D-Link MediaLounge DSM-520

Summary: Reviewed 4 different Media Centers & Dlink 520 is the BEST

I have tried the Media PC (Dell), the Linksys (Cisco) , Xbot and Dlink and the Dlink is the best media center by far. However, if you are mainly a game player, go for the Xbot.
Dlink-520 = 9
Media PC = 7 (High Price – too much functionality for need)
Xbot = 6 (Fair Media Center and GREAT game center)
LinkSys = 5 (High price not much functionality)


About 1.5 years ago I tried the Dlink DSM-320 and I kept it just under 30 days and returned it for a full refund because it had many deficiencies. As such I didn’t expect much from the DSM-520 but to date I have been truly amazed and I plan to keep it.

Pros:
1) You can stream radio from many different internet sources & most are free.
2) System is pretty much plug/play. If you have media on your computer it will play on your TV through the 520.
3) I back-up all my DVD’s into DIVX format and 520 can read this format. However you must rename extension from .divx to .avi.
4) 520 increases the quality. I have a HD TV and with an HDMI cable quality is better then normal DVD even though with DivX a movie is compressed from >5GB to <700MB.
5) You can set up different media centers on different computers. As a result your entire family can log their media onto the 520.
6) Buffer – Evidently some buffer is present. I rebooted my computer during a movie (accidentally) and the movie continued to play for over 3 minutes. Once it stopped it picked back up where it left off once computer was restored.

Cons:
1) Fast forward & rewind very slow. Probably about 4 times max normal speed.
2) USB Drive – I connected a 250GB USB drive and system couldn’t see it. Dlink support told me 200GB was max so I connected a 150GB and still no connect. I connected a 20GB and success. So, I imagine max is somewhere between 20GB and 150GB. I will let you all know once I figure this out.
3) Dlink support is about as bad as all the rest. I reached 2nd level support after 42 minutes and they still gave me the wrong info on the USB drive (2 above).
4) Doesn’t have a bookmark for video. So if you want to stop a movie & want to return you will experience #1 above.

Misc:
1) PC Configuration – XP Home, 2.0 Ghz, 512MB mem, Hyper Thread.
2) Updated PC and Dlink to current software/firmware.
3) Running wireless but installed $12.99 9DB attenuators from CompUSA (on sale) on the 520 as well as my Linksys wireless router.
4) What I Paid for 520 - $202.37 which includes ship/tax at **********. This includes a $30.00 discount for charging on a new Amazon credit card which I will throw away when I get it.

I have had this 520 since 2/05/06 (1 week). It took me about 2 hours to connect to my home network. I have over 300 movies and 4,000 songs on my 6 home computers and they are now all available on my TV. The kids love it but I must admit I, the family tech guru is the most impressed. I have heard that this unit has a delay. I have not noted this and believe anyone that reports such is doing so based on the 320 version.

If requested I will give you an update after my 30th day.