Media Center · Windows Vista

Linksys DMA2200 Media Center Extender for Windows Vista

Doug Knox · · Restored archive post · Edited by Muhd Radhi Wahab
Restored from the windows-now.com archive. This post was originally published by Doug Knox on 21 March 2008. It is reproduced faithfully for its historical and reference value, with the original author and date credited. A present-day editor's note follows the original text. If you are the author and would like this amended or removed, contact us.

My Linksys DMA2200 arrived today, thanks to the Media Center team at Microsoft (Thanks, folks!).

Editor's note: the original product photo of the Linksys DMA2200 was hot-linked from the manufacturer's site and is not part of the restored archive.

I was fortunate enough to get to test a competing product, the D-Link DSM-750, prior to this.

Editor's note: the original product photo of the D-Link DSM-750 was hot-linked from the manufacturer's site and is not part of the restored archive.

PRO: The single biggest advantage of the DMA2200 over the DSM-750 is a built-in DVD player.  This is a 1080p upscaling DVD player. Sadly, you have to exit the Media Center Extender UI to get to the DVD player, but........ Its an inconvenience, not a show-stopper.  

PRO: The UI in the DMA2200 seems to be a bit snappier and smoother than the DSM-750. 

CON: The DMA2200 does not have the Windows Media Connect feature of the DSM-750.  This allows you to access shared music, movies, videos and pictures across your LAN.  Of course, you can do this within Media Center, too, so I don't see this as any big loss.

The DMA2200 does what you would expect a Media Center Extender to do, and so far, does it pretty well.  It presents almost every function of the full Media Center Experience, and does it in a small black package.   No need to have that clunky PC in the den or living room any more. 

Both units support Draft N wireless. as well as wired ethernet.  And they both support Composite, Component and HDMI video.  Surround sound support is standard for both units, as well as S/PDIF audio out.  I haven't tried the wireless yet, since I already had CAT-5 running to the devices location.  All in all, if its a choice between these two units, I'd spring for the extra bucks and get the DMA2200, as it doesn't lose anything I'd miss and gains a DVD player.

Editor's note — present-day context

Media Center Extenders like the Linksys DMA2200 and D-Link DSM-750 were tied to Windows Media Center, which Microsoft discontinued — it was dropped entirely in Windows 10. Streaming media players such as Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast and the smart TVs that followed have long since replaced this class of device. We have preserved the 2008 impressions above unchanged for their historical value; see our Media Center archive for related posts.