tech – Media Extender $100 from Linksys (for Microsoft Media Center Win/Vista application)

The Media Extender works with Microsoft’s entertainment system; and originally retailed for $300 or more…  it can be purchased today for around $100 – is it worth it? In a word: no.

But, it is a sign of things to come. In the same way that Apple’s TV was an experiment, the ability to record broadcast television or recieve early content of internet TV (which is limited, but at times can provide unique interesting content!??!) – but, it’s clearly still not main stream media, and will take time before it’s become the “normal way to view” broadcast material.

If a TV tuner is added to a Windows/Vista PC then the Media Center provides features like a DVR or TiVo. But, you could watch the Media Center on your PC, so the feature that a “Extender” adds is that it’s being displayed on your TV with the comfort of your living room, bedroom, or den. That’s all.

To quote one reviewer (on Amazon.com) DMA-2100 is very much worthy of your $100.   [ J. Sopha,  Oct 2008 ]

If you are thinking to purchase one, be sure you get the extender with DVD player – but, there’s TWO key facts to keep in mind:

• The DVD player will play a DVD to be displayed on the same TV which the video output is connected, but don’t expect the DVD to interact with your PC (like to provide input to the media recording on the host PC)
• The resolution is limited (it’s NOT an HD media player); you will see the equivalent to SVGA/XVGA output, but not HD 720p or 1080i

The menus are identical to the Media Center on a Windows/Vista – and, the remote works when aimed at the Linksys Media Extender – it interacts with your Windows machine over a wired or wireless home network.  It’s pretty well done, even though the response time is sluggish at times (and, you end up wondering if it’s your PC, or the Network, or the internet – well, it’s just the Media Extender (my guess).

As I said above, it’s not worth spending $300, and it’s really not even worth $100 unless you think a $100 conversation piece or a relic of the museum to remember ten years from now that you had the first media extender that was ever built.  But, later on, there will be a version which works with BluRay and it will provide a HD video output – and, it will cost $50.  Or, it will just become a part of the TV’s built-in features, and you wont even realize how little it costs.

LiveJournal Tags: Windows Media Center

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  Jim writes blog entries on technical topics in software development tools, software quality, initiatives in green energy and conservation as well as yoga, meditation, and chronicles of his family history. Profile LINK to his “Microsoft LIVE” profile, Facebook, or Linked-In profile.

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