Holiday Shopping List
Find media devices for your favorite music and movie lovers.Michael Desmond
It's that time of year again, when holiday shoppers look around for the Next Big Thing. While media devices that take music and video from your PC and play them on your stereo or TV are not new, this is the year they're supposed to be usable.
In the interest of protecting your holiday budget, I've compiled some of the more affordable products for turning a PC into a media server.
Media Servers and Adapters
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Wireless Music: A large remote control with a spacious LCD display (though it could use backlighting) sets this system apart. Audio only. $199.
Linksys Wireless-B Media Adapter: Affordable audio-streaming adapter will also display static images (JPEG, TIF, and others) on a TV screen. Audio, but no video. $150.
Netgear Wireless Digital Music Player: Affordable, audio-only device offers links to Rhapsody music service. Audio only. $120.
Roku SoundBridge M1000 and M2000 Network Music Player: With a compact, cylindrical design, the Roku SoundBridge provides both Windows Media Connect and Apple ITunes capability for outstanding flexibility. The M2000 offers a larger and more detailed display. Audio only. $249 and $499, respectively.
Omnifi DMS1 Digital Media Streamer: Another Windows Media Connect-compliant music adapter, the device uses a USB dongle to connect to ethernet networks (a wireless adapter is extra). Audio only. $200.
Hauppauge MediaMVP Digital Media Receiver Model 1000: Affordable and straightforward, but lack of wireless network links means you have to run an ethernet cable between your PC and the adapter. Audio and video. $90.
Roku HD1000 High-Definition Digital Media Player: HDTV-capable media adapter offers component-in and-out ports, and includes multiple memory card slots for producing stunning instant slide shows from digital camera photos. The device lacks integrated wireless network capability, and video format compatibility is limited. Audio and video. $280.
D-Link MediaLounge DSM-320 Wireless Media Player: Uses 802.11g wireless network to stream video and audio from a host PC. Supports Windows Media Connect for playing Microsoft DRM-protected content. Audio and video. $230.
Media PCs and Extenders
The latest versions of Microsoft Media Center PCs employ Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. This iteration is notable for its improved features, but the real change is in selection. Where Media Center PCs have been available from a handful of vendors in the past, the selection now ranges from stalwarts like Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and Sony to game-savvy players like Alienware and VoodooPC. Prices vary.
Linksys Media Center Extender, HP Media Center Extender x5400: Expect more of these slim, fanless boxes to hit store shelves by holiday time. Thanks to Microsoft's tight control of the Media Center spec, devices should be very similar in terms of functionality and feel. These boxes let you control the remote Media Center PC, so you can record and play back TV shows, stream music, and view photos on your big-screen TV. Best of all, they offer an interface nearly identical to that on the Media Center PC itself, solving one of the biggest bugaboos about media adapters. $299 each.
Microsoft Media Center Extender for Xbox: Consists of an infrared receiver, remote control, and a DVD with the extender software for the Xbox. The package lets your Xbox communicate with a Media Center PC to stream video, music, and photos from the PC to the TV the Xbox is connected to. The updated Xbox acts just like a standard Media Center Extender, so you can control the Media Center PC from the Xbox to do things like record shows or download music. For Xbox owners, this could be the most affordable way to get Media Extender functionality. $80.