HP x280n MediaSmart Connect

Pros: I purchased this to work in conjunction with my MediaSmart Server that houses all of my music, pictures and home videos. I am not using the media extender function. There is no such thing as slow menus and access when using a wired connection to connect to the HP server. I am using this in place of another brand media player (based on the Divix standard) that was slow and clunky to use. This is much simpler, much easier to use each and every time. Most importantly, it passes the wife's test of ease of use, as she can use it to play music and view photos without me being there to set it up. That is not the case with the other media player I have. I love the ability to play music and have slideshows play in the background or vice versa. It finds the MediaSmart sever quickly and easily.

Cons: HDMI connection is intermittent. It will work fine for a little then will stop responding. Component connection works well and I just tend to leave it there.

Other Thoughts: Remote is good and will control 4 other items (Sony TV, Sony DVD Blu-Ray, Sony Reciever and cable box). Need to go to HP's website to get the codes. I have not had the opportunity or inclination to use the online media options for music. Very good product and will purchase another one to use upstairs in our house.

Pros: It basically does what it says it will do. It is easy to setup, nice form factor, nicely constructed and comes with a very useable universal remote.

Cons: Extender does not work unless you use Vistaster MC. I knew this going in but it still does not negate HP's choice to use Microsoft. It is slow between screens and selected operations. No real support. WMP11 and VMC are a joke, a slug with nothing but limitations, no iso or DVD playback for example. VMC does not support many of the newer TV capture devices, such as the HD PVR, and expecting Microsoft to change this is un-realistic and foolish.

Other Thoughts: Had HP designed the MSC using customer needs and desires as opposed to doing what Microsoft and the media industry wanted it probably would have been a great success. Instead it is mediocore with no hope that anything will ever be modified or fixed based on customer input.

Pros: Yeah it cool and it works...

Cons: but its overpriced...

Other Thoughts: get an xbox for 50 bucks less, and u can play games as a bonus

Pros: Streams HD video files from HP MediaSmart Server. Virtually silent. Low power consumption. Connects to HD TV with component or HDMI cables. Connects to AV receiver with optical cable. Good picture and sound. Supports numerous video and audio file types.

Cons: Sometimes freezes when playing video. May have to restart device to unfreeze. Fast action video shows some pictulation. Online content limited to Cinema Now, Snap Fish, and Live 365. No user ability to add online sites. User cannot add codecs for additional formats.

Other Thoughts: This is basically a media center extender with some additional features added by HP. I bought it primarily to stream video and audio from my HP MediaSmart Server. A media center PC will do the same thing and more but will cost three times as much, make more noise, require bootup time, and use more power. This device has a bay for a Pocket Media Drive, which costs extra and is a little pricey, but you don't need it. You need a wired connection to stream HD content. It has wireless which may work OK for audio and low def video (I have only used the wireless connection). This works with a Vista PC but extender features might not work with a PC running MCE 2005 or prior. Check with HP before buying if you are not running Vista.

Pros: Piano black case (matches the samsung nicely), small form factor, quiet, wireless-N, Divx support, backlit IR remote, USB HD and pen drive connect, power and activity lights are non-intrusive (not too bright). Essentially what babyjocko said. Easy hardware setup. Audio through HDMI. Component hookup. Paired easily with my Vista-32 Ultimate (or NAS media server--see below). For the most part, it does what it claims to do.

Cons: Some issues signing up for HP Online Media--hangs on setup from webpage (Not an x280n issue). Software setup is long. Cost (slight sticker shock, but I got over it after playing with the extender for a bit.) After the newness wears off, cost shouldn't be too much of an issue--I would hope.

Other Thoughts: Here's where my setup is slightly different from babyjocko. I have mine hooked up with a Linksys WRT600N on wide 40MHz channel with WPA2. Router has USB hard-drive hookup for NAS uPnP media server (750Gb). I have had no problems hooking up with that hard drive as it hosts my Divx movies, other movies, pictures, and other media files without having my Vista rig running. I haven't tried all supported formats, yet, however. I have walked this little box around the house to various TVs and all provided good connection wirelessly, able to sustain connection to router for a full-length movie throughout. I tried OTA HD from media center--minor and infrequent signal drop-off, but all of the tv's have their own antennas for OTA HD anyways--I doubt I'll use media center OTA (only for DVR function). This is nicely packaged extender and, I believe, one of the better ones currently available. I would recommend this product if you intend to use it in a similar fashion.

Pros: Impressive packaging; Looks good; Gigabit; Wireless-N; HDMI; Decent amount of supported media types; Good-looking GUI; Great illuminated universal remote; Does not require Windows Media Center

Cons: Gateway (required for NAS or download) does not run on 64-bit XP or Vista; Dependent upon WMP11; Can only connect to Live365 from its own GUI for Internet radio; A bit too pricy IMO;

Other Thoughts: What were they thinking by not supporting 64-bit Vista? And, I think they should have a direct interface for connecting to Internet radio instead of just Live 365. There are a few head scratchers like that (there is not perfect media device...yet). Other than that, this device is decent and probably the best available at this time.

It is not just a WMC extender. It has decent functionality on its own. But, if you are using a 64-bit OS, you can only access your NAS by way of WMC and then by way of WMP11. The x280n cannot access NAS directly. It accesses all network media via WMP11 shares, which means that you must have the computer running WMP11 available at all times even though it doesn't have WMC on it.

HD TV over wireless-N is good. My AVCHD don't show well via wireless-N (via Linksys WRT610N), but almost perfect via ethernet, which is gigabit speed.

The setup is simple and the GUI is very nice.