Comments on: First impressions of the Neuros Link http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/ ...views from the Black Tower at the edge of the cloud Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:56:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: wildmaiden http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2157 wildmaiden Mon, 04 May 2009 13:33:03 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2157 burnmuthaburn: this device cannot record or watch television streams... This isn't what you're looking for. burnmuthaburn: this device cannot record or watch television streams… This isn’t what you’re looking for.

]]> By: deviceguru http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2156 deviceguru Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:49:56 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2156 @Brian: Yes, I think the Neuros Link makes a good BoxeeBox. It's an excellent hardware value and actually has better Linux graphics support (due to Intel's HD video driver being a bit lame at the moment). Although the Silverstone case is much slicker than the one used for the Neuros Link, the Link's enclosure is definitely adequate. Have a look at my review of the Link, <a href="http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/" target="new" rel="nofollow">located here</a>, where I discuss my experiences with adding an HDD and Boxee to the Link. @Brian: Yes, I think the Neuros Link makes a good BoxeeBox. It’s an excellent hardware value and actually has better Linux graphics support (due to Intel’s HD video driver being a bit lame at the moment). Although the Silverstone case is much slicker than the one used for the Neuros Link, the Link’s enclosure is definitely adequate. Have a look at my review of the Link, located here, where I discuss my experiences with adding an HDD and Boxee to the Link.

]]> By: Brian http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2155 Brian Mon, 13 Apr 2009 21:47:18 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2155 I was just wondering if you would recommend building a boxeebox or buying a Neuros Link and making the modifications? any help would be appreciated! I was just wondering if you would recommend building a boxeebox or buying a Neuros Link and making the modifications? any help would be appreciated!

]]> By: DigiMouk http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2154 DigiMouk Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:02:11 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2154 Hi what is really missing is a remote control. I am using the same mother board with UBUNTU Intrepid (8.10) and i use and MCE remote control. For my applications (ELISA, Rhythmbox, VLC) The only issue so far is to resume from Hybernation with the Remote ! Any hint appreciated. Hi what is really missing is a remote control.
I am using the same mother board with UBUNTU Intrepid (8.10) and i use and MCE remote control. For my applications (ELISA, Rhythmbox, VLC)

The only issue so far is to resume from Hybernation with the Remote ! Any hint appreciated.

]]> By: burnmuthaburn http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2153 burnmuthaburn Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:46:06 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2153 hi all! ive been trawling reviews trying to establish if one (or more) TV station's can be recorded while another is viewed? it's probably a newbie question and im more than ready to take the heat for a stupid question........... it's just that this feature is a deal breaker for me; (and the device is for my mother in law lol!) hi all!

ive been trawling reviews trying to establish if one (or more) TV station’s can be recorded while another is viewed?

it’s probably a newbie question and im more than ready to take the heat for a stupid question……….. it’s just that this feature is a deal breaker for me; (and the device is for my mother in law lol!)

]]> By: deviceguru http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2145 deviceguru Wed, 04 Mar 2009 18:55:09 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2145 @James: Here's the info you requested on power consumption... These measurements do not include the USB-connected external HDD, so they should be fairly typical of what you'd get on a standard Neuros Link: * Booting: 65-70W * Idle on GNOME desktop: 42W * Idle at Neuros.TV homepage: 42W * Playing video: 67W @James: Here’s the info you requested on power consumption…

These measurements do not include the USB-connected external HDD, so they should be fairly typical of what you’d get on a standard Neuros Link:

* Booting: 65-70W
* Idle on GNOME desktop: 42W
* Idle at Neuros.TV homepage: 42W
* Playing video: 67W

]]> By: James http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2152 James Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:19:27 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2152 Thanks for the info. I'll be curious to see the power draw. Modern hard drives are pretty quiet, too. I have a old 320GB IDE drive in my current box that is virtually silent and is not even mounted with any rubber grommets or anything. I priced out the components locally, and something similar would cost me about $250 (with a different case & wireless keyboard). So for people who don't have the inclination or time to build one from parts, the Neuros Link is a reasonable option. Thanks for the info. I’ll be curious to see the power draw. Modern hard drives are pretty quiet, too. I have a old 320GB IDE drive in my current box that is virtually silent and is not even mounted with any rubber grommets or anything.

I priced out the components locally, and something similar would cost me about $250 (with a different case & wireless keyboard). So for people who don’t have the inclination or time to build one from parts, the Neuros Link is a reasonable option.

