Cisco-Linksys Media Center Extender Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It plays our recorded TV, pictures, DVDs ripped to XviD (not DVDs in the player), and music from the other room with an interface that looks just like Vista Media Center. Wife acceptance factor = high. We are using wired ethernet (100) and a 1080p tv via HDMI. The supplied remote is good. Speed of menus is acceptable (even faster, if you turn off transitions in the setup). FF, rewind, pause, etc. are all fine for Live/Recorded HD TV -- looks perfect on our 1080p tv.
XviD files are a little slow to start up on the DMA2100.
I had realistic expectations and we are happy!
NOTE: This note is ONLY for people with a Linksys Etherfast DSL/Cable router. If you have that router, your computer will not detect the DMA2100 unless you also go into the router setup and set Filter Multicast to Disable (which is NOT the default). Thanks for wasting my time, Linksys. After the change, it works great.


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Sharing your photos, music and movies on your computer with friends and family has been made easy by the DMA 2100 Media Center Extender from Linksys. The device allows you to view digital photos, movies and high definition programs on your TV, and listen to downloaded music on your home theater sound system. It even enables accessing digital content and Internet services from your Microsoft Windows Vista Premium or Ultimate Media Center PC and wirelessly stream it to your home entertainment system. Its single learning remote helps you to easily navigate menus. The media extender uses existing high-speed Wireless-N home network.

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D-Link DP-300U 10/100TX 1-USB Port 2-Parallel Port Print Server Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First I tried the NetGear PS101 print server. I liked the spiffy form factor. I could talk to the print server admin web interface and get it to print a test page, but even after many, many hours could never get it to print a document. So I returned it.
After that debacle, I decided to splurge for the HP JetDirect. At first I could only get it to print the configuration page. A visit to the HP support forums turned up lots of references to the JetDirect not working with SP2 and the suggested solution was to uninstall SP2. Ugh. Finally I went to the D-Link web site and copied the D-Link installation guide for XP w/SP2. The main difference was that D-Link suggested installing the print server as a local TCP/IP printer instead of a networked printer and, bingo, I got the JetDirect to print. (NOTE: It still goes over the network, it just looks local to the PC.) However I was miffed that I paid double the price for a device which required a competitors documentation to get to work. In addition, DHCP didn't work and I could never get it to show up in my network neighborhood.
So ... in a possibly nonsensical move of principle and price, I bought the D-Link DP300U and set up it. It's not trivial to install, but after working with the other two devices, a couple hours of install time seems like nothing. Here are a couple tips ...
(1) Do NOT use DHCP. Use a fixed IP address. Unlike the JetDirect, DHCP works. However, it still didn't show up in my network neighborhood and now I didn't know the IP address. There is NO HARDWARE RESET on the device. The D-Link support guy was great. He told me that if I couldn't find the IP address, I would have to send it back to D-Link to be reset (Ugh!). The good news is that he told me how to find it. I went to the router and looked at the DHCP assignment list and got it, and then reset the thing to a nice, fixed IP address in my subnet.
(2) I first set it up as per the instructions as a local TCP/IP printer, which means it's still on the network but looks like a local printer to the PC. It worked OK, but did this weird, long pause ... about a minute ... right in the middle of long documents. Again D-Link support was good. They told me to try setting it up as a networked printer, which I did. Unfortunately, this doesn't have spooling and you're back to 1980's wait-for-printing. Then something weird happened that I can not explain ... after setting up the device as a networked printer, I went back to the local TCP/IP printer that I had set up and it worked perfectly. Don't know how it got fixed.
My PC is a Dell laptop w/ wireless connection to an access point, and then wired to a router and the print server. My printer is an HP Deskjet 5550.
So, in the end I'm sticking with the D-Link product and I am happy with it. I would have rated it 3 stars as an overall product, but bumped my rating to 4 stars because I still thought it was the best of the ones I had tried. The itty-bitty-print-server market could use some improvement.
Enjoy!

