Roku HD1000 High-Definition Digital Media Player
Rock on Roku!
This unit provides a quality media player for the high-end AV officianado.  It does not try to be everything to everyone -- it does its job and it does it well.  It focuses on the delivery of your personal digital content to your HD-based AV system.  It does not play DVD's, it does not attempt to funnel high-bandwidth HD-quality media through a wireless connection that may not meet the speed requirements for video, nor does it try to force you to one media format like so many other media players.  In the same vein, it does not exclude you from doing anything you'd like through its support of pass-through component signals, a wide variety of memory card formats, integrated Ethernet with support for external WiFi adapters, the use of standard file services on your servers, and standard MPEG2, JPEG, and MP3 & playlist support (NOT some vendors' proprietary or DRM-restricted file format!)<br />As if the HD1000 doesn't come with enough features today, the open-source nature of this device allows for a lot of future software features and upgrades from RokuLabs, 3rd party developers, and hobbyists.  The ability to connect to any kind of server with no specialized server software required is a big plus in my book.  The included ability to easily script your own programs in the simple language included can make for some great custom scenes on your HD display with corresponding soundtracks; if that's not enough, a full-blown C/C++ SDK is in the works for the diehard hobbyist.  The future of this unit is wide-open!<br />The sleek, clean design looks even better in person than the online photos lead you to believe.  The remote control is simple and easy to use, as is the user interface.  The wealth of connections on the back are clearly labeled (even without my reading glasses!) and leave enough room for fingers to plug and unplug cables.<br />This is the device I've been waiting for, and I've confirmed that desire with actual hands-on testing -- it's definitely on my xmas list!