HP X280N MediaSmart Connect

Other products by Hewlett-Packard

Product Details

HP MediaSmart Connect Best Practices [PDF]

• Item Weight: 7.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001AHLODY
• Item model number: X280N
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #6,630 in Electronics (See Bestsellers in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 29, 2008

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Unlock the endless entertainment potential of your home network. The HP MediaSmart Connect wirelessly streams your collection of digital music, photos, and videos to your HDTV. It also brings online media to your living room, giving you access to Internet radio, online photos, and the ability to rent or buy downloadable digital movies, and watch them on your HDTV. Because it's also an Extender for Windows Media Center, you can take full advantage of your Windows Vista-based PC, giving your HDTV the Media Center experience, complete with an electronic program guide, recorded HDTV, and extended online media like Internet TV Beta and Fox Sports lounge.

Features

Tune into your home network. Bridge the gap between your HDTV and your home network with integrated next-generation high-speed wireless 802.11n technology and 720p/1080i resolution.	Try something new. Use your HDTV to rent or buy downloadable digital movies, listen to Internet radio, and view your online photo collection.
Set your media free. Enjoy your personal collection of digital music, photos, and videos stored on every PC in your home network, aggregated into easy-to-find folders so they're ready to play.	Get more connections. Extender for Windows Media Center takes full advantage of your Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate-based PC, bringing the Media Center experience to your HDTV, including your digital content collection, recorded HDTV, and extended online media like Internet TV Beta and Fox Sports lounge.

Next-generation wireless networking. Built-in 802.11n wireless networking enables robust high-definition video streaming, while 802.11a/b/g provides seamless integration with legacy home networks. High-definition home theater connectivity. The HP MediaSmart Connect hooks up to your HDTV with 720p/1080i output resolutions via High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) or component video, and to your audio equipment with digital or analog audio connections. Popular file formats. Wide format compatibility enables the HP MediaSmart Connect to "play it all", like MPEG 2, MPEG 4, H.264, WMV, DVR-MS, DivX, MP3, WMA, and AAC (unprotected) files.

Simple setup.
Setting up the HP MediaSmart Connect is a snap. On-screen wizards quickly guide you through the simple process with step-by-step instructions, so you can start right out of the box.

In-home content.
The HP MediaSmart Connect integrates smoothly into your wired or wireless home network, aggregating videos, music, and photos into folders so your digital entertainment is easy to find and enjoy.

Online media.
With a broadband Internet connection, the HP MediaSmart Connect expands your digital entertainment options with access to a wide variety of online media:

• Movies: Rent or buy digital movies and videos from CinemaNow right from your HDTV, and start watching while they download.
• Photos: Keep up with family and friends by viewing their shared digital pictures on Snapfish.
• Music: Listen to new hits and old favorites on Live365 Internet radio.
• Video: Enjoy thousands of online videos directly on your HDTV.

Portable mass media support. A built-in HP Pocket Media Drive bay and two USB 2.0 ports enable direct access to digital content on personal flash drives, portable hard drives, and other mass-media storage devices. Universal remote control. The HP remote features a media button that places your entire library of movies, music, and photos right in your hand, as well as universal capabilities to control up to four other devices.

Dual Operating Modes
A choice of operating environments lets you enjoy your HP MediaSmart Connect your way.

MediaSmart mode

• Works with Windows XP and later operating systems
• Indexes content from all your PCs and organizes it by type in easy-to-find folders
• Provides broad playback compatibility, including AAC audio files and podcasts (.m4a) and high-definition video formats4,11
• Multiplies your entertainment with online media including video downloads, shared photos, Internet radio, and more1,2
• Enables direct access to digital content via the HP Pocket Media Drive bay and dual USB ports

Media Center Extender mode

• Designed for Windows Vista Home Premium and Windows Vista Ultimate operating systems
• Provides a familiar user interface and experience, the same as your Windows Media Center
• Connects to your digital photos, music, and videos over your wired or wireless home network
• Lets you watch live HDTV, explore programming, and set shows to record using the Interactive Program Guide
• Offers a wide variety of online media including Vongo, Fox Sts, Showtime, and more

Product Description

HP X280N MediaSmart Receiver. The HP MediaSmart Receiver enables browsing of your entire library of digital photos, music, and HD video even across multiple PCs Access thousands of the best and latest movies, TV shows, videos, and songs from online media. HP¿s simple interface enables you to search for movies, order them, and begin watching them moments after downloading has begun. Unlike other receivers that allow you to access media from only one server at a time, HP¿s MediaSmart receiver automatically aggregates and displays content from all connected PCs or media servers in your home network. Enjoy a full Microsoft Media Center Experience with a single click on your remote. Watch live or pre-recorded TV and access Microsoft¿s online services through the HP MediaSmart Receiver. Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n wireless networking, enables the streaming of high definition video while providing compatibility to existing Wi-Fi networks. A built in HP Pocket Media Drive bay and two USB ports allow direct access to your content stored in mass storage media. HDMI, component, and analog and digital audio outputs provide simple connectivity to your HDTV and audio equipment. The MediaSmart receiver features a dramatic, pianoblack, high gloss, exterior with an HP exclusive Zen imprint pattern. Blends into the living room and adds elegance to any entertainment system. The receiver includes a universal remote control. Use it to access all your content, order movies, or control up to four more entertainment devices.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Product - Perfect complement for a Vista Media Center System, August 3, 2008

