NetGear 101 Music Server & Receiver

[tvrforever]

Have been trying to decide if I should get a NetGear 101 of SlimDevices for the home wireless network. Options are :-

www.netgear.co.uk/entertainment_digital_home.php

www.slimdevices.com/

I've been slowly ripping our 600+ CDs onto WMA files so WMA is key (not just MP3) but wondering if anybody has used either?

Currently veering towards the NetGear box...

[rebelstar]

I was looking at both of these a few months ago, and in the end went for the squeezebox. The main reason was that I could run the backend server on linux (where all my MP3s are) and netgear didn't support it. This might have changed now, though.

The squeezebox cost twice as much as the netgear, but I've no regrets - I like it a lot.

[tvrforever]

ok thanks...

But still concerned re the SqueezeBox and WMA support... it also doesn't appear to support the UPnP standards for media sever/clients (www.upnp.org/standardizeddcps/mediaserver.asp)

I've also been lookin at the Roku SoundBridge system (1000 & 2000) as that support protected WMA etc as well :-

www.rokulabs.com/products/soundbridge/index.php

But may simply got for the netgear as a try right no (as it's only £85) and then replace in a year of so when the tech has matured....

[arcturus]

I use the Netgear and am very pleased with it. It supports wma upto 192 kbps, is easy to set up in wired or wireless mode and the sound quality is very good.

[jimmyjimjim]

Bit expensive, isn't it?

Try the Hauppage version:-

www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_mediamvp.html

Cheap as chips ~£40ish, handles your pics as well.
And movies. Although films have to be something mediaplayer can handle, if its not mpg (mediaplyer is used to convert other formats for the box).
Its not wireless, but an 11mb wireless gaming adapter is only about £40 as well, amking it about half the price of anything else I've seen.

[rsvmilly]

jimmyjimjim said:

Bit expensive, isn't it? Try the Hauppage version:- www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_mediamvp.html Cheap as chips ~£40ish, handles your pics as well. And movies. Although films have to be something mediaplayer can handle, if its not mpg (mediaplyer is used to convert other formats for the box). Its not wireless, but an 11mb wireless gaming adapter is only about £40 as well, amking it about half the price of anything else I've seen.

I've been holding off buying one of these because a wireless version is apparently on the way.

[jimmyjimjim]

Typical. Early adopters get stuffed!

On the other hand its given me a lot of fun setting it up, and with the latest software using media player, should be more future proof than just about any other bit of pc kit I own.

[bogie]

I have the Netgear one - does th job for a sub £100 unit..you can run it with the Twonky or Musicmatch servers too as the NG software is limited to 10,000 songs in the database