I've got a client that insists on using his Media Center in his Theater and was going to use a Roku, his idea. But now they're on back order for 6 months and I just want to get this guy finished. Anybody have any recommendations on something that will give me the same capabilities that you have dealt with in the past. He wants to go VGA and Audio in to his Roku and then into the system. I have tried to explain to him that there are better methods than this but he has it on the brain.

www.ebay.com

I forgot he want's the PhotoBridge

[Link: cgi.ebay.com]

Ya, but would you warranty it?

Nope. I'd explain to the customer:

"Mr. Customer, this product is currently backordered from Roku. I have access to an open box product that has no warranty. If you want this piece now, I can procure it for you, but understand that I will take NO responsibility for it. If you would rather wait until I can get a new item, then that's fine, and I will warranty it at that time. As an alternative, I also have the following products available (list what you'd recommend that you can get currently). What would you like to do?"

Put the ball in their court. See how important it is that he have the Roku vs something else, and how important is it he have it now vs later.

Just my $.02 worth.

Fred

I'm going to foward it on to the powers that be and let them decide. Am I to beleive that they are the only ones that make a prouct with these capabilities?

[Link: linksys.com]

[Link: dlink.com]

Google is your friend.

Good luck.

Fred

Pixel Magic have just released a box with similair capabilities. As good as the PhotoBridge is, I would be very nervous about inserting it into a system as it seems too temperamental. And it gets red hot.

If it is VGA in then it has to be VGA out. I would be concerned that the photobridge having a bad day doesn't interrupt the whole system.

My tuppence....

haven't had to integrate a media server or roku yet, but if you are giving them other options i would suggest a mac mini. [Link: apple.com]

much less prone to problems like anything windows will deliver. great with photos and music. yada yada yada ill end my apple commercial now. also belkin makes a usb ir reveiveer and remote so you can control it from a keypad / touchscreen, or universal remote. pretty cool.

on a side note any one use a new mac with boot camp? you can now install win xp on a mac!

It's not available on Sony Style just yet, but this product looks like a Hoku killer to me.

[Link: techliving.com]

[Link: news.sel.sony.com]

Dawn

Grab the Media Center supplement that came with the new CEPro...

My copy is at my office so I cant reference it right this minute, but I remember an article on using an XBox 360 as a superior media client for HT systems.

An important facts is getting missed here which is that the Roku was actually designed with the Integrator in mind. It has a complete RS-232 protocol and I *believe* is also has a complete set of discrete IR commands. It's also not dependent on a PC.

I'd be surprised to find many of the other products menstioned being able to be control in a seamless way, ASSUMING that's important to the thread starter :-).

QQQ you are quite right there are discrete codes available for IR control and is independent of a PC. However, it does 'lock-up' and play games like not 'finding' network shares.

I have been using one in my home for 6 mo, the lockup issue has not occured when hard wired to my network. The drawback for me is in house audio applications when i'm not in the same room with it to see titles etc. Thats why I'm playing with a Nevo. The Nevo can use the Roku as a player.