A media center extender with DVD for $95 shipped
The DMA2200 features 802.11n wireless and an upscaling DVD player.
(Credit: Linksys)Your PC's in one room, and your big, fancy HDTV's in another. How can you bridge the gap between the two? Answer: with a media center extender, which wirelessly pulls music, photos, videos, and more from PC to TV.
Newegg has the Linksys DMA2200 Media Center Extender with DVD for $94.99 with free shipping. These are new units, not refurbs, and they're rebate-free, to boot.
Easy to mistake for a DVD player, the DMA2200 doubles as one. Even better, it upscales your regular old DVDs to 720p, 1080i, and even 1080p. Given that you could easily pay upward of $90 for a standalone upscaling player, the media center stuff is just gravy.
And good gravy, that's good gravy. The DMA2200 streams content from Windows Media Center, the menu-driven multimedia front end that comes with most Home versions of Vista. The end result is akin to connecting your PC directly to your TV--a desirable but rarely practical solution.
The box joins your network via Ethernet or Wi-Fi--preferably 802.11n, though it can do 802.11b/g as well. (Just don't expect reliable high-definition streaming at those speeds.) It joins your TV via HDMI or component/composite video.
Space doesn't permit me to get into all the nitty-gritty on the DMA2200, so be sure to read CNET's review. It's not overwhelmingly positive, but I think that the dirt-cheap price tag makes this a more desirable buy.
Indeed, the DMA2200 originally listed for $350, at which point you were better off buying an Xbox 360 (which nicely doubles as an extender). At $95, it's definitely a worthwhile option for anyone looking to make the PC-to-TV connection.
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog. 
I seriously considered getting this, but when I saw the limitations
- No silverlight Netflix (yes I know you can hack the OLD Netflix)
- Restrictions on DivX encoding,
- No H.264
- NO MY DVD LIBRARY!!!!
- No Hulu
It it had these or if someone has workarounds or solutions I would like to hear them. I think I would save up for a HTPC.
You might be interested in posting this deal, its an ipod touch/iphone portable charger that uses 2 AA batteries for $10 shipped! http://www.buy.com/prod/energizer-ipodpowr2-energi-to-go-portable-ipod-charger/q/loc/111/205835291.html
Let me know what you think.
- by junadlao March 28, 2009 5:30 PM PDT
- My question is... will this work with the Media Center in the upcoming Windows 7. I'm hearing a lot of good things with Windows 7 but nothing yet about compatibility with Vista Media Center Extenders...?
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- by j_a_s_p_e_r March 30, 2009 5:52 AM PDT
- See thegreenbutton.com, I believe the communication architecture is the same. There was a change to Vista (this box works only on Vista not MCE 2005),
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