely not ready for prime time.
First is the question of what resolution this device actually supports. It is not listed here on Amazon, in Netgear's press release, or on the product specifications page, and no mention is made on the box except the phrase "HD TV media player". Netgear is perhaps deliberately vague on this point. If by "HD", they mean being able to connect to an HDTV, then that is true. If they mean "HD" as in 720p/1080p, then it is not true.
Despite having HDMI out, this device does not output at 1080p at all. It also doesn't play 720p files as far as I can tell. Every one of the hi-res MKV's I tested off my external hard drive failed (18 random movie files @720p and 1080i, H.264 encodes), producing an "unable to display video of this resolution" error. Similarly, the AVI's and WMV's at 720p that I tested also failed. As far as I am able to determine, it can play only up to 480p. I tried a 720x400 .MKV that did play, so Matroska support is working, but I was unable to fast-forward or rewind the file. Other low resolution .AVI files, .MP4's played without an issue.
The device did not recognize any MKV's off my NAS through UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). MKV files on my other server, running Twonky (DLNA software) did show up, however, they could not play since they were 720p.
Next is the lack of subtitle support, or non-Western character sets. The supported system languages are German, English, and French. No Unicode support means filenames and folders will be illegible, showing up as empty squares instead (see picture in gallery).
For internet TV, this product works as described. YouTube and other streaming videos work flawlessly. You can watch videos from all over the world. There are literally hundreds of free internet channels listed, divided by world region. I tested a few CCTV channels (China), Aljezeera English, an Indian channel, Odoroku.tv (Japan), C-SPAN, some Spanish channels, as well as some random others. Almost all of them worked without a hitch, after a brief period of buffering (length depends on network conditions). A few sites couldn't be reached, or failed to buffer and kicked me back to the channels menu. Again, because these are free sites streamed from the web, picture quality is very low, though watchable and a nice option for those who don't want to watch them on their computers. You can bookmark them for fast retrieval. I found the variety of sites listed here to be a pleasant surprise. They represent a wide range of interests and are from all over the world. (These are all free sites you can access from your computer also.)
The picture quality is usually terrible, however, since most internet videos are low-res videos (320x240) that are heavily compressed. When blown up 5x or more to fullscreen on your HDTV, the compression artifacts will be much more apparent and you'll see a lot of macroblocking and pixelation. On a smaller, non-LCD TV, this might be acceptable.
Because you'll be spending a lot of time pushing buttons to navigate around, due to no keyboard or mouse, I've included a series of screenshots to give you a better idea of how the interface works. Remote control response time can be sluggish, so you'll be seeing the revolving dial a lot. Worse is that you can't hit "Back" on the remote to cancel a read command. You have to wait until it finishes trying to read the file or network. During web streamed videos, I couldn't fast-forward. Searching for videos was easy through the onscreen keyboard, but overall I found the interface clunky and not all that attractive, made worse by that spinning dial that popped up with almost every command I pushed.
Lastly, is the lack of an optical output. For wireless, you will need to buy the dedicated Netgear wireless kit. A third party USB wireless dongle (AirLink 101 AWLL6070 150Mbps 802.11n Wireless LAN USB 2.0 Adapter) I tried did not work.
To sum up, this product fails to meet expectations and went back to Amazon Returns after 2 days. It is NOT capable of hi-def playback. It only plays back standard def video. If you enjoy watching blocky internet streams on your TV and don't care about hi-def, then maybe this device would be of value. There is no way to select stream quality from the sites that offer HD streams.
At $150, with no gigabit Ethernet, no optical out, and no hi-def, this product does not compete favorably against other devices already on the market or soon to be released, like the WD TV Live ($120), which adds network support to the already solid and popular WDTV; or the Seagate FreeAgent Theater+HD ($135) and ASUS O!Play - TV HD Media Player ($99), which, like the WDTV Live, is networked and plays 1080p.

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Play your movies, music and photo collections stored on USB storage devices and computers right on your TV. Enjoy YouTube and other Internet video LIVE.n vao voas the loghsl geo Loreum ebspom thleo lakdyog alkdoeon vao voas the loghsl geo Play movies, video, music and photos stored on USB drives, computers or NAS Enjoy YouTube on your TV, without a computer Watch pay-per-view new release movies on-demand without a subscription Watch Live Internet TV from around the world via VuNow (1-year service included) Browse and play popular movies and shows from Hulu, Netflix, Amazon VOD, CBS, CNN, and ESPN and more using PlayOn on your PC. (free trial in box) Search for Internet video using key words Works with older TVs and new HDTVs Easy to use remote control Wirelessly connect to the Internet by using the Digital Entertainer Live Wireless USB Adapter

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Roku SD Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A few months back when my husband had started talking about the Roku box, I admittedly thought it would be a big waste of money. We aren't TV watchers and thus have lived on basic cable for years, but we do have our dedicated "movie nights" where we routinely enjoy watching movies together. We've had Netflix for about 6 years now and we've never gone back to traditional rentals. I thought our unlimited DVD rentals from Netflix was all we needed. It can't get any easier than picking a movie and having it show up at your door two days later, right?
I was wrong. ;)
Since we have jumped on the Roku bandwagon, I've gotten a lot of questions from others around me who are now considering the purchase. I find there is a lot of confusion about what exactly the Roku does, so here we go. The Roku box streams media (movies, TV series, podcasts, music, etc) to your TV in real time. You don't need a Netflix subscription for it to work, but it hugely enhances the enjoyment of the Roku box as it is undoubtedly the most popular feature of the device. With your basic unlimited Netflix subscription (beginning at $8.99/mo or $7.99/mo if you only want the Starz Play streaming media with no DVD option) you have unlimited access to watching streaming videos on your TV at any time of day or night. All you need is a TV (of any kind, new or old) and an internet connection. Cable or DSL is required for good performance of the streaming media. I wouldn't try this on dial-up. You can set it up via traditional ethernet cables or set it up on your wireless network in minutes.