By	William S. Turner "Bill T" (USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

August 3rd, 2008

I have been using a home built media center for about 1.5 years. It holds most of the kids movies (DIVX & XVID) and does recording of SD and HDTV. The main issue I had was that it was Noisy and generated a lot of heat in the media cabinet where system and other components were mounted. My goal was to move my MCE to the basement and use extenders in the house. I had a couple of requirements before I would switch this out for an extender.

1) WIFE Friendly

2) Support HDTV

2) Must play Amazon UNBOX Files

3) Must play DIVX (XVID) formats.

4) Must be able to schedule recordings from the Extender

Thursday I got the MediaSmart Connect and started with the install... When I first set it up, I installed the HP Software and went through the procedure for connecting the extender to the my Vista MCE system. Initially I was a little disappointed, it was slow and Amazon Unbox videos would not play. I also noticed that my MCE system was Locking up. I decided that this might be more due to my MCE system. So Friday night, I completely re-installed vista, MCE, but did not install the HP software.

Once the system was running (YOU MUST INSTALL SP1), my VISTA MCE system found the extender automatically. It worked GREAT... The MediaSmart Connect was much more responsive, MCE no longer locked up. And best of all Amazon Unbox video's will play through my MediaSmart Connect. I gave it the Wife test last night and she loved it... The with the Main MCE system moved to the basement and only the MediaSmart Connect visible, she was happy. No more noisy fans running and we can now close the doors of the media cabinet with out worrying about overheating.

A couple of Notes:

1) The Media Smart will Play Unbox videos from your MCE Machine, but if you move the storage of the Unbox files to somewhere other then the installed location you may have problems.

2) I am using a wired connection, I have not tested the performance of the wireless side.

3) I am not using the HP software, it is extender mode only.

If you are currently using a Media Center, this system is EASY to add on.... So far I am very pleased, will update this again with any issues I have after I have had a chance to run it for a week or two.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy Setup and Wireless N, October 13, 2008

By	kaffeen "Kaffeen" (Austin, Texas) - See all my reviews

I've tried one other media streaming device to date. A Dlink DSM-750. I wouldn't recommend that product to anyone. I returned that device and purchased the HP MediaSmart Connect X280N.

I can recommend this device to anyone if they want something that works out of the box and doesn't require alot of tweaking. In my experience, it is pretty much plug and play. The UI is a bit slow and clunky, but it works and does exactly what it is intended to do without any problems. For me I wanted a few things (in no particular order)...

1) Netflix, Hulu, and some other Internet Streaming (via PlayOn and other Media Servers)
2) Windows XP and WMP11 compatibility (i.e. for media on my computers).
3) Media Center Extender capability (I do have one Vista machine dedicated to that).
4) Plug and Play (my time is precious and I'd rather be doing other things).
5) Handle all the formats/codecs for *my* media and the media I want to watch
6) At least 720p...sorry, guys, I can't really tell too much of a difference between 1080 and 720p. Sure, there is a bit, but I grew up with VCR's, so 720p is pretty darn good for me.
7) WIRELESS N capability. I hate wires.

If you want all the above, with emphasis on Plug and Play and Wireless N. I would recommend the HP MediaSmart Connect. As a point of reference, I spent two days fumbling around with the DSM-750, I spent literally 10 minutes with the HP.

Regards....

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great concept, poor execution and support, August 9, 2008

By	George A. Sheehy (New Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The spec's are great and it does what it says it does (sort of).

I have two major issues with this product. 1) Very SLOW response to buttons, sometimes it take 5-15 seconds respond to simple things. At first I thought it was because of networking, but it is SLOW even when reading from the internal pocket drive. and 2) On some files (WMV) is stops every 5 to 10 minutes with the error "failed to play media content". Pressing OK, Back, play, resume causes the video to continue from where it left off only to repeat the problem in 5-10 minutes. This is happening both from network file and files on the pocket drive. When trying to get support from HP the product is not on the IVR system and after 16 attempts (and 3 hours time) with many promises to "connect me to tech support" only to get lost or transfered to some other department I gave up. Then I tried to use the eMail support option, I received a confirming email stating the I would would get a response within 24 hours, that was 4 days ago. No response.

If the problems are fixed this is a great product, but until then I would have to rate this as a don't buy.