Netgear Digital Entertainer Live

[scuba_steve]

New Netgear streamer announced on Gizmodo today:

http://gizmodo.com/5354670/netgear-digit...television

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BTW, it's already listed on Amazon...as in stock:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HWRJXU

[chris57]

You and your netflix

[halfelite]

$150 seems like a high price tag. And that remote looks horrible lol.

[jpopusa]

Doesn't even come close to the C200 in features. The only codec it has that the C200 doesn't is Divx. Like many people have posted.
Who uses Divx anyways?

Take the 150 to 200 dollars and buy a HDD for the C200.

[scuba_steve]

(09-08-2009 09:52 PM)jpopusa Wrote:  Doesn't even come close to the C200 in features. The only codec it has that the C200 doesn't is Divx. Like many people have posted.
Who uses Divx anyways?

Take the 150 to 200 dollars and buy a HDD for the C200.

List price (according to netgear) is $150...which is a *half* the price of a C200...so is it really a valid criticism to say that it has no value because it doesn't have all of the features of A C200? A C200 with a HDD would cost even more...and I don't need it.

I use my PCH for two things - streaming DVDs off of my home server and watching netflix on-demand. I may eventually start using it for hulu as well since netflix on-demand appears to be losing some episodic content (e.g., 30 rock). That's what I need...and my family would like that capability on more than the one set on which we have it now (using an A100)...and this device does it...for half the price of a C200. In fact, for somewhere around the price of a C200 with a HDD, I'd *much* rather have this:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/07/acer-...spirerevo/

100% compatible with *anything* that I can view on a Windows-based PC. Now *that* is worth paying for in my opinion. That said, there is still a place for media streamers...and their place in my house is the spot where they occupy a *much* lower price than a full nettop.

For someone like me who already has a PCH and Playon running on a home server, that is a *very* nice price..and one that allows me to add streaming to one or two more TVs around our house very inexpensively. Currently, my only other reasonable option is an A110...and that option costs $215. Frankly, I think the argument about "why not just buy a C200" applies more to an A110 than to this device.

BTW, "remote looks horrible?" Well, I suppose opinions vary. Personally, I *hate* my A100's remote. It has a ridiculous number of buttons...including many that seemingly do nothing. Finding "pause" in a movie requires looking at the confusing grid of buttons...and heaven forbid that you screw up and hit "stop" by mistake...which happens all the time and pretty much ends the movie for my family at that point. The pictured netgear remote looks extremely simple and functional to someone like me...who mostly uses the remote to start, stop, pause, and FF/Rew.

I guess my message is that one size doesn't fit all...and that this a nice price point...and one that I hope to see the A110 at soon. Until then, I may just plunk down the plastic for one and see how it works.

BTW, Chris, you are right, my family LOVES netflix on-demand.

[halfelite]

hehe. I like things with buttons. I remember the first time I used the roku remote. And I was thinking wtf how does this thing even work with only 4 buttons.

Im a little disappointed in netflix content myself. Although its been a few months since I last looked. It seemed they did not have very much on demand stuff. And same problem with amazon unbox.

[Pernod]

Looks like a tidy little device. Really depends on what you want to do with it. There's no DTS and no digital audio out, only HDMI and a custom composite AV output.

From past experience Netgear do release nice stable products but the interface will likely be quite basic and definitely not customable like the PCH series.

It's more like a starter unit for someone that simply wants plug and play with no fancy extras.

[scuba_steve]

(09-08-2009 10:41 PM)halfelite Wrote:  hehe. I like things with buttons. I remember the first time I used the roku remote. And I was thinking wtf how does this thing even work with only 4 buttons.

Im a little disappointed in netflix content myself. Although its been a few months since I last looked. It seemed they did not have very much on demand stuff. And same problem with amazon unbox.

Yes, I agree. The Netflix "instant viewing" content is very light...and it is getting lighter...as the broadcast networks move more toward online sites that force you to watch embedded commercials. I believe that is why NBC is pulling some of their content...so my hopes for even more content appear to be dashed...at least to some extent.

For what they do have though, they rock. Compatibility with Playon, no commercials, a nice scrolling UI (on the PC, not via Playon), and remembering where you left off (once again, not via Playon). My family has literally watched hundreds of hours of Netflix instant viewing programming...including PBS Frontline episodes, three seasons of heroes (we are late to that party), movies, and much more.

In contrast, we tried watching a Fox-based show on Fox's website, and:

1) We had to install more &*^% (stuff)
2) They only had about every fourth episode
3) They had embedded commercials...some that required getting up and clicking to proceed after the commercial


Man, Netflix shines in comparison...and personally, I would be willing to pay even more for it if they would catch up on the content and offer everything in their catalog for instant viewing...but I imagine that Hollywood has a say in that.

[nuke12]

I guess that's why different devices are made. Everyone has different needs. It's not for me, though.

[Specter]

Major deal killer,
Not digital audio out except for HDMI, no MKV support, no DTS.

Im going by whats listed on their product specification page.