One thing I've noticed in talking with people is that a lot of people may already have a compatible streaming device in their home and not realize it. If you own a PS3, Xbox 360 or Tivo, you can stream Netflix to your TV and you do not need to buy the Roku. Rumors of it coming to the Wii are on the horizon but are not confirmed, to my knowledge. Also, some select Blu-ray players and internet connected HD TVs are compatible as well. Check with Netflix for more information. Again, you do not need to buy the Roku if you already have one of these devices in your home!
The other main feature of the Roku is the ability to stream Amazon on-demand. If you have ever purchased a movie on Pay-per-view, Amazon on-demand will seem instantly familiar. You can rent movies digitally and stream them to your Roku (or other compatible device) any time for a fraction of the cost of your typical Pay-per-view movie. Amazon's digital rentals range in price from $0.99 to $3.99 for newer releases. Each rental has a specific rental time. Some you can enjoy and watch as many times as you like for a full 7 days and others for 24 hours. You also have the option to purchase media this way which is usually the same price or less than what you would pay for the DVD. This allows you to stream it any time and as many times as you like until the end of time. Without taking up shelf space! Pretty nice. You are also able to download it to your PC and/or portable media device for enjoyment on the go. You can download it as many times as you like. As long as you have your Amazon account, Amazon will remember what titles you have purchased and you will have access to it forever. It works just like Amazon's MP3 downloads.
The lesser known features of the Roku include instant access to 12 additional channels which include (in addition to Netflix and Amazon on-demand), MLB.com, MotionBox, MediaFly, Blip.TV, Twit.TV, Facebook Photos, Revision3, Frame Channel, Flickr, Mobile Tribe, and my absolute favorite, Pandora. If you have an account at Pandora.com, it takes seconds to link it to your Roku and start enjoying your music channels instantly. The Roku also supports different Pandora accounts if you have the need. Being able to listen to Pandora on our beautiful surround sound setup any time of the day or night is blissful. My 4-year-old's favorite feature, aside from the plethora of children's titles available on Netflix instant play, is the MediaFly channel which streams 5,000+ audio and video podcasts. Among them, two of my son's favorite video podcasts, Ultra Kawaii and Sesame Street. You have the ability to add your favorites to a list that you can quickly access at any time. My husband is in love with the Twit.TV channel which streams all of their internet shows, including This Week in Tech. The Flickr channel also has a really neat feature that showcases random artistic photos and is actually quite interesting to watch and is never the same. There is really something for everyone in this growing library of channels and it is far more than I expected from the Roku.
Being the new spokesperson for Roku (I kid ;), I also hear a lot of concerns of TVs not being compatible with the Roku. No one should be concerned with this because the Roku ships with all cables needed to hook up to any TV, new or old. If you don't have an HD TV, you might be purchasing the SD version which will connect to any TV with the standard red, white and yellow cables. If you do own an HD TV, you will receive both an HDMI cable and the standard red, white and yellow, just in case. The same goes for the HD-XR version. As far as compatibility goes, there should be no reason that everyone can't have a Roku box, regardless of their type of TV.
In the same vein as the prior concern, there seems to be worry from the less than tech savvy movie lovers out there, fearing setup will be complicated and frustrating. Not so. Roku is able to hook up to your router via a standard ethernet cable or link seamlessly with your existing wireless network in a matter of minutes. Anyone can set this up and avoid frustration completely. It's very straightforward and simple and the onscreen prompts will guide you the entire time.
Now that we know what the Roku can do, I'm sure you want to know, does it actually DO them? Absolutely, YES! Obviously with the SD version, you will be viewing in SD, but the HD and HD-XR Rokus stream HD beautifully. We read some reviews that recommended using the wired ethernet connection to avoid hiccups during viewing, but we have had none whatsoever with our wireless network running on a cable internet connection. I would suggest trying the wireless first as it takes only minutes to do and requires no additional hardware, and if you have problems (which I tend to doubt) you can go the ethernet route. It should not be necessary as long as the Roku is within reasonable range of your router. Keep this in mind when choosing where to set up your Roku.
Navigation of the Roku menus is extremely simple and intuitive. There are your four directional buttons, select, home, and your standard fast forward, rewind and pause/play. I love the simplicity of this remote as our remote collection contains numerous remotes with countless confusing buttons that I have never even used. Don't be fooled by it's looks, however, because this remote is all you need to quickly and effectively access all of the Roku's features. I also wanted to point out that if you lose your remote and you have an iPhone or iPod touch, you can download an app that acts as a remote for your Roku. Sweet!!
Last but not least, you need to carefully consider which Roku you purchase. As nice as it would be to have an all-in-one box which includes all features at one price, currently you have to choose from three versions: the SD, HD and HD-XR. To put it plainly, they ALL have the same exact features. The only difference being the SD is limited to streaming only SD content, the HD can stream all HD and SD content, and the HD-XR can stream all HD and SD content and also includes an as of yet unused USB port (maybe for an external hard drive in the future?) and the ability to link with your "N" network. Given that the price difference is marginal, I would probably grab the next best up from what you are currently needing. If you have any intention at all at any point in the near or distant future to buy an HD TV, get the HD version. It's $20 more and you will spend much more than that getting a new box if you ever do get a new TV. Also, if you are at all enticed by the possibility of having an external hard drive to play all your own media, get the HD-XR. It's not been said what they intend to do with this USB port, but I think it seems fairly obvious what their plans are for it. You may not want to invest the money in a feature that is not yet supported, however. I do think it's a bit cheap to charge $30 more for a feature that should have been standard on all versions, but it is what it is.
