We just snuck a quick look at the new Linksys home media gear, the
Wireless Home Audio system and
Media Hub NAS, and it's pretty much what you'd expect.
For all of Cisco's talk of platform and back-end and consumer love, the end product is actually pretty humdrum. We can't speak to the actual setup and content integration -- which will naturally be Cisco's strong suit -- but the actual hardware doesn't seem to scream consumer love. The interface on the Touchscreen Remote is pretty slow and a far cry from the polish of the Sonos system -- the unit's natural competitor -- especially compared to the iPod touch control App, and everything looks and feels bulky and gray. We do have to hand it to Cisco for working in the iPod dock, a CD player, iTunes server and Rhapsody all into one cohesive centrally-controlled system, but we'll see how much traction this gathers in the market... Cisco's talking like a uniter, but right now this just looks like more fragmentation.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
gonintendo @ Jan 7th 2009 6:24PM
Anybody notice how the FIRST!!!!!!111!!!!11 comments are disappearing?
Architech @ Jan 7th 2009 6:49PM
First!!!!!11!1!!1!
roomtek @ Jan 7th 2009 6:48PM
but your's is one of them
Joseph @ Jan 8th 2009 2:36PM
We just downbid you, and then you start to dissapear. The more we do it, the more you dissapear.
Mitch @ Jan 7th 2009 6:53PM
FOURTH!!!!!!!
Engadget, I'm interested in the Media Hub, please look at that and give us an article/review about any hands-on you can get with it. This one seems to be about the Wireless Home Audio more than the Media Hub.