NetGear Digital Media Player HD

Recieved within 24 hours of ordering, and now pretty much got to grips with it. I bought a couple of 85MB HomePlugs to go with it too. Plays most formats - although certain MOV files wont play, and I have had some issues with certain AVIs. The YouTube feature works well. I bought this primarily for playing videos. I tried the Music but decided it was too much effort as all of my music is in one big folder. I prefer my SqueezeBox for streaming music. You have to TAG your videos, as it will show the default tag of "Untitled" if you haven't! I have struggled playing ISOs, both across the network and from a USB Falsh drive inserted straight into the unit. Vision fine but haven't worked out how to play audio through my 5.1 system on an optical input. It's pretty good overall, and so long as there are regular firmware updates - this product should be around for many years to come.

• Overall
• Ease of use
• Value for money

This product requires some configuration to ensure it works over a protected wireless network so you'll need to know how to do this. After the network drives had been scanned it then connected to the internet to upgrade the device's software. Having done so all configurations were lost to make sure you upgrade the software before looking for your media files.

That said, when working, it's factastic. You can make your TV the largest of digital photo frames, I've not yet used it to stream HD video but AVI and MPG2 works very well over my 108Mb N wireless network.

Music menus are a bit clunky, esp when you're used to the sophistication of iTunes. Overall, a excellent product; I'm about to buy a second as a present.

• Overall
• Ease of use
• Value for money

Had this now for a little over 4 months and had to pass comment on how good it is. The streaming quality is perfect both wirlessly and using Powerline. The menus are easy and its a breeze to get set up.

The library and software could do with some improvements - perhaps just a simple upgrade - as it can be slow to start up and load the media archive its created. I shouldnt complain really as its trawling almost 1TB of media!

Overall a great product and well recommended. Just hope Netgear look at perhaps updating the software.

• Overall
• Ease of use
• Value for money