In the end, if you love movies and like to save money, you will not be disappointed with the Roku. You will never have to visit a rental store or buy a pay-per-view rental ever again! And you may even save a nice chunk of change from canceling some channels that will now become obsolete with your new toy. If you are at all on the fence, rest assured that you will get your money's worth from this device. It's worth every penny.

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With built-in Wi-Fi, Roku SD Player is the easiest way to stream instant movies and shows from Netflix and Amazon Instant Video directly to your TV. Now at our most affordable price ever, the SD Player comes with everything you need to access a world of great entertainment on your terms including the FREE Roku Channel Store to access even more shows, music, and more instantly to your TV. No wonder Roku is Netflix members' top rated streaming player.

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Roku XDS Streaming Player 1080p Review

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(More customer reviews)Like a lot of people who use Amazon, I own all kinds of electronic gear. Every once in a while, you get your hands on a device that really stands out in terms of ease of use and performance. When I first hooked up my Slingbox, for example, I realized that it was unique and was going to add something truly useful and impressive to my audio-video set-up. When I read a description of the Roku box, I had a similar expectation. Could it be as easy to use as advertised? Would it perform on a level that would really satisfy? Would it be one of those "stand out" devices? Now I can say in all honesty that the Roku player is everything I hoped and more. When the description says you will be up and running in just a few minutes, you can believe it. I opened the box, plugged in the power cord, attached a cable to my high speed router, and ran audio to my amp. I turned everything on and immediately saw the set-up screen for the Roku player. To run a quick test, I tried streaming a video from Netflix--it worked perfectly. This initial set-up and test took no more than 10 minutes. After several days of using the Roku, I have yet to have even the slightest problem. I have added a couple dozen channels and all work as expected. My only moment of hesitation came when I saw how small the Roku player is. It is tiny sitting there with all the other components, but when I saw what it could do, the size became inconsequential. The Roku player truly is an impressive device. While not necessarily a replacement, the Roku XDS Streaming Player is another serious alternative to cable TV. By the way, for those traveling outside the USA, where Netflix does not allow the streaming of movies on your PC, there is a way to connect the Roku player to your Slingbox. You then have access to Netflix through the Roku wherever you have an internet connection.

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Roku is a little box that allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Watch over 100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and more. Listen to music on Pandora, or listen to your own iTunes playlists. Even watch major sports, news, or original Internet programming. It's all available whenever you want it. The all-new, top-of-the-line Roku XDS sets a new standard with 1080p streaming video, the latest wireless technology, and Instant Replay. All for under $100. No wonder Roku is the best selling streaming player ever.

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D-Link DSM-320 Wireless Media Player, Audio/Photo/Video, 802.11g Review

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(More customer reviews)My expectations were fairly low after having read all the other reviews, but I really liked the option that you get from adding a home media drive from D-Link to this set-up (DSM 602H/4H). I've been waiting for a media server that doesn't require me to keep my PC running in my bedroom 24/7. The network drive from D-Link and this media server looked like an awesome combination.
In an effort not to repeat everything that's already been said ... here are the things I believe haven't been mentioned yet ... first and foremost, don't expect to spend any less than a solid weekend getting this up and running .. and even after you do I expect multiple hours will be spent updating firmware etc. over the next few months (at least I hope there are firmware updates coming)
The physical connection was easy and intuitive, but getting the player up and running and connected to my wireless network was a royal pain. I tried to use my media drive as it is advertised by D-link, but apparantly that's not possible without a firmware update. Of course, that firmware update is still in beta release ... do I need to say more. It actually royally p*sses me off that D-Link advertise the combination of the media home drive and the media server, before they can actually deliver that option. I wrote a glowing review of the home media drive, but that was before I updated the firmware to enable use with the media server ... after the firmware was updated, I can't access the management interface for the drive for more than one or two pages before the device has to be restarted (read pull power plug and re-insert) .. the drive doesn't seem to stream the media evenly, so every single song comes across with large gaps where nothing is playing ... pictures don't come across in the right format and shows up on the screen in some oddly twisted aspect ratio ... the media server software that's resident in the media drive firmware update apparantly doesn't read ID3 tags correctly either; it doesn't pick up genres, and artist and album data isn't alphabitized
On a slight possitive note, the media server software running off my PC works much better. It streams evenly, ID3 tags seem correct and pictures are correctly formatted. I still haven't been able to stream a single movie across the media server, but that's personally less of an issue for me personally.
Oh, and although I didn't want to repeat other reviewers .. I have to say this ... THE REMOTE CONTROL ABSOLUTELY STINKS ... worst piece of hardware I've ever held in my hand ... period ... and that includes all those awefull Sony-Ericson phones I've tried over the years ;-)

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D-Link's DSM-320 Wireless Media Adapter is a next generation multimedia product that streams all your favorite media files to your home entertainment center.It supports 802.11g wireless standards with transfer speeds up to 54Mbps. The DSM-320 supports all popular media formats including MP3, WAV, and WMA for audio files, MPEG1/2/4, AVI, and DivX4/5 for video, and JPEG, GIF, BMP, and PNG for images. Plug the DSM-320 directly into your TV to easily access all your media content through the user-friendly TV interface with the included remote control.Experience your digital media like never before with the DSM-320 Wireless Media Adapter.

