In part one of this beginner series, I discussed the main Media Center PC and the hardware considerations that come into play. The next thing we need to look at when setting up a Media Center system is integrating your whole home. Having to put a PC at each TV isn’t always an option and Microsoft has made sure that you don’t have to. Media Center can be extended around your home through the use of extenders and we’ll cover them here today.
You have several options when looking for an extender. Prices range from $100 to close to $300 and what you choose will depend not only on your budget but what other features you might like to have. They each offer something different and I’ll pass along my recommendations as we go.
First on our list of extenders is probably also the most popular. The Xbox 360 comes out of the box ready to connect to any PC in your home with Windows Media Center. The setup process is quick and intuitive. Once connected you have the full Media Center experience at your finger tips. Of all the extenders I’ve used, the 360 certainly has the fastest interface. The one complaint this box has received is the amount of noise it makes. While neither me nor my wife can hear it, others have commented that they can. Something to consider. The good part about the 360 is that you’re getting a great gaming machine in the process. Even if you don’t consider yourself a gamer, per se, there are a lot of casual games available for the system that may make it worth the $200 price tag for the lowest priced model.
Next up is the Linksys DMA-2100 and DMA-2200. The only difference between the two boxes is that the 2200 comes with a built in DVD player. Since I’m the type of user that puts his content on HDD, this isn’t important to me, but you may want it. One of the differences between this (and other) extenders and the Xbox 360 is the speed of the UI. I currently have a DMA-2100 connected to one of my televisions. It’s running wireless, and the UI is certainly much slower than the 360s. While the wireless connection is contributing to this, much of it has to do with processing power. The Linksys doesn’t have it. Don’t take that to mean that this is a bad extender. I’ve been very happy with it so far. It does its job perfectly and when on sale you can get one for around $100 or less. That makes this the cheapest extender of the bunch. The 2200 normally goes for a bit more but again, when on sale you should be able to find one for around $100. For that price, understand that you’re getting an extender and nothing else. The other devices listed in this article will typically do something else. Not so with these.
The last extender I want to cover by itself today is the D-link DSM-750. I have yet to use one of these so it would be unfair to review it for you. What I can tell you is that according to the D-link website, the DSM-750 will provide a little more than just extender capabilities. Outside of the Media Center UI you are able to access your content. This means that technically you don’t have to have a Media Center PC to be able to get your videos, pictures and music to your TV. Though someone like myself wouldn’t use this feature, it is again something to consider. Also, the DSM-750 is compatible with PlayON, a software application which when run on your PC, provides access to online video content such as Hulu, Youtube, etc. This could be nice if you enjoy watching online video. This extender goes for $290 according to the D-Link and I rarely see them on sale. For this price I’d expect a lot more…
I won’t go into detail on any other extenders out there. There are several. I’ve been told that HP has discontinued the MediaConnect extender. Samsung has one available but this will only work with select Samsung televisions. As well, Toshiba has several in the works including, I believe, several models of televisions which will have the extender built in allowing you to simply plug it in, connect it to your network and be ready to go. The options available are many and there isn’t one “perfect” solution. Many times this means that a combination of extenders is what is needed.
Please comment with questions should you find yourself looking for an extender and not knowing which to use. I’m always happy to help!
Originally posted to Entertainment 2.0
