Slingbox Pro-HD

(4 out of 5)

MSRP: $299

Watch your favorite HD channels on your notebook in any room in the house or away from home.

When Sling Media first launched the groundbreaking Slingbox, Web video was just starting to go mainstream, and premium content from name-brand providers was few and far between. Now that online video is everywhere—Hulu, Veoh, Amazon Video on Demand, Netflix Watch Instantly, and more—and Web apps have been created just to serve as online TV programming guides, the field of play has changed. So why would anyone pay $299 for a box that streams your home TV content over your home network or the Web when you can stream or download most of your favorite shows online? Use the Slingbox Pro-HD once and you’ll know the answers. The Slingbox Pro-HD undoubtedly offers the highest quality pictures we’ve seen to date. Unlike the Slingbox Pro, which was able to process HDTV but down-converted to VGA resolution, the Pro-HD streams high-definition quality video using its component inputs up to 1080i. You also get sleek new desktop software with the ability to pause up to 60 minutes of video on your PC (even if you don’t have a DVR) and a built-in programming guide. Plus, as with previous Slingboxes, you can tap into your DVR remotely and stream high-quality video to your smart phone—things you can’t do with a standalone Web-based service. Although the $299 price may be too high for the masses, the Slingbox Pro-HD is a first-class place-shifting device, especially for sports fans and road warriors who want to be able to watch any live or recorded programming away from home.

Read Full Review @ LaptopMag.com by Michael A. Prospero