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Netgear EVA700 Digital Entertainer Review

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(More customer reviews)Before I bought this unit, I tried the D-Link DSM-520 for about a month before giving up. This unit is identical to the DSM in function with one BIG difference-- it is stable! My advise to those not wanting to tinker- skip this technology for a year or so, others read on...
Install
~~~~
I hooked it up to a wireless router and PC with a few external hard drives and it works (almost) flawlessly. First of all, like others said, do NOT install the software that it comes with and also forget Intel Viv technology installs. Just install one of the free (or almost free) software like TVersity (my fav.), Wizd or Twonkyvision. However, except for Wizd, you can't search for a particular album/artist/genre. You have to scroll through menu after menu to find a movie/song/photo.
Media
~~~~~
I am currently streaming a few hundred CDs in FLAC (lossless format) which is noticeably better than the very best MP3 format. For DVDs, I simply have the server software pointed to the Folders that have the DVD (VOB) files. The player does a very good job of picking up subtitles automatically too. I have NOT installed the photo folder as I find the usage completely useless for my needs. I shoot 6MP raw format images. I can't see myself browsing through tens of thousands of images and then waiting for 1 minute for an image to load up!
Conclusion
~~~~~~~~~
All in all, a good system for those that are not intimidated by network setups and server programs but want an uncluttered music system and (almost) instant access to movies, music and photos.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Netgear EVA700 Digital Entertainer

The NETGEAR EVA700 Digital Entertainer connects your TV and home entertainment system to your computer network, letting you enjoy the movies, videos, radio, and photos that reside on your your PC on a larger screen and better speakers.
Easy Setup and Strong Security The EVA700 plugs into your home theater system with a variety of outputs including RCA, S-Video, Digital Coaxial/SPDIF audio, and HD component video. The Digital Entertainer has both 802.11g wireless for up to 54 Mbps speeds, and a wired 10/100 Mbps RJ-45 jack in order to connect the device to your home network. Support for Intel Hub Connect Technology makes the connection easy to set up.
In addition to the hard drive of your PC, the EVA700 also works seamlessly with the NETGEAR SC101 storage device. There is also a USB port on the front of the device, letting you play files saved on an iPod, USB thumb drive, USB disk, or digital camera.
The Digital Entertainer boasts hardware-based WEP 40/64-bit and 128-bit encryption, as well as WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK encryption for enhanced security.
Support for Many File Formats The Digital Entertainer can handle a large variety of file formats. Compatible audio formats include MP3 (up to 320 Kbps or VBR), WAV, WMA (up to 192 Kbps or VBR), M3U, and AAC. Compatible video formats include: MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, AVI, WMV (up to 1080p down-converted), and Xvid. Compatible photo formats include: JPEG, BMP, PNG, TIFF, and GIF.
An included remote control lets you control all the media files on your home network--as well as from popular internet sites--from the comfort of your couch. The NETGEAR EVA700 Digital Entertainer is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box EVA700 Digital Entertainer, infrared remote control (2 AA batteries included), power cable, Ethernet cable, RCA stereo-audio/composite-video cable, installation guide, resource CD, and warranty/support information card.

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D-Link DSM-750 Wireless HD Dualband Draft 802.11n Media Center Extender Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased the DSM-750 a few weeks after it debuted. It was shipped in it's factory box through another vendor **MALL... The box was slightly damaged, but all the parts were there and in new condition. I plugged it directly in and it auto-detected my router and my Windows Vista Premium 64bit PC. I connected with Windows Media Center and started to stream high-definition movies. My old DSM-320 videos, a collection of 500 GB of TV shows and movies, played perfectly too. I had access to my database of 5000 MP3s as well.
I really think that D-Link outdid themselves this time with the DSM-750. I see that a lot of customers gave this 1/5 stars, but my unit came fully functional, and not only satisfied but exceeded my expectations. I am glad that I waited 6 months for this product to come out. I would recommend this device for any Vista user with a Hi-Definition Television. It pairs perfectly with my Samsung 4661. I no longer use the 360 as a media extender/streamer with my DSM-750.

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D-Link DSM-750 Wireless HD Dualband Draft 802.11n Media Center Extender

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D-Link EBR-2310/RE Wired Ethernet Router, 4-Port 10/100 Switch Refurbished Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this router to be able to add wired connections to my Apple Airport Express. It worked using bridge mode but it is far from ideal. It occasionally will drop all connections if there is a lot of data going through it. I think this is probably a firmware issue since it never happened with my airport express alone. Also the data rate seems to have dropped - I used to get 30Mbps when my computer was connected via ethernet to my cable modem directly, and around 25Mbps when using my Airport Express alone, but now it has dropped to around 9-10Mbps. It's still enough for my needs but I really expected better from D-link. After an online search it appears that many people with this router are having the same issues, so I don't think it's just because this one is refurbished. I picked this up for $15 so I don't feel too bad about it but in retrospect I would probably have gone for a different router. Not recommended.

Click Here to see more reviews about: D-Link EBR-2310/RE Wired Ethernet Router, 4-Port 10/100 Switch Refurbished

Create a dependable wired network in your home or small office using the D-Link Ethernet Broadband Router (EBR-2310). Share high-speed Internet access by connecting the EBR-2310 to your cable or DSL modem and allow your users to check email and share documents, music, and photos using their own computer. This Router includes a built-in firewall for safeguarding your network from hackers and malicious attacks. Parental Control features are also included to monitor Internet usage and block inappropriate websites. The EBR-2310\'s Quick Router Setup Wizard helps you quickly and easily set up a safe and secure Ethernet network.

