For the past year you could pick up a Linksys DMA for super cheap prices at various online stores. So cheap the little Windows Media Center extenders have become quite popular. Unfortunately it looks like Linksys is finally running out of the devices and is officially discontinuing the product line.
After being tipped off by a post on the Green Button Forums, I did a little searching and put in an e-mail to confirm Cisco’s intentions. Their reply:
Yes, they are in discontinue status and right now there is no plans to replace. Sorry.
These are V2 extenders, which means they work with both Vista Media Center and Windows 7 Media Center. A concern among Linksys DMA 2100/2200 users is whether Linksys will continue to provide firmware updates as needed. My guess is they won’t, but hopefully that won’t be a huge issue as it is a pretty mature product.
Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Geek Tonic.
As I mentioned over Geek Tonic, I saw an unreleased Linksys extender product at the HAVA booth during CES. Wonder if they’re killing this entire product line, or maybe repositioning it in light of the other new Linksys/Cisco home media gear.
As popular as online video is getting, it sure seems tough for anyone to make money doing it. All of the original studio backed internet VOD providers have gone bust or have been sold for next to nothing. The broadcasters are losing market share to time shifters, the DVR advertising model is still incomplete, online video hosting sites are shutting down or scaling back and now we’re finding that the box manufacturers can’t seem to squeeze out a profit. I wonder if it’s just a matter of waiting for all the competitors to consolidate and a few strong ones will remain or if this industry is just too competitive for anyone to turn into a big business.
I think part of the problem is that some TV-based services, like VOD, must be piggybacked on an established game console (XBox 360) or DVR (TiVo) in order to succeed. Right now, VOD isn’t well developed enough, and doesn’t have the consumer demand to justify a dedicated box in the living room. (Perhaps the Roku Netflix box is an exception).
This situation is similar in the mobile world, where a handheld device generally can’t succeed unless it functionality set is anchored by phone, music or gaming functionality.
Extenders were a good concept but execution was appalling. You pretty much could only use it for TV portion of VMC as codec support sucked and other functionality was hampered as well.
Things like Sage HD extender or PCH/WD TV are way more appropriate.
The only limitation I have with my Linksys DMA2200 is the inability to access Netflix streaming video. Aside from that, it is a major addition to my television capabilities. NOTE: I have yet to use the built-in DVD player. I also couple it with a Linksys-N Dual Channel router. The DMA2200 uses the 5MHZ channel — without that, it would be almost useless.
Further comment: If I had to stick with Windows 7 because no drivers become available in the future then I’m finished upgrading my OS.