NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Live (Black)

Comment: I cannot get it to work consistently. It's just not compatible with Windows 7. I've changed media server software on the computer, updated the netgear, done everything I can think of (and I'm very good with computers). It just doesn't work. Spend more money and get one that works.

Comment: This media player is awful!

PROS
- None

REGULAR
- Connects to internet
- Built like all media players. Not bad but not good either.

CONS
- Subtitles are displayed in a black box, and a lot of caracters are not supported. They also display with a lot of delay. The said box has a delay when loading.
- The unit responds really slow
- You cannot create playlists, nor play your files in sequence. If you select a file and press play, after it finishes it goes back to the menu (does not play the next video in the folder).
- Login in to youtube with your user so you can see your own favourites does not work.
- It displays hidden folders on the storage device you connect (including RECYCLED folders).
- In order to get wifi you have to buy their own usb adapter (40 dollars).
- Image quality is OK, but colors are way over saturated.

OVERALL
- Don't buy this. For the same money go for the Western Digital HD TV Media Player.

Comment: This product is conceptually good and seems to predict the future alternative to cable and satellite as far as accessing tv channels in a more cost effective way. However at this stage the EVA 2000 falls short. The VuNow service is totally useless because I have had nothing but problems accessing the server despite having had customer support by someone with a weird name who could barely speak English. Because of this, it was definitely not worth the money-I returned it for a refund and got much better results with a 10.00 DVI cable hook up from my computer to my tv.

Comment: I declare Netgear EVA2000 is a good streamer because watching movies with my EVA2000 is wonderful, there are no hitches and videos and music stream in peacefully.

Netgear has definitely thought of customers that don't have NAS because they can get to plug in the USB.

I am a habitual YouTube user and my Digital Entertainer Live helps watch all my favorite videos and songs.

Being a stickler for organized files I find it difficult to name files because the device won't support Unicode. It seems I can't name my files in other languages!! Even if I do it it'z illegible and doesn't serve well on this count.

Comment: I now own two Netgear EVA2000s with Netgear USB Digital Entertainer WiFi adapters. My first EVA2000 produced a crackling sound through the composite audio cable, so I exchanged it. The replacement unit is nice and quiet. One DE Live is in our family room, and the other is used in the master bedroom. Performance is good when the unit stays connected to my wireless network, but about every two days, I have to reset my router to get my EVA2000s back on the network. I suspect the problem is with the EVA2000 because the two computers that connect to the same wireless router via WiFi with WPA enabled do not lose their connection. I have yet to contact Netgear about this. I have 3 Mbps DSL service at my home, but the downlink speed usually tops out at 2.4 Mbps though. My EVA2000s are connected to my network via WiFi through a Netgear RangeMax N150 (WNR1000) router. My EVA2000s are connected to standard-def TVs using the composite AV cable.

Before purchasing my second EVA2000, I compared it to a Western Digital WDTV HD Live. I connected the WD TV to my network with a D-Link USB Wireless-N adapter. It found my PlayOn media server on the network easily but performance seemed sluggish compared to my Netgear EVA2000. I also found the on-screen menu interface to be less efficient than the Netgear's. I needed a device whose ease of use takes precedence to the video playback resolution, as I have no immediate plans to spend $1,500+ to replace my two perfectly good tube TVs with HDTVs. (Although I can now pay for one with the $70/month I'm saving by no longer paying for satellite or cable TV service.) BTW, the USB WiFi adapter I used was on the list of approved devies. Ultimately, the quirky icon-based interface and slower wireless performance were reason enough to return the WD TV Live, as much as I wanted to like it.

Overall, the device does what it promises to do (see previous reviewers' comments about HD limitations). Very rarely, however, playback becomes choppy or stops to allow buffering of incoming packets. I don't know if my incoming DSL link is too slow (usually 1.5 to 2.4 Mbps) or if my wireless network speed (150 Mbps) is limiting the overall performance. Upgrading either or both is relatively inexpensive, and I will probably start by changing to 6 Mbps DSL from my ISP.

Pros:
+ Attractive, compact chassis
+ Easy to use remote
+ Easy to read menu navigation
+ Easy network connectivity
+ Good Netflix & Hulu integration
+ Excellent YouTube integration
+ Strong Windows Media Player integration

Cons:
- Have to pay annual subscription for PlayOn Premium software (Luckily I bought PlayOn early enough to be grandfathered in with the "basic" version and will not be required to pay a subscription to keep the "channels" I have now.)
- Netflix needs to expand its library of streaming titles to include more new releases and older network hits like Golden Girls, American Dreams, Cosby Show, Cheers, Sesame Street, etc.
- Windows Media Player playlists can't be viewed in a manner other than alpha-numeric order. For example, "1999" always appears before "Little Red Corvette" and plays in that same order unless you turn on the Shuffle option in the main system settings. This doesn't bother me too much but it defeats the purpose of a playlist.

Is the Digital Entertainer Live a perfect solution. Not at all. However, it serves its purpose in delivering the professionally produced Web video we want from networks like Disney Channel, NBC, CNN, TLC, and more, plus Netflix and CinemaNow, without the ridiculous expense of satellite or cable TV. I only recently learned about competitive products like the Roku HD-XR. If I were to do it over again -- and I may have to when I upgrade my TVs to HD -- I would consider a device like the Roku or a Netflix-ready Blu-Ray player, since I spend most of my time with the EVA2000 viewing Netflix and Hulu content.