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High Performance 3G/4G Wireless N Router and DLNA Media Server with Bit Torrent download -IEEE 802.11n up to 300Mbps Video file and data center Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Bit torrent is great for sharing stuff. But it consumes too much electricity if your powerful desktop machine just runs the whole day for downloading stuff. So I am looking for something more energy efficient.
I was attracted to the ezdownloader from another maker. But it price tag was a little high and I guess there must be a competitor out there with a better price/feature ratio. So I researched the US Market and then the TW and HK market. There are definitely similar products with much cheaper price. Finally I came to this one - the Sapido 3G N+ Wireless Audio/Video Router.
What this is:
- A wireless router - that serve as any other router out there, you may just hook it up to a DSL/cable modem to get wifi at your home/office.
- A NAT server - you may attach a USB drive to it and access the drive as as SAMBA network drive. The drive can be format to NTFS. I believe the limit is 1.5TB. I am using only a 250GB so it is good enough for me.
- Webcam server - I haven't tested this feature yet. As the spec indicates, you should be able to plug in a webcam and access it from a webpage. It sounds fun, isn't it?
- Finally, the most important factor - A BT downloader. You access this router via a webpage interface, upload the .torrent file, and it will download the contents for you! It allows a list of 20 torrents, with 2 active download running. Unlike the ezdownloader, where you must use the vendor's website to control the download, this router will be access from the LAN only. Depends on how your LAN gateway is set up, you can assign this router as your Web server at your current IP. If you do that, then you may access the router from outside (anywhere over the world).
The set up was not straight forward for non-geeky users. But just be patient and you should be done in 30 minutes. There is no manual provided - only a big folded piece of the instruction paper with diagrams. Since my broadband gateway is already wireless, I use this a wireless Access Point. Yes, you can use this a wireless "client" to your existing wireless network. Then itself can be used as a wired + wireless access point. There are four ethernet ports available to use. I hook my PS3 and XBOX to it and it works great!
The samba network drive can be detected by the PS3 automatically. I am able to watch the movies directly from the PS3 without doing anything extra.
The Pros:
- A lot of feature to play with.
- Wireless AP (the 3G network feature is not tested, but could be a big plus to someone)
- Support BT
- Support Samba
- Upgradable firmware
- Web access from outsideThe Cons:
- BT page not compatible completely with all web-browsers. It likes Firefox and IE more.
- Can't handle Asian character sets - all characters of the downloading file name will be converted to hex byte representation of the character. It makes reading back of the file name difficult sometimes. Not a problem if the file was created before hand and copied to the USB drive.
- The saved path sometimes can not be handled by Windows explorer, if you plug the USB drive to your PC. However, you may use a ftp client to ftp to the router and access the drive to rename the files before moving back to Windows.
=> It definitely can do some improvement on the file system.
Conclusion: overall this product is great product of integrated features. However, I did spend some effort finding it. I think the sales department from Sapido should promote it a little better so a bigger consumer crowd can see its availability.



Click Here to see more reviews about: High Performance 3G/4G Wireless N Router and DLNA Media Server with Bit Torrent download -IEEE 802.11n up to 300Mbps Video file and data center

Digital Home - Network?Data?AV CenterWireless connection for internet surfing, skype, music and games are accessible at every place in your house no mater what type of broadband you use. It can be mobile broadband, hotspot, DSL, cable or others. Superb download booster with 20,000 high sessions. Newest QoS bandwidth priority enhances great smoothness and no lag for games and multimedia streaming.Download files without time and space limit. Just direct all download files to your network hard disk drive. It will continue downloading whenever you are at work, out for fun or at sleep. Files and data are accessible anytime and anywhere, no trouble to deliver large file via email or disk.Download movies and music in your room, connect wirelessly to a media player, you can then enjoy the movies and music with family on TV or LCD monitor in the living room. Multimedia Audio ad Video entertainment is accessible everywhere - living room, study room or remote sites.For 3.5G modem compatibility list please check sapido link.http://sapido.us/data/service/gr1222_35g.htm

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NETGEAR EVA9150 Digital Entertainer Elite Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a pretty cool unit. Setup is a breeze and it even came with a DVI cable to hook up to my TV. It also has RCA cables. I have almost 1TB of movies in various formats(.avi .wmv .mpg) and it plays every one. Sometimes I cannot use the skip function if it doesn't fully support the file but it still always plays it. Transferring the files over was a bit harder. It was going to take 7 days to copy 1TB of files over from my server to the hard drive on the unit that I put in it. I even tried a direct cable and it was just as slow. I don't think it does any conversion but it is very slow. When you add a new hard drive in this unit, it formats it with Linux. When I put the drive from the Digital Entertainer in my Windows server it wanted to format the drive. I had to boot into a Linux OS and then I was able to copy the files over very quickly. The software that comes with the unit is pretty nice also. It lets you tag each movie file with information from the Internet Movie Database. It even displays a box cover. This unit also stores and plays music as well as Youtube videos streaming from the Internet. It will connect to your network by wireless or wired, or it can simply be a standalone unit. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was because of the search feature in the unit. When I want to search for example, the movie "Zoolander", I input the letter "Z" from the remote and instead of filtering every movie that starts with "Z", it lists every movie with the letter "Z" in it like this...
American Zombie
Brazil
Crazy People
Dazed and Confused
Hot Fuzz
Zoolander
It's kind of a convoluted search in my opinion. Other than that, the Digital Entertainer is a top notch unit. It has a very user friendly interface with a nice remote control. It also has 2 USB ports and it can play media directly off of those or the media can be transferred to the hard drive. Netgear did a good job on the Digital Entertainer Elite!


Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR EVA9150 Digital Entertainer Elite

The NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Elite HD EVA9000 series (EVA9150 includes 500GB hard drive) connects your TV and home entertainment system to your computer network, letting you experience your high-definition videos, digital music, and photos on your HDTV and high-quality sound system, directly from your PC. The Digital Entertainer Elite also makes it possible to enjoy streaming media from the Internet--such as YouTube, Internet radio, Flickr photos, RSS feeds, and podcasts -- through your HDTV and home entertainment system.
Watch 1080p Media on Your HDTV from the Integrated Hard Drive or Your PC You've downloaded your favorite shows and movies from the Internet, and you've got hours of home video stored on your computer. Thanks to the Digital Entertainer Elite, you no longer have to restrict your viewing to your computer; you can now watch your digital collection in the comfort of your television room, directly on your HDTV.

The Digital Entertainer Elite can also stream videos and feeds from the Internet to your HDTV, bypassing your computer entirely, for the ultimate viewing experience. And best of all, you can enjoy your videos and photos in full high definition of up to 1080p, thanks to the system's automatic up-converting feature.

Huge Hard Drive for Storage With an integrated 500 GB hard drive, the Digital Entertainer Elite can even store your digital media, making it one of the world\'s largest video jukeboxes. You no longer have to store your movies and photos on your computer's hard drive--it will do that for you, letting you free up space on your computer.

The hard drive also allows you to watch your videos, even when your computer is off, and buffers streamed videos, so even if your network performance is inconsistent, you still enjoy glitch-free video. You could also choose to install a larger Hard Drive (standard SATA) for even more storage capability in the future (go to www.netgear.com/eva9000drive for Hard Drive compatibility list).

USB Connectivity For added versatility, the Digital Entertainer Elite sports two easily accessible USB ports for instant access to content via USB flash drives, digital cameras, iPods, or any other USB storage device. This means you can upload your digital content directly to the Digital Entertainer Elite.

Push 'N' Connect Wireless Technology NETGEAR's exclusive Push 'N' Connect wireless technology provides an easy way for the user to connect to a WPS-secured wireless network with a simple push of a button. With Push 'N' Connect, you don\'t need to key in long and complex wireless passwords. And it is dual band wireless-N compatible, so you get the fastest WiFi connection possible at speeds of up to 300 Mbps when coupled with a Wireless-N router.

Plays a Wide Variety of Formats The Digital Entertainer Elite offers compatibility with a wide range of formats, far more than Apple TV, Media Center Extender, Xbox 360, and other competitors offer. It supports video formats--such as AVI, DivX, WMV, MOV, and more--and audio formats--such as MP3, WMA, DTS 5.1, DTS-HD Master Audio, AAC, and more. The Digital Entertainer Elite also supports 40 Mbps bit rates, providing you with the best quality audio/video possible.

Energy Efficient Design The Digital Entertainer Elite is a NETGEAR Green product, so you know you're getting an eco-friendly product. Its efficient power supply and automatic power-saving mode consumes as little as 0.01 watts of power.

Need More Storage? If you are a media enthusiast and have more video than one hard disk drive can hold, the Digital Entertainer Elite works seamlessly with NETGEAR\'s ReadyNAS DUO, NV+, and Pro products. Just dump all of your HD Videos on the ReadyNAS, and stream directly to the Digital Entertainer, it's as simple as that.

Compatible with Windows (including Vista), Macintosh, and Linux computers the Digital Entertainer Elite measures 2.0 x 17 x 10 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 5.56 pounds. It's backed by NETGEAR's one-year warranty.

What's in the Box Digital Entertainer Elite (EVA9150), 4-device Universal Infrared (IR) Remote Control (2 AA batteries included), power cable, localized to the country of sale, Ethernet cable, RCA stereo-audio/composite-video cable, HDMI cable, installation guide, Windows/Macintosh (Intel-based OS-X) resource CD, and warranty/support information card.



Netgear ReadyNAS Pro Pioneer Edition Network Attached Storage (RNDP600E)

NETGEAR Wireless-N Router (WNR2000)

NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WNR3500)

NETGEAR Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter Kit (XAVB101)

NETGEAR RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router (WNR3500)

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Buffalo Technology Nfiniti Wireless-N Ultra Compact Client USB 2.0 Adapter WLI-UC-GN Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased the Buffalo Wireless-N Ultra Compact USB 2.0 Adapater to provide
wireless capability for the WD TV Live that I purchased at the same time. The Wireless Device is as the descritpion very compact and was concerned at first at exactly how small it was. I was thinking, they have forgotten to install the electronics compoents inside it. Installation was a snap. I plugged it into one of the USB 2 ports on the WD Live. Turn on the WD Live and chose Wirless connection. It identified my wireless network, installed SSID Code and we was up and working within mintues. I have watched several movies and Youtube videos
without any problems. My wireless network is a 802.11G so I am not getting the max throughput that the Buffalo Wireless device can support since it can support 802.11 N. I gave it a 4 star on Relability as I haven't had any problems with it since I installed it about 30 days ago, I would like to see how it will work over the next 12 months. But as far as providing compact and ease of use for a USB2 wireless adapater, I don't know of any that would be better. Buffalo Technology Nfiniti Wireless-N Ultra Compact Client USB 2.0 Adapter WLI-UC-GN

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Buffalo Technology Nfiniti Wireless-N Ultra Compact Client USB 2.0 Adapter WLI-UC-GN

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D-Link Wireless HD Media Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was a bit apprehensive after reading all of these negative reviews, but I thought I'd give it a try myself, and return it if it didn't work out.
