SlingCatcher and Slingbox PRO-HD finally on their way?

Will we actually see the SlingCatcher before 2009?

If you've been waiting been patiently waiting for the SlingCatcher, we feel your pain. We first saw the device back at CES 2007 and were impressed, but then it never came out. Then we saw it again at CES 2008 and we were told it would be out in the second quarter of 2008--and Sling missed that deadline. Now it's September and still no SlingCatcher.

With all these delays, we're about as skeptical as you can be, but Dave Zatz (of Zatz Not Funny and former SlingMedia employee) recently noticed that both the SlingCatcher and Slingbox PRO-HD are available for preorder on Amazon. And quick zip over to SlingMedia's site shows that the company is also offering up the units for preorder, and we have to imagine Sling is close to delivering the products if they're starting to take money for them.

Maybe the bigger question is whether the SlingCatcher still appeals to us as much as it did back in 2007. The device is capable of streaming media, transmitting your PC's display to a TV and "catching" a stream from your Slingbox, but a lot of those functions are pretty limited in real-world use or already done by other devices. We've already reviewed one device--the ZvBox--that aims to bring your PC and internet video to your TV, and we were less than impressed. Sling has a good reputation for a solid user experience, but at $300, it's yet to be seen if the SlingCatcher can appeal to larger than a niche audience.

Are you still excited about the SlingCatcher or Slingbox PRO-HD, or is the thrill gone after all these delays?

[ev61]

Well, if the slingcatcher had been released earlier, I probably would have bought it the day it launched. Now, I am not really sure what I would use it for. Maybe for that kitchen TV that doesn't have a cable line? I think the SlingCatcher is the new Chumby...

sounds like a last ditch effort to sell their product before wdhi (http://www.whdi.org/) takes flight

[kkaaz]

I would probably buy one for my bedroom TV if it was in the $200 range. I probably won't get a networked DVR soon from Direct TV but I might hold out for awhile with AT&T announcing one.

I would possibly buy the Sling HD Pro. I bought the previous "Pro" slingbox last year, and although for the most part you can't tell that it's not true HD (even on my wife's 22" widescreen Samsung LCD monitor), the fact that they only supported stereo audio was really disappointing. Both of our PCs have 5.1 surround sound. I see the new one will have S/PDIF, which is better than nothing, as long as my cable box has it as well. Still no HDMI though? Wonder if they are stuck on supporting HDCP.

[lfox--2008]

I overheard that Dishnetwork was upgrading their hd dvr late fall/winter that will have slingbox built in.