Standing just 6-7 centimeters high and as wide as a DVD player, Pinnacle's silver network media player can be integrated almost perfectly into any modern stereo system. The accompanying remote control and included "server" software, which has to be installed on the PC, makes navigating and playing back content on the functional display a snap. The center plays back or displays files in MP3, PCM-Wave, MPEG-1 and 2, DivX, Xvid, JPEG and BMP format. Price: $299 (€249). Conclusion: Not quite as cheap as the Hauppauge box, but it plays Divx and Xvid videos. Plus, the Showcenter features a PCMCIA expansion slot for an optional W-LAN card (802.11b only) and a host of audio and video ports. See also the individual test of the Pinnacle Showcenter .

Simple, elegant and functional. Pinnacle's Showcenter is easy both to install and operate.