If the music tracks,
digital
photographs and video on your computer rarely get to see the light of day, a
media streamer (a device that grabs them off the PC to play it on the TV or
hi-fi) could set them free.
Linksys's
DMA2200 Media Center Extender is one such device and, as the name suggests,
extends Microsoft's Media Center software to a TV, allowing users to access all
the media stored on PCs from the comfort of the sofa. The PC will need to be
running Windows Vista Ultimate or Home Premium and needs to be switched on
whenever the DMA2200 is in use.
What makes the DMA2200 stand out is its usability. Setting it up is a breeze
and, with the Media Center display, browsing a media library is simple, with
everything presented in a logical manner. Within seconds we had a
slideshow
of holiday snaps on display with a selection of handpicked tracks playing in the
background.
Streaming
video is just as easy and, since format support is determined by what Media
Center can handle, few files won't play. A selection of online video is also
available, including free content from MTV along with subscription-channels.
And, if the PC running Media Center has a TV tuner installed, you can also
watch, pause and record live TV.
One gripe is that the interface isn't as smooth flowing as Media Center on a
PC, with a short pause often occurring before DMA2200 reacts to a button press
on the remote. The DMA2200 can be hooked up to a network using wired or
wireless
connection.
Linksys
has furnished it with the ability to talk using the latest 802.11n wireless
standard, which boosts speeds and makes it possible to stream high-definition
video wirelessly. However, unless you own a wireless router that supports the
same standard, you'll have to stick to slower wireless speeds, which are fine
for streaming standard-definition video.
The box also squeezes in a
DVD
player. A non-DVD version (DMA2100) is available for £30 less, but this
player is able to upscale standard DVDs for high definition screens. It's no
substitute for a Blu-ray video disc but it does make films look better. The
jewel in the DMA2200's crown is undoubtedly its ease of use.
We've seen plenty of technically impressive media streamers in the past that
were let down by lacklustre
user
interfaces. Much of the DMA2200's impressive usability is down to its close
ties with Media Center. This is, however, its one big flaw – if you don't have a
Vista PC with Media Center up and running, you won't be able to use it.
Reader comments