Hands-on with HP's MediaSmart Extender

The "Extender for Windows Media Center" field is getting more crowded by the day, but we've gotta say this MediaSmart from HP is sticking out in a good way. Not only is there a Pocket Media Drive bay built in, but you can also use HP's media interface if Microsoft's isn't doing it for you. It's all about the flexibility, and HP delivers here -- now let's work on the sexy.

Gallery: Hands-on with HP's MediaSmart Extender

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[ScooterDe @ Jan 8th 2008 3:39PM]

my old Lasonic DVD with HDD has a similar feature - a removable 250GB hard drive which can be plugged into my pc, loaded with files (divx, mp3, jpeg etc.) and the replaced and played on the telly. Inserting a whole pocket drive is just cluttering up the interface and making this machine a bit outsize.

[Chuchi @ Jan 8th 2008 3:41PM]

Eh. I could have done without the pocket media drive bay. Who wants to lug a hard drive back and forth anyway? The idea is to transfer the video through a network, not by physical means. Had they turned it into a 5.25" bay instead, I would have been watching it like a hawk till its release. Blu-ray, HD-DVD, a combo drive, or even an extra hard drive in that slot would have made it a much more attractive buy.

[OneLove @ Jan 8th 2008 4:45PM]

I just got my dv9700 laptop after returning a dv9500 because of manufacturing defects, (took 2 weeks). The dv9700 also has defects. Are they dropping screwdrivers on every new HP laptop in china? I will never buy another HP laptop again!