D-Link Boxee
Box Set-Top-Box
"We get it – you want to the freedom to watch whatever you want on your TV: Movies, TV Shows, Sports, but also any other video that is available online. You want to do it without having to connect a computer to your TV or use a keyboard and mouse. We’re all over it. The Boxee Box by D-Link: watch, organize, share – you are now in full command of your TV for the first time. No rules, no contracts."
An elegant piece of hardware, and a $200 powerhouse
This review is from: Boxee
Box by D-Link
The Boxee Box is a rather daunting undertaking by trying to take
software normally run on a computer, and put it in a box that is only
$199. My overall pros and cons are as follows:
Pros:
* The Boxee Box plays every file format you can throw at it
* Fairly comprehensive solution for local and online media
* Excellent and responsive remote with usable keyboard
* SD Card slot for quickly playing of files off of a camera
* Searching is quick, intuitive and involves local and online media
* Wireless N can stream 1080p files locally
* Less than $200
Cons:
* Multiple authentication entries required when setting up shares (could be easily fixed)
* Can be painfully slow to view large movie and show libraries (over 30 seconds to load)
* No Netflix or Hulu (yet... likely will be there soon)
* Keyboard is great, but not backlit. Can't see any of the keys in dim light.
* Only one audio visualization...hope they get more or bring back ones from XBMC
* Some Apps do crash (i.e. youtube leanback)
* HDMI Audio issue, but may be on my end
* Scanning of metadata takes hours
* Photos load very slowly if not over USB or SD Card
Though there are a few bugs and quirks, I'd say the Boxee Box is quite an elegant piece of both hardware and software design given the modest price tag. It definitely has the capability to be a 5 out of 5 product, but given the above, I current give it 4 out of 5 stars. Still a great Christmas present, and the development community will likely get rolling as the box hits the mass-market.
For a more in-depth version of this review, check my site at mattapps dot com, and search for boxee.
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