Thermaltake A2331 MediaLAB with Remote Control (Black)

by Thermaltake

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3 x 7.2 x 7.2 inches ; 1.6 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000BQW7HW
• Item model number: A2331
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Thermaltake A2331 Media Lab with Remote Control (Black) is a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) panel that fits into a standard 5.25-inch drive bay and includes a remote control letting you control your digital media files. It is a perfect add on for a Home Theater PC (HTPC).

The Media Lab comes in a stylish aluminum finish and comes with both internal and external USB connections. Upon installing the Media Lab application, an easy to use Multi-Median application lets you control all your digital files via the remote control. Supported music formats include MP3, OGG, WMA, and WAV; supported video formats include WMV, AVI (DivX and XviD, ASF, MPG, MPEG, M1V, M2V, and DAT. Photos in BMP, GIF, JPG, TIFF and PNG can be enjoyed as a slide show with background music.

The Multi-Median supports all WDM TV cards, and with one, you can record and show all television channels. DVD and CD playback are supported as well, along with control for a digital camcorder when connected through an IEEE1394 port.

What's in the Box
Media Lab, remote control, two AAA batteries, media lab CD, USB cable, Internal USB extension cable, motherboard power cable, and motherboard power external cable.

Product Description

Thermaltake Media Lab features numerous multimedia-friendly touches including multi-functional IR remote control, internal and external USB connectivity and an attractive VFD panel that fits a standard 5.25-inch drive bay. Comes with astonishing MediaLAB application software that allows you to see DVD movies, listen to audio CDs, manage huge amounts of music, work with every image format, show and record TV channels, and control a digital camcorder. Full-function remote control governs application launcher, Multi-Median entertainment options, volume & channel control and media & DVD control. Thermaltakeâ?TMs Media Lab â?" an easy, affordable way to transform your PC into a powerful media center.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great HTPC/remote control add on, October 26, 2009

By 

Matthew Keller "M@" (NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thermaltake A2331 MediaLAB with Remote Control (Black) (Personal Computers)

This device is just as described- a perfect way to add remote control capability to any Windows PC. With the latest software updates, there are a lot of features - probably about twice as many - as described with the product.

Installation is easy for anyone who has ever looked at an open computer case, and should even be fairly easy for anyone who can follow directions - plug it in to the ATX power slot on the motherboard, the power switch on the motherboard, and any USB port (or the on-motherboard USB headers, if you have some free) and you're done. 3 minutes.

If you're into computer programming, or just a hobbyist, you can use their API to control the LCD screen and make it do all sorts of things. I had mine telling me the temperature of my CPU and the fan speeds in under an hour. Lots of fun.

It IS expensive, and might not be worth it for everyone, but it was for me and I have no qualms with it at all.

4.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, June 29, 2010

By 

Shannon D. Meredeth (Queidersbach, Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thermaltake A2331 MediaLAB with Remote Control (Black) (Personal Computers)

I really like the scrolling text and graphic equalizer functions. I can even turn the computer on and off with the remote. The remote can also act somewhat like a mouse/keyboard. Only complaint I have is the software that acts somewhat like Windows Media Center....it's not bad, but can be somewhat of a challenge to navigate through.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but pricey., March 31, 2009

By 

Jon R. Helms (Redwood City, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thermaltake A2331 MediaLAB with Remote Control (Black) (Personal Computers)

It works fine, install is pretty easy. The biggest problem is that the IR field seems rather narrow, so if you aren't pointed right at it and close to straight on, the signal may not get seen. I installed this in a Thermaltake case, which has a built-in window. I think if you use the supplied bracked in a 5.25" slot instead you would probably not have as much of a field issue on the IR.

Software is good once you update it.