]]> By: deviceguru http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2151 deviceguru Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:15:55 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2151 @James: here are answers to some of your questions: > How loud is it? Without a hard drive, it's very quiet. The fans (power supply, case, and CPU) are relatively noiseless. I didn't install the drive internal to the box, so I can't say how much noise is generated by an HDD's spinning. There appears to be sufficient room to mount the HDD on sound-damping spacers of some sort, but I didn't pursue that. > How much power does it use? I measured it and neglected to add it to the review. Unfortunately, I'm out of town at the moment, and won't be able to add that info till Monday > Can you install a regular or slim DVD drive? It appears to require a slimline DVD -- check out the photos of the drive mounting bracket, above. @James: here are answers to some of your questions:

> How loud is it?
Without a hard drive, it’s very quiet. The fans (power supply, case, and CPU) are relatively noiseless. I didn’t install the drive internal to the box, so I can’t say how much noise is generated by an HDD’s spinning. There appears to be sufficient room to mount the HDD on sound-damping spacers of some sort, but I didn’t pursue that.

> How much power does it use?
I measured it and neglected to add it to the review. Unfortunately, I’m out of town at the moment, and won’t be able to add that info till Monday

> Can you install a regular or slim DVD drive?
It appears to require a slimline DVD — check out the photos of the drive mounting bracket, above.

]]> By: A. Peon http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2150 A. Peon Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:30:53 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2150 Cute, and nice to have something preconfigured with a company backing it so less-technical users can get support. Looks like the one thing that's missing is an idiot-proof recovery button if a user somehow completely hoses the flash stick/filesystem (and turns it into only a pile of off-the-shelf hardware, rather than an appliance that can maintain itself)... bothering to use actual ROM would wind up overpriced, but sticking a piece of write-protected IDE or USB flash inside the case (a SD card with the write-protect switch on in a $2 USB adapter?) would add little to the cost but could host enough software to repartition and re-wget the original software onto the stick. This could also be a lazy way to permit "complete" updates, if for instance they someday switch distributions (or over-customize Ubuntu) and need to push out some entirely different image rather than letting apt-get try for it. Cute, and nice to have something preconfigured with a company backing it so less-technical users can get support.

Looks like the one thing that’s missing is an idiot-proof recovery button if a user somehow completely hoses the flash stick/filesystem (and turns it into only a pile of off-the-shelf hardware, rather than an appliance that can maintain itself)… bothering to use actual ROM would wind up overpriced, but sticking a piece of write-protected IDE or USB flash inside the case (a SD card with the write-protect switch on in a $2 USB adapter?) would add little to the cost but could host enough software to repartition and re-wget the original software onto the stick.

This could also be a lazy way to permit “complete” updates, if for instance they someday switch distributions (or over-customize Ubuntu) and need to push out some entirely different image rather than letting apt-get try for it.

]]> By: TonyS http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2149 TonyS Fri, 27 Feb 2009 20:31:22 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2149 What I'd like to know is, would this box work well with LinuxMCE? I like their interface better than any I've seen elsewhere. What I’d like to know is, would this box work well with LinuxMCE? I like their interface better than any I’ve seen elsewhere.

]]> By: James http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2148 James Fri, 27 Feb 2009 19:28:48 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2148 How loud is it? How much power does it use? Can you install a regular or slim DVD drive? This might make a good replacement for my MythTV system. How loud is it? How much power does it use? Can you install a regular or slim DVD drive? This might make a good replacement for my MythTV system.

]]> By: flink http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2147 flink Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:25:01 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2147 I've had mine for a couple weeks. I love it. There's nothing can beat a box you can tinker with. I can't wait to try out the Netflix workaround. I’ve had mine for a couple weeks. I love it.

There’s nothing can beat a box you can tinker with. I can’t wait to try out the Netflix workaround.

]]> By: Mammlouk http://www.deviceguru.com/first-impressions-of-the-neuros-link/#comment-2146 Mammlouk Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:15:50 +0000 http://www.deviceguru.com/?p=3943#comment-2146 Great review! I just received mine on Tuesday and am very happy with it so far. Another note for users is that fullscreen flash playback (hulu fullscreen, etc.) can be somewhat lacking. This is not just a LINK problem, as I have similar issues on my 2.2Ghz C2D laptop with 4GB of RAM. I have found that the best work around involves installing compiz, compizconfig settings manager, and compiz-fusion-plugins-main. Then I just enable the enhanced Desktop Zoom plugin which enables you to zoom videos to fullscreen with the benefits of being accelerated by the GPU instead of relying on the processor and shoddy Adobe coding. Great review! I just received mine on Tuesday and am very happy with it so far. Another note for users is that fullscreen flash playback (hulu fullscreen, etc.) can be somewhat lacking. This is not just a LINK problem, as I have similar issues on my 2.2Ghz C2D laptop with 4GB of RAM.

I have found that the best work around involves installing compiz, compizconfig settings manager, and compiz-fusion-plugins-main. Then I just enable the enhanced Desktop Zoom plugin which enables you to zoom videos to fullscreen with the benefits of being accelerated by the GPU instead of relying on the processor and shoddy Adobe coding.

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