Turns out I am as pleased as can be. The main thing I bought it for was to watch downloaded AVI movie files on my TV over my wireless network, and it does the job perfectly. I was surprised at the quality of the picture. No video pauses or skipping issues. I haven't had it lose the network once.
It was simple to set up. For a while it wasn't detecting my wireless network, but then I realized it wasn't the units fault, it was my wireless network. I just needed to reboot the router. After that it was effortless.
If the main thing you are purchasing this for is video playback, then buy it. It works great. But if your main objective is music or photos, it is somewhat sub-par. Its not unusable, it just could use some improvement in those areas and I'm sure there are better units out there for a music player.
I think a lot of the negative reviews are the result of people having setup problems and giving up, or people who wanted to use it mainly for photos or music.


Click Here to see more reviews about: D-Link Wireless HD Media Player

All your videos, photos, and music on the big screen. Sound like a good idea? The folks at D-Link have made it easy with the DSM-520 MediaLounge Wireless HD Media Player. And when it comes to video, this device kicks it up a serious notch by supporting HD video streams-- delivered directly from your computer to your home entertainment system. Enjoy all your digital content from the comfort of the living room with the DSM-520 -- and do it all wirelessly, as the device supports high-speed 802.11g wireless technology. Of course, you can also use a wired ethernet connection if you like.
Formats Galore Thanks to the DSM-520's support for a wide range of media formats, it's ready to handle virtually all of your media, including high-definition video in either Windows Media Video 9 or MPEG-4 format. Enjoy videos with resolutions of up to 1080i from your high-definition television for the best picture quality. Plus, D-Link has partnered with premium online service providers to offer access to a vast array of online radio stations and music download services. You can use the Windows Media Connect feature of Window XP SP2 to playback files protected by Windows Media Digital Rights Management (WMDRM) on the DSM-520. Or, access your entire library of premium downloaded songs and videos directly from the device.
Picture Perfect For compatible television systems, the DSM-520 features a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connection. HDMI offers a pure digital connection for both audio and video. Other video connectors include component, S-video, and composite output, ensuring compatibility with virtually all televisions. Meanwhile, optical and coax audio connectors provide clear digital output and support surround sound when used with a compatible A/V receiver. Enjoy your entire music library in high fidelity from your home entertainment system, rather than from your PC speakers.
Good Looks and Expandability A sleek 17-inch black aluminum chassis with smoked mirror front panel houses the DSM-520, and the stylish unit blends in perfectly with your other home entertainment devices, making your home theater setup complete. Plus, the DSM-520 includes a USB 2.0 port in the front panel for instant access to music, photos, and videos stored on removable USB flash drives or hard drives. Simply insert a USB drive filled with photos into the DSM-520 to showcase them on your home entertainment center. You can also attach a USB hard drive to expand the storage capabilities of the DSM-520. Your stored files on the USB drive can be easily accessed from the unit's user-friendly interface.
Easy Setup A built-in Setup Wizard makes setting up the DSM-520 simple. Configuring the wireless settings is made even easier with Windows Connect Now. Simply run the Wireless Network Setup Wizard from Windows XP SP2, and transfer the wireless settings to the DSM-520 using a USB flash drive. What's in the Box DSM-520 Wireless HD Media Player, remote control (2 AAA batteries included), ethernet cable, A/V composite cable, S-video cable, detachable Antenna, CD-ROM with software and manual, and quick installation guide.

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Airlink AWLL6070 Wireless 802.11n USB Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this because I read that it works well with Linux. It worked exactly as expected although you do need enough tech savvy to download, compile, and install a driver (the open-source RT2870 driver from the Ralink website is the right one). It connected to my Linksys 802.11n router at full speed and very stable. Considering that other manufacturers charge 2-3 times as much for the same thing, and don't have good Linux support, this is a steal.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Airlink AWLL6070 Wireless 802.11n USB Adapter

Extend the range of your current Airlink101 or other wireless network with new 150N Wireless USB Adapter. Wireless N USB Adapter is great for environments with the need for higher wireless data traffic. This USB adapter is fully backward compatible with 802.11b/g and RoHS compliant

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Roku HD-XR Player Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First let me say I own a Roku and LOVE it! NetFlix and Roku are a marriage made in heaven as far as I'm concerned, and they are saving me tons of money and treks to the video store. The picture, ease of use, wireless capabilities, quality of video content... everything is great!
But as a consumer it's important to understand the differences between the 3 Roku offerings so you can make an informed decision on your purchase. It does seem odd that Roku has simply not put out one device at one price for everyone with all the bells and whistles, but for now, you have to choose one... based upon your needs and budget.
THE DIFFERENCES IN ROKU PLAYERS:
Roku HD Player is capable of wired or wireless hook-up, but not at the fastest speed available from a 'N' wireless network. HD content streams to this device flawlessly (if the content is available and your home network is sending a proper signal), despite not being 'N' network ready.
That being said, Roku came out with Roku HD-XR Player which WILL stream the fastest 'N' network standard, provided the rest of your home network is also working with the same standard. That being said, this device is not at all necessary if you don't have all the devices on your home network using the 'N' standard, because the speed will only go as fast as the device with the slowest connection which is probably the 'B or G' standard.
The third device is available on Roku's website. Roku SD, which streams in standard definition, will not stream HD content, isn't capable of surround sound audio like the other two and does not have a HDMI connection. It only supports the red/yellow/white (composite video and audio) connections, but it will connect wirelessly or can be hardwired to the internet, working on a 'B or G' network. The Roku SD is about twenty bucks less than the Roku HD and , so again, consider your needs before buying. **Anyone with a standard def TV and who doesn't plan to upgrade to an HDTV with HDMI ports any time soon, would probably want this version.
