The Media Center Extender is the most recent attempt by Linksys and Microsoft to conquer your digital living room. The question is – what exactly is an extender? A standalone player? A video/audio streaming client? In the end, the Linksys DMA 2100 is a little of both while also bringing a few innovations to the table as well. In order to be able to use the DMA 2100 you’ll need a networked computer containing music, videos and image files acting as a server. If this server is also equipped with a TV tuner card, the TV signals can also be streamed to the extender and then sent to a TV or TFT from there. The type of tuner card is irrelevant, since analogue, DVB-T and DVB-S are supported.

As its user interface, the extender uses the Windows Media Center as it is found in the Vista Premium and Ultimate editions. If you’ve worked with the Media Center before, you’ll have no trouble finding your way around the extender, too, without having to dig around for menus or features. In effect, when you use the extender, it feels like you’re actually using a PC running Vista Premium or Ultimate.

The remote control is the sole input and control device. This is as it should be, as a mouse and keyboard are not especially decorative in the living room. All of the PC’s Media Center functions are available through the extender, letting you listen to music, browse images or watch movies. If your Media Center PC is equipped with an MCE-compatible TV tuner card, you can also record, watch or play back your favourite TV shows. Dual-tuner cards will allow you to watch one channel while recording a programme on another station. Alternatively, you could watch one TV show on the PC and stream another one to the extender. This functionality is not available with single-tuner cards. However, using two single-tuner cards is not a problem for Vista, the MCE and the extender either.

You can also program TV or radio stations using the DMA 2100. In this case, the computer is controlled remotely through the extender.

The feature set and functionality don’t come cheap, though, as the extender’s €250 price tag proves. For another €50, you can also get the DMA 2200 that comes with an integrated DVD drive.

* according to Linksys