Digital Media Player

Netgear® EVA2000 Digital Entertainer Live

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Netgear® has three models in the Digital Media Player genre that are worth mention.  The first of these three that I will review is the  Netgear® EVA2000 Digital Entertainer Live is the newest model released in 2009.  Like the Buffalo Digital Media Player, the EVA 2000 is  solely a streaming based media player that allows you to stream your digital media from your computer to any TV in your house.  Add in a Netgear wireless adapter to access wireless features, and easy set-up, and you have media players that anyone can set up and get running in a matter of minutes.  It comes in black, has a  sleek look, and would be a great addition to any home theater.  There are some downsides as well.

Netgear® EVA2000 Digital Entertainer Live

Prices: $125.00-$150.00 USD

Netgear® launched this little player in July of 2009.  It offers great features for a wired home theater system.  The EVA2000 can also be used as a wireless digital media player, but you must purchase the wireless adapter, Netgear® Wireless Adapter for EVA2000, in order to take advantage of the wireless features.  The wireless adapter will run about $40.00 from Amazon.  The EVA2000 offers great features, but does not offer many options in the connectivity area.  Limited to only an HDMI output, the EVA2000 is geared toward the household with strictly home theater systems which include a TV with HDMI.  This leaves out any Component Video or S-Video families out there.  Netgear is intentionally vague in describing the resolution output.  The name suggests HD output, but from what I can tell, it only outputs video at 480p.  So if you are looking for high end 1080p output, or just 720p output, then you will want to look elsewhere.  I’ll be reviewing two other players from Netgear that offer the higher end features.  If you are looking for a simple player to stream videos from Youtube or other online video services, or just a basic way to stream media from your computer then this player might be for you.  Some key features are:

Eva2000 Back

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Buffalo Technology LinkTheater™ HD Digital Media Player

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Surprisingly light weight for its size, the Buffalo Technology LinkTheater HD Media Player (Model LT-H90LAN) is a great addition to any living room with its high tech look.  Have you ever heard it said, that it’s what is on the inside that counts?  The LinkTheater has its Pros and Cons like any Digital Media Player and my impression is that it is a good buy for the price, but might not have enough “muscle” for the higher end home theater buffs that drool over features like 1080p or need a wider range of video format compatibility.

Buffalo Technology LinkTheater™ HD Digital Media Player

Prices: $150.00-$175.00 USD

This specific type of media player differs slightly from the Seagate digital media player type in that this Buffalo model allows you to stream high definition content from a Windows or Macintosh computer, and it will stream from any network storage device such as a USB hard drive or network attached storage (NAS) device, or DLNA media server.  Buffalo offers an add-on storage hard drive (Buffalo LinkStation Live™ 1.0TB Model) to allow more space that can be connected to your computer and accessed by the LinkTheather™ HD.  This is a LAN media player that comes with a built in 10/100 LAN port.  I do like some of the connectivity of the Buffalo digital media player, but you might want to check out the HDX 1000 if you are looking for a wireless media player.  Here are some of the pros:

Buffalo Backside

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Seagate Digital Media Player – FreeAgent Theater and FreeAgent Theater Plus

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Seagate has two models of digital media players in their stable at the moment.  The most recent addition was added to their lineup when Seagate announced the FreeAgent Theater Plus™ on September 15, 2009.  Seagate improved upon their original digital media player, the FreeAgent Theater™, but both hard drive media players offer great features.  It really just depends on what your home system can support. 

Seagate FreeAgent Theater™  

Prices: $175.00-$250.00 USD(500 GB Model); $100.00-$170.00 USD(250 GB Model)

First released in February of 2009 the 500 gigabyte FreeAgent model (ST905004CEA1E1-RK), and the 250 gigabyte FreeAgent model (ST902503CEA1E1-RK) give the user an inexpensive hard drive media player, with an easy to use interface without breaking the bank.  Some features will be sacrificed by going with this earlier model.  For example, the FreeAgent will only output up to 1080i, as opposed to the FreeAgent Plus that will deliver true 1080p high definition.  Here are some of the hilights of the FreeAgent:

FreeAgenet Theater Backside

  

  

  

  

Seagate FreeAgent Theater+™  

Prices: $175.00-$289.00 (500 GB Model)

This model (ST905004CEA2E1-RK) released in September of 2009 is only available with 500 gigabytes of storage.  The price is a little higher, but you are getting additional features at a minimal cost with this hard drive media player.  If your home theater system can handle 1080p True HD, then of the two Seagate models, the Seagate hdd plus media player is the obvious choice.  Some websites that I researched have this model listed at the same price as the earlier FreeAgent model.  The FreeAgent Theater+ leaves nothing out.  Great selection of connections and an easy to use interface with a remote control, this model has it all.  Theater Plus ScreenshotThis model comes ethernet ready, and there is a wireless adapter available for around $70.  Finally view all your home media, pictures, music, and more in true high defintion.  Both of the Seagate drives incorporate their unique drop in docking that makes it really easy and you don’t have to fuss with carrying wires back and forth from the computer to your living room.  Here are some of the highlights of the Seagate HDD Plus Media Player:

Theater Plus Backside

 

 

 

 

 All Photo Credits: Seagate

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