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D- Link the industry pioneer in networking continues to offer innovative products in Ethernet. The D- Link DP- 300U is a compact print server that connects to your Ethernet or Fast Ethernet network. With high-speed ports DP-300U allow users to print simultaneously from anywhere on the network. DP-300U is equipped with two IEEE1284 parallel ports and one USB version 1.1 port for seamless connection tomost printers available on the market today. DP-300U also supports all major network Operating Systems and protocols. With its compact size DP-300U can easily be placed anywhere! DP-300U is also easily configurable using web browser or window based configuration program. Using web browsers on a PC connected to the network configuration is simple and straightforward with the familiar D-Link interface. PS Admin a Windows based configuration program can also be used to configure DP-300U. The DP-300U print server is the ideal network printing solution for small offices home offices schools and other businesses that requires printer sharing. Primary InformationNetworking Type:Print serverForm Factor:ExternalNetworking Interface:USB; ParallelData Transfer Rate:100 MbpsData Link Protocol:Ethernet; EtherTalk; Fast EthernetConnectivity Technology:WiredRemote Management Protocol:SNMPCabling Type:Ethernet 10BASE-T; Ethernet 100Base-TXWidth:4.6 InchDepth:7.59 InchHeight:1.22 InchService & Support Type:1 year warrantyUNSPSC CodeUNSPSC Code:43201537Product IDUPC:790069251139Manufacturer Part:DP-300U

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Plugable USB 2.0 to 10/100 Fast Ethernet LAN Network RJ45 Adapter - Wii Compatible (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)What I look for in most products is reliability. I only want to buy it once! This item works as advertised.
It's compatible with the two systems I tried so far; Windows7 and XP. And it's fast.
If your wondering how long the attached cable will last, it seems sturdy enough to see many years of normal use. This is a quality item. I doubt anyone buying this adapter will be disappointed. Enjoy!

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Providing Fast Ethernet connectivity over USB, the Plugable USB 2.0 to 10/100 Network Adapter has a compact external design and wide compatibility with its ASIX AX88772A chipset.Two LEDsmontior power and link activity. Support for this adapter built in to Nintendo Wii (no driver required).Wired ethernet via this adapter provides faster and more reliable Netflix streaming, game downloads, and network access than the Wii's built-in wireless networking (up to 2-3x as fast). 32/64-bit drivers for Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, ME, and 98SE.Drivers for Mac OS X 10.4 and higher (latest OS X 10.6 may require manual IP configuration). Driver for Linux kernel 2.6.9+ (may require building kernel module). Included in package are the adapter, driver disk, and quick start guide. Visit plugable dot com for more information and tips for making the most of your Plugable USB 2.0 10/100 Network Adapter.

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Buffalo Wireless-N Nfiniti Dual Band Gigabit Router & Access Point Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am an itinerant collector of wireless N routers - not intentionally, but because EVERY other wireless N router simply fails to deliver. Either the wireless has no range, needs constant re-booting and actually FALLS APART (D-Link) or it has slow router connections and its performance slowly fades away (Linksys) until it finally dies. To date, the best of the lot have been the Belkin Pre-N routers, although wireless throughput is not close to what is advertised.
When I saw this router at Fry's, I bought it (for more than Amazon charges) and figured I could return it if it did not perform.
This router is amazing. To start, the new installation protocols it supports made installation a snap. I inputed my static ip info and had an internet connection literally in seconds, a FIRST for me. The router connections are FAST, 10/100/1000 FAST. Its wireless coverage is superb. It reaches all of my various wireless connections (both g and n) and connects at 100mb+ speeds. While I do not use this particular function, the router allows for configuring specific gaming ports for maximum gaming performance. It also supports all the new security protocols and can be configured as a straight access point for existing network use.
While this wireless router is far from inexpensive, its ease of use and setup as well as performance makes it a screaming bargain.

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Wireless-N NFINITI Dual Concurrent A&G Gigabit Broadband Router & Access Point

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BELKIN 150N WIRELESS USB ADAPTER (F6D4050) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I give this 5 stars ease of install (Windows Vista), but 1 star for actual performance (i.e. the ability to actually receive a Wi-Fi signal). The packaging was surprisingly easy to open, which is almost a half star these days. The setup was clear and easy with the install CD. I was happy to note that the insertion of the USB was a snap. I was worried that it would crowd out another USB port, but there was just enough room for another normal USB device in the adjacent space. Finally, the true test of this device is it's ability to receive a decent wireless signal. I studied the serial number and apparently this is version 2 of the series. A subsequent Internet search also confirmed that no Windows 7 drivers (as of 1/22/2010) were "available" as of yet. So if I were to move up to Win 7, I could have been stranded--but to be perfectly fair, the actual specifications on the box only mention Vista and XP.
I regret to say that I found that the Belkin N150 was terrible. It could not pick up a signal two rooms away, which is far below expectations. The walls in between are the regular drywall and stucco kind of walls, so I ruled out interference.
My recommendation is steer away from this model, but if you do get it be pretty sure you don't plan on upgrading to Win 7 anytime soon, and of course, to keep your receipt.

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Offers backward-compatibility with all 802.11b network devi

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