- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 107 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
Full user review
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36 out of 36 people found this review helpful
4.5 stars
"Very Impressed with product"
Pros: Works great on my wireless connection! Slingbox has software updates, and FIRMWARE updates, Easy SetUp, All Cables Included to get you going. SetUp Manual is minimal and straightforward.
Cons: I don't expect anything from the product, other than what it claims it will do. Few quirks in the installation setup, that I am sure will be updated soon.
Summary: Warning: SlingBox is like a Tivo, once you have one, you can't live without it.
I was very hesitant about purchasing the product for months. I didn't buy it cause it seemed liked there had to be more to it. It was never promoted, stuck in the back of the store on a side shelf and collected dust. No stores have SlingBox on display showing the actual product working. For months SlingBox sat in COMP USA until they started promoting the product in ads. The Burbank COMP USA is out of stock of the SlingBox. I bought the last one. Best Buy sells the product too.
I had a slight problem with my installation. It seems the SlingBox provided A/V in/out cords are not exactly made for each other. It took me an extra hour and a half to finish my installation, due to the faulty connection of the SlingBox A/V cord. I needed to uplug (at the SlingBox) their supplied A/V cord and re-plug it, jiggle it, then I got video/sound. The little installation screen says "Starting", which isn't that informative. The software installation should say "STOP and check your cable connections, if you don't SEE video. Unplug and replug your connections, wait a few seconds for lag to see if you repaired the problem."
Once I got it going, it was smooth. Of course having a good connection is important. If your wireless connection is not rating itself as EXCELLENT, don't blame SlingBox. Even when my SlingBox is using bandwidth streaming at 1288kbps, it doesn't slow down my wireless web browsing! So I can check email, surf, without worrying about my SlingBox hogging ram/bandwidth.
I was surprised that this thing that looks like a toy is capable of FIRMWARE updates. The firmware update was the easiest fireware update I've ever done. Just a few clicks and it was done. You don't unplug, or reset anything! Way-easy! Don't you wish all your toys could be updated via the internet?
My best friend is wanted to buy a wireless TV and has a HP 17" widescreen WindowsMedia XP P4 laptop laying around collecting dust. He already has a wireless lan, and he's has a cable TV box that he uses for himself. I suggested that he purchase a SlingBox, now that I know that the product works, he will love it.
Upon opening the box, I was amazed that all the cords needed are included. I managed to test the SlingBox on the go feature. I hooked up to my SlingBox successfully through a neighbors unsecure wireless connection (without any port fordarding). The wireless connection to my laptop showed excellent, and so was the video.
If you want to hear a little nit-pick about SlingBox, the color and shape-design that makes it look like a cheap toy. The SlingBox rear side is red plastic, with gold lettering indicating the titles of the jacks. Bad color combinations(gold on red) for those with imperfect eyesight. SlingBox is not a replacement for a high quality TV, so if you don't mind the occasional jerk in motion when your wireless connection has a drop in transmissions, then you'll continue to enjoy the product. I am running a HP laptop with a Centrino processor and it is great. I also reccomend those who plan to use a SlingBox on a regular basis to use it with a HP laptop that has Altec Lansing speakers on the front side(not top) of the laptop, so the sound projects toward you. The sound is great when laptop was created with great sound in mind. If your laptop has tiny little tin-can sounding speakers (such as on Toshiba laptops)under your laptop screen, then you should consider running out and get a new HP laptop. I will never own a new laptop model that doesn't have speakers on the front side of the laptop.
Where to buy
Sling Media Slingbox:
$150.00
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$150.00 | Yes |
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