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ExtremeTech Reviews Akimbo Internet-Movie Box

Posted by timothy on from the don't-most-pcs-do-this dept.

prostoalex writes "ExtremeTech published a review of Akimbo DVR, a $229 box that coupled with $10 monthly subscription fee and a broadband connection would provide access to a variety of Internet-only shows. ExtremeTech review is positive, although it does mention that downloads take long time, the content is not what one would call rich, and quality of the video differs, since the Windows Media files are coming from a variety of providers. Inside Akimbo one can find a 733 MHz Celeron, 64 MB of SDRAM, 80 GB hard drive and Windows CE. Even though the reviewers keep calling the Akimbo product a DVR, it's not perfectly clear whether a basic DVR function (recording TV content on schedule) is supported."

2 of 57 comments (clear)

  1. Alright, I ordered one but then cancelled it ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    For one reason, I bought Windows Media Center 2005 at OEM with the remote to qualify for Hardware OEM builder. This definitely kicks anything out there (for $160 total). I hooked up Windows Media Center 2005 to my LCD tv and I get HDTV like video streaming from my network. Very nice.

    Akimbo on the other hand is a porn machine. There's tons of porno on that system for further money but is it worth it? Nope. That and I have a dusty Xbox in my livingroom just waiting for Xbox Media Center Extender to transfer all my music and videos plus giving me access to all of my online services for not much money. Akimbo, sure there's some targeted shows but nothing you can't watch with Windows Media Center, and in a couple of days Xbox Media Center entender kit.

    Add a Linksys NAS device for $79 and a Lacie terabyte USB 2.0 block with an old pc and you have a multimedia center for under 1.2 ghees.

  2. one pic says 1/2 of GreenCine titles are free by artifex2004 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Yet when I go to the Akimbo website, they say the titles have to be bought.

    I wonder whether that article used a prerelease press pic instead of something real, or whether the deal really hadn't been worked out yet when the writer reviewed the box. Regardless, it's making me wary of the rest of their content claims.

    I'm not convinced a long-term niche really exists for this box, either, but that's another matter.