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D-Link DSM-320RD Wireless Media Player, PS DVD, 5-in-1 Card Reader, 802.11g, 54Mbps | List Price: $299.99
Discount Price: $87.95
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Brand: D-Link
Binding: Electronics
Features: - An on-screen Wizard guides you step-by-step through the process. With support for Windows Connect Now, configuring the wireless settings is easier than ever before! Simply run the Wireless Network Setup Wizard from Windows XP Service Pack 2 and transfer the wireless settings to the DSM-320RD using a USB thumbdrive
- Universal Plug-&-Play AV
- Power Source - 110-220 VAC 50/60Hz, 0.5A max
- Dimensions - L = 16.75 inches / W = 11.25 inches / H = 1.5 inches
- D-Link 1-Year Warranty
Pretty good product [Posted on 2008-01-14]
I bought this product (from a different site) as a replacement for my Tivo Home Media features (stream music from my home computer to my receiver and display slide shows of my photos on my TV). I got it up and running with my 802.11b network and it works pretty well. I was unsure if it would work properly because of all the negative reviews but I think these are unwarranted at least for the music and photos.
OK, so the interface is not the greatest in the world (e.g. it doesn't give you options like genres/album/artist etc for browsing music) but it streams music well, displays all my photos and with less dropouts than my Tivo Series 2 single tuner did. Also, as mentioned the remote is not that great - you can't point it in the general direction and have it respond, and I was frequently hitting the home button instead of the down button. Finally, when the D-Link Media server was trying to download updates it failed (The Device itself did a firmware upgrade just fine).
I cannot comment on the DVD player because I bought the 320-RD instead of the 320 just because the former was on sale. Also, I cannot comment on the videos since I havent tried it.
Finally, upon several people's suggestions I installed TVersity and after much futzing around I managed to get this device to use the TVersity media server.
All in all, I would recommend buying this product when it is on sale
Not bad for the price [Posted on 2008-01-15]
I had my review on somewhere else and I think it is good to put it here also.
I got this DSM-320RD about 2~3 weeks and I did spend some time played with it. I original gave it 5 stars on my first review, but the more I play with it the more problems I found. Therefore I took one star off. It has lots of features to play with. It plays CD/SVCD/DVD+-RW, MP3. With the Ethernet connection through both WLAN/LAN, it plays photo slide show, MP3 music, and stream video through the MediaLounge that shared with an ALWAYS ON computer. Besides that, it can plays photo/MP3/videos through the built-in 5 to 1 card reader and also through internet connection to the web (partnered online service providers, AOL & etc...)to listen radios and download music. Be aware, the USB it has is use for the wireless setup ONLY and NOT for read-in photo/MP3/video, which is one thing I feel upset about. Another draw back is that it doesn't able to browse into the network drive or folder directly and it must required an AWAYS ON computer to share the files to play, which mean it can't browse the files on my network drive. In addition, this d-link media player seems not work with other brand router (at least it doesn't work with my newer trendnet Gbit router, but work flawless with my older d-link router both LAN/WLAN...note: all my other d-link wireless card doesn't work with this rendnet router as well). As for the wireless video streaming I don't has much problem on it with 2 rooms in between, however, it does choke a little when lots of people constantly walk in between your router and the the media player. My newer router should be able to get the better signal (indeed, it is the case for my other wireless connection), unfortunately, so far I didn't get it to work with this media player.
good:
1. lots of features.
2. play photo/MP3/video on cd+-RW/svcd/dvd+-RW.
3. has output of composite/s-video/component (come with
composite/s-video cables but not component cables).
4. built-in 5 to 1 card reader.
5. Capable stream video, photo, MP3 through shared MediaLounge.
(LAN/WLAN).
6. Play online mp3/radio through d-link partnered online service
providers.
bad:
1. No USB for read-in photo/mp3/video
2. Can not browse into folders of the network server.
3. It seems not work with other brand router.
4. no HDMI port
If you can live with the bad I mentioned above, then it is a very good toy to buy, otherwise look somewhere else.
Overall Poor Product Does Not Live Up to Potential [Posted on 2008-01-31]
I have had this product for a year and am now scrapping it. Here are the problems:
- Music - it does play many formats but it is plagued with songs skipping and losing the network periodically
- Pictures - not easy to format pictures so they look good on your TV screen. Music and Photo together never worked and usually hangs the whole machine
- Performance - Machine routinely hangs up and needs to be restarted for example - If a DVD has a problem, is you switch between DVD and music server, if you try to play music and look at pictures at the same time, also at random time for no reason.
- DVD player - an noted above hangs and will not play all DVD for some reason
- Remote is too sensitive and often sends a double hit of the button you press. Has a short range and only works when pointed directly at the device. Few buttons on unit so when remote dies you effectively cannot use the unit.
- SD card slot does not work with 8 gig SD cards
- Software is buggy and has not been updated since I bought the machine.
- Please do not buy this device.
Room for improvement - Infact go back the drawing board. [Posted on 2008-02-06]
I bought this device in the hope that I wouldn't have to spend the money on the Apple equivalent. (now i'm saving up for one) Unfortunately the DSM 320RD leaves a lot to be desired. It has definite issues with playback and the picture quality is horrible. When watching DVD's or video files you will get frequent white flashes on the screen. Sometimes the video file ends early. And the worst thing to have happen is when playing a DVD sometimes the unit would spontaneously shut itself off. It has no memory function to remember where you leave off and it is difficult if not possible to fast forward or rewind in video files.
Set up of the unit was easy but this is no comfort for lack usability. Save your money to get a unit that has a better design. Do the research. I wish I did.
Not Reliable - Do NOT Buy [Posted on 2008-08-11]
Unfortunately Amazon will not let you select ZERO stars....
This is very poor product. As others have said, great idea, bad implementation:
- The DVD play is not always active when powered up. If the you select the DVD when this occurs, then the system will lock up and have to be powered down.
- The audio output can be either digital or analog, not both.
- Many times while playing a DVD, the unit will power down.
- The system will also lock up while trying to play media from a remote server or a from a memory card.
- The play button on the remote or unit panel will not cause the DVD to play from the DVD menu. You are tied to the remote to play a DVD.
I had many grand ideas about setting up a media server and this was going to be the answer for my TV. I was SOOO disapointed.
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