LaCie Silverscreen 80Gb

Your computer's hard disk is probably packed with movies, music and photos. However, unless you have a media streaming device or an endless supply of blank CDs and DVDs, it's likely that most of the media stored on your PC will only be enjoyed when you're sitting at your desktop.

The LaCie Silverscreen reverses this logic and allows you to watch digital video, view digital photos and listen to digital music on a TV or through a hi-fi. Inside its tiny shell is an 80Gb hard disk, where you can dump hundreds of video, music and image files. Just copy media from your PC to the Silverscreen via a USB 2 port, then connect the device to a TV using the Scart or composite cables.

Using the remote control, you will be able to browse and play files on-screen. The Silverscreen also has a digital audio-out socket for connecting to 5.1 decoders and hi-fis. It supports all the common video, image and audio formats, including DivX and MP3, but won't recognise protected audio files you may have downloaded from Napster or iTunes.

It will also play DVDs you have ripped to your hard disk, but only in the VOB format. It does, however, offer a form of video-on-demand, with the option of hopping online to rent or buy DivX movies from the DivX website.

Of course, playback quality is dependent on the quality of the original. On the whole, we found our DivX movies looked much better than they would have done if played from a VHS tape. Audio is also very good, especially when hooked up to a good sound system. The best thing about it, though, is its quiet operation - it's almost silent.

However, if you have or plan to add Wi-Fi capabilities to your home, the Silverscreen is a bit pointless; a media streaming device such as the D-Link DSM-320 Wireless Media Server will do the job without the hassle of moving files from one hard disk to another.

Contact:
LaCie 020 7233 8338
www.lacie.com/uk

Specifications:

• 80Gb hard disk
• USB 2
• Scart/Component video
• Analogue audio out
• Coaxial and optical digital audio out
• Supports:MPEG-1,MPEG-2 (AVI,VOB,ISO), MPEG-4 (AVI, DivX, XviD), MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC (not m4a), AC3, JPEG (up to 8-megapixel)

See also:

Network Attached Storage - A question of sharing

Linking hard drives to a Lan can offer many benefits in a small office or home. Find out which device is right for you.  04 Mar 2005

Ximeta Netdisk Mini

A portable hard drive with both USB and ethernet connectivity.  27 Sep 2004

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