The Roku HD-XR Player is a jump up from the HD model in wireless capabilities. All the Roku offerings will give you years of enjoyment by boosting your NetFlix subscription, streaming Amazon On Demand media and boosting your viewing library. What the HD-XR has that the others don't: 'N' network capabilities and 1 USB port for firmware upgrades and possibly, other media hook-ups via USB, but at this time Roku doesn't even bring up the USB on their website so I tend to wonder about this being a selling point. Is it worth the extra cost? Only you know the answer to that question.
MY CONCLUSION:
The quality of the streaming video on my 'G' network is perfect; standard and HD content, via my Roku HD, but since I don't have a 'N' network, nor do I expect I will in the near future, I saved myself a bit of money and didn't buy this one.
The only reason I give this product 4 versus 5 stars is because of the price bump for the ability to use an 'N' wireless network when frankly I believe it should be considered a standard feature, not an extra. The USB port, whatever it's used for, should also be standard on all models. Again, it would be wonderful to have one Roku with all the potential connections and wireless ability, and perhaps in the future there will be, but for now you need to consider these three: Roku SD, Roku HD and Roku HD-XR.
To may your own informed choice, evaluate your needs and buy accordingly. While the Roku products are not media storage devices or DVR's, they can give you a tremendous boost in your enjoyment of NetFlix and expand your viewing library.

ROKU HD-XR PLAYER SPECIFICATIONS (per the Roku website):
*Note the USB port isn't even listed as a feature.
Networking
Wi-Fi (802.11N/B/G "dual-band") with WEP, WPA, and WPA2 support
10/100 Ethernet (RJ-45)
Video Outputs
Composite video (480i)
S-Video (480i)
Component video (Y/Pb/Pr - 720p/480p)
HDMI (720p/480p)
Video Modes
16:9 High Definition (HD)
16:9 anamorphic
4:3 standard
Audio Output
Stereo (L/R RCA)
Digital Optical (Toslink - Stereo/Surround)
Digital over HDMI (Stereo/Surround)
Remote Control
NEC protocol, supported by various universal remotes
Power Input
5V, 2.5A provided by included AC adapter
Power Consumption
6 watts peak, 4 watts in standby
Size
5 x 5 x 1.75 inches (130 x 130 x 41 mm)
Weight
11 oz (300 grams)UPDATE: 10/31/10
After using this item almost daily for over a year (even got a second one for a bedroom unit) I'm still convinced Roku's are fantastic devices for almost any home. We still have cable, but it's not piped to my daughter's room (the location of the second unit) and she doesn't mind a bit. With the upcoming addition of Hulu streaming to the Roku... the selection just keeps growing! A fantastic deal for $9 a month Netflix subscription.
As for missing the 'N-wireless'... I still don't. Could be because I've not upgraded my home network, but truly the speed of the uploads with this one are sufficient for my needs and my home network is stable and provides excellent picture quality with my set-up. I would say that if I buy a new one in the future, the recently upgraded units are the way to go though. Unless they significantly drop the price in this one. The newer ones have 1080p ability and the 'n-networking' as a standard. If you're going to pay the same amount for this one versus that one... it's a no-brainer to choose the upgrade.
The differences in the 'upgraded' offerings...
Roku HD:
Doesn't play 1080p...nor does it support 'n' or any other bumps in perks. It does however have wireless capabilities and is the cheapest of the offerings. Roku HD Streaming Player.
Roku XD:
Does play 1080p full HD video **(assuming the Netfix offering CAN stream in full HD - not all the offerings are in full HD)**, have an instant replay button, have extended range wireless (b/g/n compatible), and probably offers the best deal for most consumers as the mid-range offering. Roku XD Streaming Player 1080p
Roku XD/S:
Offering the most bang for your buck, this Roku has dual-band wireless N (the latest wireless standard and potentially the fastest if your home network is set up for it...), extended range wireless (b/g/n compatible), have an instant replay button, component video and optical outputs, and a usb port for playing music, videos and photos. Your Roku must be upgraded (available in 11/10) via software upgrade - done wirelessly by the Roku - to make this function work.
Roku XDS Streaming Player 1080p
Overall, my impression of the Roku is unchanged. It's a great device that just keeps getting better. I love it and will continue to be a loyal Roku and Netflix customer for years to come.
UPDATE: 12/21/10
The Roku HD that I purchased 14 months ago stopped locating my wireless network. Attempts to reset to factory settings, reboot, etc... didn't work so I checked the Roku.com site for support. The first call to support yeilded surprising results. The tech said they would be sending me a FREE replacement to my Roku. I informed her it was no longer under warranty, but this didn't matter, which totally floored me! I was told that all I needed to do was fax the proof of purchase (a copy of my invoice from Amazon) and call them back to let them know I'd sent it. I did this and the second support tech confirmed that they'd received the fax and would be sending me a new unit (not sure which one yet) and a pre-paid box to return the defective one.
I'm stunned by this, as my Roku is two months off of warranty. I was going to purchase a new Roku (as my current unit is not the current model sold by the company), however now I'm hoping to be back on track within 3 to 5 business days, and loving this product and company all the more!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Roku HD-XR Player

Now featuring extended-range wireless, Roku is the easiest way to stream instant movies and shows directly to your TV - over 50,000 and counting, from Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and more. The top-of-the-line HD-XR model uses the latest wireless standard (Wi-Fi "N") to deliver the best quality video virtually anywhere in your home. It's so easy and powerful; no wonder Roku is Netflix members' top rated streaming player.

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