D-Link DSM-380

Zitat: Pro: + Good performance + Fast and nice interface + Plays most formats + Great online media features + Built-in Wi-Fi + RF QWERTY remote for internet use. Cons: - Requires internet for first time use and registration - Remote has almost no media buttons except Play \ Pause - Takes a minute to start up - Not easy to setup and use for novice - No composite or component connectivity - Bulky and heavy.

Zitat: Pro: + Chic Design + Wide Range of Apps + Healthy Video Support Contra: - Awkward Browser - Subpar VOD Content Having come this far with D-Link´s Boxee, we have to admit that the media cube left us with mixed feelings. It isn´t simply a media tank with basic playback facilities. Fundamentally, it enables you to stream, surf, view and listen to a broad range of multimedia files on the cloud as well as those from your local and network drives. Most of all, the Boxee DSM-380 also has the same killer looks to match, even if it appears somewhat unorthodox. Not to mention it comes with 802.11n Wi-Fi perks and an extensive berth of video support, apart from RMVB which a Realtek chip could have fixed. While we respect D-Link´s ambitious plans to create a omnipotent media hub, we also have to state that some of the Boxee´s features felt half-baked upon experiencing them. To D-Link´s credit, however, we can´t blame them for every shortfall. For starters, the Boxee´s UI might require a bit of a learning curve with its lean yet confusing layout. For instance, it took us a while to figure out how to reach the player´s configuration page. Secondly, while its dual-face remote may appear to be an interesting gadget, its implementation is far from polished given how prone we were in hitting the buttons on the flip side. At the streaming end, it isn´t D-Link´s fault in that there is a shortage of legal streaming sites online for the local audience in this region. On the other hand, perhaps the company should invest more time and effort at fine-tuning other aspects, such as its browser and its erratic Flash-support. To sum it up, while the Boxee sure looks fine based its paper promises, but its real-world experience is less than perfect. It certainly has an interesting design and implementation, but sum of the quirks we´ve noticed negated part of the benefits. All in all, it´ll be hard for D-Link to justify its price point against the ranks of cheaper and equivalently functional network-ready media tanks, but it´s probably the next best thing to a real smart TV in your living room.

Zitat: Pro: + Outstanding flexibility + hugely improved usability + good performance Contra: - Built-in web services aren’t as slick as the best rivals

Zitat: D-Link´s Boxee Box has plenty going for it. It´s easy to set up, provides quick and easy access to a wide range of popular TV shows and comes in a neat little package. With support for a wide range of formats, it also works well as a media streamer for viewing content stored on your local network. It isn´t perfect, though - and the links to video-on-demand sites such as BBC iPlayer could do with being streamlined. It´s also a little on the expensive side.

Zitat: Wired: + Promise of easy-to-access internet video. Works with a wide range of video services, including Netflix and Vudu. “Watch later” button lets you time-shift YouTube videos from work to home. Tired: - Quirky interface. Some TV shows appear in the menu, but won’t actually play. Much of the web’s video actually looks really terrible when blown up on a big HDTV.