Posted by: Dignan
Your favorite secondary gadget of 2010 - 14/01/2011 00:00
If someone asked me what my favorite gadget I bought and used last year, my smartphone would be my likely answer. I want to know if there was a gadget you got last year that might not be a big name. Here's my example:
Western Digital WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit
I've been using powerline networking devices for years now, and I'll be the first to admit: they're pretty bad. Often, though, they're the only recourse. About 5 years ago, when I was still living in my parents' home, my computer was set up in locations that just couldn't get WiFi. I finally stumbled across a Netgear product (the XE102) that promised a whopping 14Mbps transmission rate. Of course, you never get anywhere near that 14Mbps in real world use, but it was enough for web browsing and email. I then stepped up to the XE104, which had four ports on each unit and was 85Mbps. I still didn't get that speed, but now I could download small files
Flash forward to 2010. I simply had no way to get my home wired, and for some reason wireless just wasn't cutting it, no matter what I tried (and I tried at least four different setups). I was willing to try powerline again, but everything out there was still pretty slow and/or cost a hell of a lot of money (over $100 for each plug). Then I stumbled across WD's Livewire.
The Livewire is rated at 200Mbps (more on that later), it costs $99 for a two unit package, and each end has four ports, so at the home theater side I was able to connect my Tivo, my WDTV or Boxee, and my bluray player. Now, as I stated earlier, powerline never gives you real-world results anywhere near the rated speed, but so far the Livewire has been more than enough to get 1080p video streaming to my Boxee Box. I haven't had any speed issues whatsoever.
This product was a true surprise, a great value, and has really helped eliminate an annoyance I've had for quite some time. I am a big fan of the WD Livewire, and can truly say that I have nothing negative to say about it, which is rare for a CE device.
So, is there a gadget like this that you guys used last year?
Western Digital WD Livewire Powerline AV Network Kit
I've been using powerline networking devices for years now, and I'll be the first to admit: they're pretty bad. Often, though, they're the only recourse. About 5 years ago, when I was still living in my parents' home, my computer was set up in locations that just couldn't get WiFi. I finally stumbled across a Netgear product (the XE102) that promised a whopping 14Mbps transmission rate. Of course, you never get anywhere near that 14Mbps in real world use, but it was enough for web browsing and email. I then stepped up to the XE104, which had four ports on each unit and was 85Mbps. I still didn't get that speed, but now I could download small files
Flash forward to 2010. I simply had no way to get my home wired, and for some reason wireless just wasn't cutting it, no matter what I tried (and I tried at least four different setups). I was willing to try powerline again, but everything out there was still pretty slow and/or cost a hell of a lot of money (over $100 for each plug). Then I stumbled across WD's Livewire.
The Livewire is rated at 200Mbps (more on that later), it costs $99 for a two unit package, and each end has four ports, so at the home theater side I was able to connect my Tivo, my WDTV or Boxee, and my bluray player. Now, as I stated earlier, powerline never gives you real-world results anywhere near the rated speed, but so far the Livewire has been more than enough to get 1080p video streaming to my Boxee Box. I haven't had any speed issues whatsoever.
This product was a true surprise, a great value, and has really helped eliminate an annoyance I've had for quite some time. I am a big fan of the WD Livewire, and can truly say that I have nothing negative to say about it, which is rare for a CE device.
So, is there a gadget like this that you guys used last year?