comparison blog is back from vacation… check it out for links to all comparison engines…
useful links for this woot plus a little TLC can do wonders.
I am content with my S-Video cable tyvm.
What no pod cast? thats the only reason I stay up every night 
Umm, Yea so the wireless sounds like a bad Idea for media (whoopsie went to microwave the popcorn and knocked out the movie!) and for this price you can get an old XBox and do the same thing but get this the Xbox can play games.
Ehh. It looks good. It might be good. But If it wont go with my MythSetup then Im out.
So, this is the same as buying a couple of cables?
Now all the wooters can watch their grainy 7-second porn clips on their woot 61" InFocus DLPs and woot BenQ Projectors?
sorry woot… already have a DSM-320 (parents and grandparents have one also)
do I detect a lack of mac compatibility?
Yea Selling on ebay between 150 and 225! if you have the money and willing to take the chance of Refeurbished! go for it!
i have a feeling theres a much cheaper way to do this with less bugs…
Word to the wise: MCE over a wireless connection SUCKS.
Also, just save up and buy a 360…it’s the best MCE extender I’ve used.
And yes, you need MCE on your PC…which, I think is still OEM only???
Interesting, but a little pricey to play with… until someone invents a wireless VGA transmitter over 802.11g I’ll pass.
How about some women? Can’t you find a surplus of single, intelligent - perhaps a bit geeky - women with average or higher attractiveness to stock? I’d pay double shipping on something like that. That’s what I need. Maybe throw in a camera bag, too.
I’ll hold off for Apple’s iTV, thanks…
If you do own a Media Center edition of Windows, this does look like a good product. Go for it! (:
Linksys product page:
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C2&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1115416829578&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper
Has owners manual, firmware download links, etc
this looked cool at first, but check out this snippet from an Amazon review which just totally kills this player for me and I’m sure for a lot of Wooters:
First, the Media Center Extender does not support many common movie or video formats such as .Avi, DivX, Xvid or .Vob. The only supported formats are MPEG-1, MPEG-2 or WMV (standard definition only, not high def). In addition, it will not work if these videos have AC3 or Dolby Digital Audio, only 2 channel audio works. See details from the Microsoft Website below:
Video file formats supported:
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Windows Media Video 9 main profile
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WMA Standard audio
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Max resolution 720x480
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Max bit-rate 4Mbps
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WMV content may be Windows Media DRM-protected
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MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 standard definition
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MPEG-1 layers I and II audio
So, if you have a big video library on your hard drive, you may not be able to watch them with your Media Center Extender without first transcoding them to a supported format.
Second, you cannot put a DVD in your PC and play it on your Media Center Extender. You would need to rip it to your hard drive (in one of the few supported formats above) before you can play it.
ouch.
Not just OS X, but most versions of Windows as well (not to mention every other pet OS out there).
In theory you could run the media center edition of Windows XP on an Intel Mac, so strictly speaking it is not incompatible with all Macs.
Lack of .avi, Divx or Xvid support is a deal breaker for me. I’ll have to pass.
Only works with Media Center ed. so no dice my friends… By the way, hahahaha, the joke of the day is that there is NO compatibility between the Windows Media Center and Vista… so if you plan to get Microsoft Vista stay away
I could see the use for this product. However if someone is up for buying a product like this they are fairly good with computers (downloading, making videos, music etc.) So, Its pretty safe to say most of us uh-uhm them can burn dvds etc to put the videos on or just own an IPod and hook up that to your entertainment center.
I have a couple of these and they work well (best with ethernet not wireless). Just keep in mind no streaming hd if it is identified as such (on your pc) and you MUST have media center on your computer otherwise these are of no use. Price is about right and maybe a bit less than some open box units on ebay just depends how many are listed there at any one time.
Price wise, woot wins.
As for the device itself - its a novelty item, not really made for use. It only supports certain file types (and it is a major pain to go around converting video files), and doesn’t allow the playing of copy-righted material.
The wireless feature is ‘cute’ but isn’t always strong enough to support playing videos. Further, there are frequent complaints of lock-ups and hanging, either on the computer or firmware end.
If you’re looking to show off to geek friends and gloat about your woot deal, go for it, otherwise I say pass - wait for linksys’s next model (this one is nearing two years old) which is bound to be more solid.