The Boxee Box Wins Hands Down

The Boxee Box

Best 200 bucks I've ever spent. Best network media player on the market.

Hands Down.

By The Bigmac (White Plains, MD)

A customer review of the Boxee Box by D-Link HD Streaming Media Player

First off, I'm not a Boxee fanboy like many people who are grilling Boxee over the coals for not offering free Hulu or Netflix on release date, or for not using the same interface on the box as in

their traditional software. (I don't know what that interface looked like originally and I honestly don't care). And even thou Hulu Plus and Netflix have already been announced to be implemented before the end of the year for the Boxee Box, I don't really care either since I get free Hulu access through PlayOn and I watch Netflix on my PS3.

The only reason I decided to purchase the Boxee Box was streaming of video files over my network, specially high bitrate 1080p MKV files with DTS sound, which seem to be the weak point of most media streamers on the market (even Google TV can't handle DTS on MKVs). And in that department the Boxee Box totally blew my mind. The interface is beautiful and snappy and it plays my MKV files without breaking a sweat. Fast forwarding is a breeze (also a weak point on most network media players out there) and not only does the Boxee box automatically fetch the cover art and description of the Movies and TV shows stored on my network but It can even read the inside contents of RAR files which is awesome.

The remote is delightful to use and for the first time EVER I was able to enjoy YouTube on my 52 inch screen and browse it comfortably from my couch. Searching and playing YouTube files is a breeze thanks to the polished YouTube app. There is LOT of free video content in the TV shows and movies section to keep you entertained for ages. Have in mind those videos are ad supported since you're basically playing them off TV websites like comedy central or Spike TV to name a few.

 

But all of the above is basically a bonus for me. Like I said, the real reason I purchased this device was network playback of video files and in that department it totally blows any machine on the market out of the water.

As a side note, I have the feeling that once Netflix is implemented before the end of the year on theBoxee Box along with Hulu plus, many people will be tempted to cut off their cable companies because basically for the 20 bucks a month that they would pay for both Netflix and Hulu plus, they're be able to instantly watch more movies and TV shows than they can possibly consume over the course of a month. (I won't go as far as cutting off my cable company thou. I can't live without HBO and my wife watches international soap operas not available anywhere else)

Is this box worth the asking price? I'd say it all depends on what do you want the box for. If you're looking for a Netflix or Hulu machine, there are way cheaper alternatives on the market (but they won't stream your local media as superbly as theBoxee Box, or they won't stream it at all). If you're looking for the familiar Boxee interface, you won't find it here either. 

For that purpose, buy yourself a nettop and hook it up to your TV. But if you're looking for the best Network streamer on the planet, able to play any video format you throw at it at any bitrate or resolution without even flinching, while automatically fetching your Movie and TV show covers and descriptions of the web and displaying them in a beautiful, organized, snappy and convenient interface capable of taming the vastest media collection and putting it at the tip of your fingers, your search (like mine) is finally over. TheBoxee Box is the network media player to end all network media players.

Finally, a company that "gets it" releases a product that performs the way it was advertised to perform. Boxee understands users want freedom to enjoy their media libraries as they please, without having to deal with restrictive platforms like the apple TV, and now they have put their money where their mouth is by releasing this gorgeous piece of technology. (I'll post a picture above in the product details section - This thing is indeed sexy).

I started this review by saying I wasn't a boxee fanboy. Well, I guess after spending a day with theboxee box, they just converted me into one.