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NETGEAR Powerline HD Is “Kick Ass”

October 17th, 2006

NETGEAR today announced that Maximum PC magazine has awarded its “Kick Ass Product” designation to the NETGEAR Powerline HD Ethernet Adapters (HDXB101). Published in the October issue, the HDXB101 received Maximum PC’s highest honor which, according to the publication, “is bestowed only upon products worthy of the editors’ personal recommendations.”“The bottom line is that the HDXB101 is fast enough to stream video – even high-definition video – from your media server to your living room,” stated Will Smith, editor-in-chief of Maximum PC, in the product review. “We successfully streamed video content – including 1080i WMV movies – across the powerline network. UPNP packets even cross the powerline segment flawlessly – our UPNP-dependent streaming boxes worked without a hitch. Even the bandwidth hungry Media Center Extender and Xbox 360 worked with nary a hiccup or dropped frame.”

In another review published by PC Magazine, Technical Analyst Oliver Kaven stated that the NETGEAR Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter (HDX101) proved impressive in his tests. “It’s the first power-line product I’ve reviewed with the ease and speed to be worthwhile,” wrote Kaven. He stated that the HDX101 delivered throughput speeds that, on average, were comparable with what the faster wireless technologies delivered at distances of around 20 feet and was faster than wireless when distances exceeded 60 feet. “Overall, I was impressed by the Netgear HDX101 Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter,” he concluded.

“The receipt of these strong editorial reviews of our Powerline HD Ethernet adapters is further validation of NETGEAR’s strategy to design and deliver innovations that enable the adoption of cutting-edge networked products and technologies in homes and businesses,” stated Kartik Gada, NETGEAR Product Line Manager. “Powerline HD is the ideal solution for providing high-speed network connectivity in locations such as home entertainment centers and family rooms where wired connectivity is desirable, but where Ethernet cabling is unavailable. This will become an increasingly attractive solution with the emergence of streaming media devices, such as NETGEAR’s Digital Entertainer (EVA700), that deliver digital content to home entertainment systems.” NETGEAR’s Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter Kit (HDXB101) is comprised of two Powerline HD Ethernet Adapters (HDX101), an Ethernet cable and set-up CD. By simply plugging one of the elegant white Powerline HD Ethernet Adapters to a router and the other to any Ethernet-ready device — such as a PC, game console, print server, digital video recorder, or the NETGEAR Digital Entertainer (EVA700) — consumers can enjoy data speeds up to 200 Mbps speeds without interruption or complicated set-up. The NETGEAR Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter can also make large file transfers to networked storage devices like the NETGEAR Storage Central (SC101) up to 12 times faster than previous Powerline networking products. Its smart design also aptly blends into any home decor with ease, and does not take up any floor or desk space. Furthermore, the Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter easily co-exists with NETGEAR’s other Powerline technologies, so that consumers can use their existing powerline devices for basic applications, and Powerline HD as an exclusive network loop for high-definition video and gaming. NETGEAR’s Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter is available now through leading retailers, e-commerce sites and value-added resellers. It’s backed by a one-year warranty and 24/7 technical support. The Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter Kit (HDXB101) containing two devices has an MSRP of $199.99. For consumers needing to connect additional devices to the network, a single adapter (HDX101) is sold separately at an MSRP of $99.99.

Entry Filed under: Home Theater / Cinema