HOME NETWORKS
VIDEO MEDIA
EXTENDERS
The main difference that makes our Best Buy stand out from othermodels is thatit’s easierto setup and use. But it’s important to remember that none of them is very good at streaming video wirelessly from your computer. Our Best Buy does stream video effectively through an Ethernetcable, though.
5Elgato
EyeHome 73%
£210 from www.apple.com/uk
This is the best choice for Apple computers (but it doesn’t work with Windows computers).The remote control and interface are straightforward, so it’s easy to select what you want to watch or listen to. And the quality of the sound and video is good.
If you also have Elgato’s media computer box (see p47), you can use the Eye Home to select which programmes you want it to record. Despite such advanced features, the Eye Home’s a doddle to set up.
Like all the other models, streaming video without a cable doesn’t work quite as well, but pictures and music are fine.The Eye Home works only with iTunes for sending music, but for the most part does so brilliantly.The only problem is that it won’t play songs you’ve bought
from the iTunes website.
Xbox 360
£287 in total from major
WiFi adaptor £60 Remote control £17
On the tentative basis of the press sample we tried, the Xbox 360 tramples all over every other model on test. But we were unable to get a shop- bought model in time for our tests, so it’s not in the table and technically not a Best Buy.
The Xbox 360 is a games console; the media extender function is essentially an added extra, but it’s a brilliant one. And it’s the only video extender media we recommend for use with a Windows PC (it doesn’t work with Apple computers).
You select photos, video or music with the remote control. And it’s the first extender we’ve seen that lets you watch liveTV, too – you can use the Xbox’s remote to change channels on a Windows Media PC, even if it’s in a different room. Clever stuff.You can even instruct your PC through the Xbox whichTV programmes to record.
Once you factor in the WiFi adaptor and remote control, it’s quite pricey – but remember you’re getting a games console, a DVD player and a CD player into the bargain.The Xbox price above is for a basic model but you can buy one with a remote control included, along with a hard drive, Ethernet cable and wireless games controller for £289. Look out for our full review of the Xbox 360 next month.
Xbox
GAMES CONSOLE AND VIDEO EXTENDER
COMPUTING
WHICH?
5Elgato
VIDEO EXTENDER
When it’s combined with the Elgato EyeTV, you can use the Eye Home to record programmes
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Best | Worst |
Best Buy |
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SCORE
This ignores price and is based on:
Quality 25%
Use 25%
Versatility 15%
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Media |
| Price |
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| Performance | Ease of use | Score | ||||
extenders |
| (£) | iTunes | WMP | WMC | Custom | Quality | Versatility | Use | (%) | ||
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1 | Roku SoundBridge M1000 | 180 | y | y | y |
| w | w | w | q | 84 | |
2 | Apple Airport Express | 90 | y |
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| w | s | w | n/a | 83 | |
3 | Terratec Noxon Audio | 86 |
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| y | y | w | s | q | s | 67 | |
4 | NetGear MP101 | 80 |
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| y | w | s | u | u | 49 | |
VIDEO |
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5 | Elgato Eye Home | 210 | y |
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| q | s | w | q | 73 | |
6 | Pinnacle ShowCenter 200 | 167 |
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| y | q | w | u | s | 58 | |
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7 | Sitecom Wireless Media Player | 120 | y |
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| q | q | u | s | 50 | |
WHICH? JANUARY 2006 49
