Sony DMX-NV1 Bravia Internet Video Link review

It seems that within the past year or so every electronics company has tried mightily to connect us to internet content. But with all the options out there, it can be very difficult to figure out which is the best for you. So when the manufacturer of your TV makes a media streamer designed specifically for your set, you'd be crazy to not give it a look (at the very least). And with this in mind, we decided to spend some time with the Sony Bravia Link. It should go without saying that if you don't have a Sony HDTV, then you might as well read on to the next topic, but if you do, click through.

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The good

• Easy to install.

• TV Remote works great at navigating menus.

• Wide array of internet sources, like Amazon, Yahoo and CBS.

• PC to TV feature, which we couldn't get to work (context menu doesn't even come up for apple.com/trailers)

• Good looking UI, but not fantastic.

The bad

• No way to play you own video, pictures, or music.

• Couldn't figure out how to add our own links.

• Separate power supply required.

• Wires are way too long for mounting location.

• No Netflix or Hulu support.

Wrap-up
Although we don't have anything particularly bad to say about the Sony Bravia Link, we don't have anything good to say either. The problem is two fold: for starters, it really doesn't do that much, and second, it costs $200. So in other words, we don't see anyone but the most devout Sony fan even bothering with this. The really annoying thing is that the hardware is actually pretty nice, and the software is what's holding it back. The most glaring problem is the inability to enjoy your own content on your TV. It seems to us that this would be a no-brainer, and we can't understand why anyone would buy any media streamer that won't stream your own media. Of course, anyone who is a hardcore Sony fan likely owns a PS3, which means they can already do all of this and more. So really Sony, what's the point?