Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Almost but not quite, 15 Feb 2008
never have I been so disappointed as I am with this product. Why? Well technically its excellent does what it says on the package - DivX HD downloads play a dream, links to my 407 Cubestation NAS a dream - so why the disappointment? Simple Technology by NASA interface software by ToysR Us - its completely naff. How can acompany make something this good with such a poor UI - e.g. On screen menu left 75% screen filled with [pointless] logo - meanwhile items in menu on right [important] drop off screen so only half readable. Its pants with a capital P A N T and S
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Totally underwhelming, 7 April 2008
My first comment must be to commend Amazon on their excellent service. This item was delivered within 24 hours of me placing my order, despite opting for the 'free delivery' option. Please accept my sincere apologies, therefore, for having to return this item.
My main reason for choosing to purchase this particular product was because of the manufacturer's claim that it supported lossless WMA format audio files. The plan was to use this item with my existing set up of an HP Media Vault running Twonky media server, streaming my library of lossless WMA files to the Pinnacle ShowCenter 250 HD over a wireless network using a Linksys wireless router.
I had a few initial problems setting up the wireless network, but eventually managed to work my way through the somewhat clunky ShowCenter screens and successfully connected to my wireless router. Having connected to the wireless network, the ShowCenter picked up on the fact that the Media Vault was running 2 media servers (the native HP Media Vault media server, and the Twonky media server).
However, it soon became apparent that the ShowCenter clearly does NOT support lossless WMA files as claimed.
The ShowCenter screens had no problem listing the albums, artists, tracks, etc in various combinations, but steadfastly refused to actually play the tracks that I selected.
In an effort to narrow down the problem, I tried ripping a CD in a lossy WMA format to the Media Vault. The ShowCenter played the tracks from this album without a problem.
My next thought was that it could be a problem with the configuration of the Twonky media server, so I tried various combinations of this, without success.
Finally, I tried copying 2 audio files to a pen drive (1 in lossless WMA format, the other in a lossy WMA format), and tried playing them direct from the USB socket on the front of the ShowCenter. Again, however, the lossy WMA file played without a problem, but the lossless WMA file would not play.
Even upgrading the ShowCenter firmware to the latest version did not provide a solution to this issue.
I can therefore conclude quite conclusively, that this item DOES NOT do what it says on the box, and I am disgusted that the manufacturer can make such a claim.
So, a magnum of champagne to Amazon for excellent service, but a crate of Blue Nun to Pinnacle to producing such a mediocre product.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Pinnacle Show Centre 250 HD, 9 Mar 2009
I purchased this product because a friend owns one. He said if his wife can use it then anyone can and she loves it. The reviews might put you off, but they shouldn't. I don't use the pinnacle software, I use SwissCentre's Show Centre ([] - totally free). Combine the two and this is an excellent bit of kit. Setting it up on BTHomeHub wireless network was reasonably easy (very minor teething problems until I knew what I was doing). Through SwissCentre I can connect to more than one harddrive, so space will never be an issue especailly with the size of drives you can get now. Being able to watch films, TV series, listen to my music and see my photos on my tv in the comfort of the living room is bliss. This may not be as technical as other reviews, but I set it up, I update it and I use it - that is all I need to know.
I highly recommend this product!
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