I still stand by everything in the review below, but it has come to my attention that Boxee is no longer supporting this device as it has moved on to the new Boxee TV. There will be one more Flash update, then it will be in maintenance mode - [...]
While the box should continue to work for what I mainly use it for, which is watching network content over my home network, it's still sad to see Boxee leaving this product to die while their new product has zero of the home network streaming capabilities that this machine had.
As of right now, it may be better to build you own home theater PC if you mainly need a network streaming device.
----- ORIGINAL REVIEW -----
The Boxee Box is, by far, my favorite thing attached to my television set. It has replaced my Roku which now just sits sadly in my media rack unused. It's replaced having to use my Tivo to slowly transfer and watch video content served from my network on my television. It's an amazing device for someone with enough tech know-how to set it up and use it. I use it to watch my movies and television shows that have been ripped to my NAS device, giving me complete access to my media library in the den.
Once connected to your home network, the Boxee box can play pretty much any audio or video that's available. It even displays your titles in a very user friendly way, showing the artwork for the movies as you browse through them. It's like having your own little video streaming service locally. The Boxee also plays mp3, ogg and FLAC aucio files (among others) so you can use it to stream your favorite music as well.
As someone who watches a lot of streaming video programs, the Boxee shines there as well. I love the picture quality and easy of use watching things like Amazon Prime Videos, Netflix or even the shows on Revision3 and the TWiT network. Don't worry if you've never heard of the last two, they're both tech networks so check them out if you're into that kind of thing. You can also stream content from YouTube and pay services like the MLB.tv package. I have to say, when it comes to the MLB.tv interface I like the PS3 version better, but both play the games nicely.
The best way I can explain the Boxee is a Roku on steroids. The Roku doesn't do streaming of audio and video over your home network, which is a major downside to me. The Roku is much easier to just hook it up and use, and it's the box that I would recommend to those with less than good tech know-how. Anyone that can find their way around computer networks will find the Boxee to be a very powerful and fun device that can handle a lot more of your television viewing than you might think.
Products related to this item
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Product information
| Product Dimensions | 4.5 x 4.5 x 4.6 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 2.5 pounds |
| ASIN | B0038JE07O |
| Item model number | DSM-380 |
| Customer Reviews |
3.6 out of 5 stars |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | September 13, 2010 |
| Department | wired networking |
| Manufacturer | D-Link Systems, Inc. |
Feedback
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Related products with free delivery on eligible orders
Sponsored | Try Prime for unlimited fast, free shipping
Page 1 of 1Start overPage 1 of 1
Best 200 bucks I've ever spent. Best network media player on the market. Hands down.
First off, I'm not a Boxee fanboy like many people who are grilling Boxee over the coals for not offering free Hulu or Netflix on release date, or for not using the same interface on the box as in their traditional software. (I don't know what that interface looked like originally and I honestly don't care). And even thou Hulu Plus and Netflix have already been announced to be implemented before the end of the year for the Boxee Box, I don't really care either since I get free Hulu access through PlayOn and I watch Netflix on my PS3. The only reason I decided to purchase the Boxee Box was streaming of video files over my network, specially high bitrate 1080p MKV files with DTS sound, which seem to be the weak point of most media streamers on the market (even Google TV can't handle DTS on MKVs). And in that department the Boxee Box totally blew my mind. The interface is beautiful and snappy and it plays my MKV files without breaking a sweat. Fast forwarding is a breeze (also a weak point on most network media players out there) and not only does the box automatically fetch the cover art and description of the Movies and TV shows stored on my network but It can even read the inside contents of RAR files which is awesome. The remote is delightful to use and for the first time EVER I was able to enjoy YouTube on my 52 inch screen and browse it comfortably from my couch. Searching and playing YouTube files is a breeze thanks to the polished YouTube app. There is LOT of free video content in the TV shows and movies section to keep you entertained for ages. Have in mind those videos are ad supported since you're basically playing them off TV websites like comedy central or Spike TV to name a few. But all of the above is basically a bonus for me. Like I said, the real reason I purchased this device was network playback of video files and in that department it totally blows any machine on the market out of the water. As a side note, I have the feeling that once Netflix is implemented before the end of the year on the Boxee Box along with Hulu plus, many people will be tempted to cut off their cable companies because basically for the 20 bucks a month that they would pay for both Netflix and Hulu plus, they're be able to instantly watch more movies and TV shows than they can possibly consume over the course of a month. (I won't go as far as cutting off my cable company thou. I can't live without HBO and my wife watches international soap operas not available anywhere else) Is this box worth the asking price? I'd say it all depends on what do you want the box for. If you're looking for a Netflix or Hulu machine, there are way cheaper alternatives on the market (but they won't stream your local media as superbly as the Boxee Box, or they won't stream it at all). If you're looking for the familiar Boxee interface, you won't find it here either. For that purpose, buy yourself a nettop and hook it up to your TV. But if you're looking for the best Network streamer on the planet, able to play any video format you throw at it at any bitrate or resolution without even flinching, while automatically fetching your Movie and TV show covers and descriptions of the web and displaying them in a beautiful, organized, snappy and convenient interface capable of taming the vastest media collection and putting it at the tip of your fingers, your search (like mine) is finally over. The Boxee Box is the network media player to end all network media players. Finally, a company that "gets it" releases a product that performs the way it was advertised to perform. Boxee understands users want freedom to enjoy their media libraries as they please, without having to deal with restrictive platforms like the apple TV, and now they have put their money where their mouth is by releasing this gorgeous piece of technology. (I'll post a picture above in the product details section - This thing is indeed sexy). I started this review by saying I wasn't a boxee fanboy. Well, I guess after spending a day with the boxee box, they just converted me into one.
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2012
- Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2010
