Netgear's set-top media receiver, the Digital Entertainer HD (EVA8000) is finally available for preorder, although the box won't ship until later this quarter. The price? $399.

Let's go back to our CES coverage (where it was first announced) for a product recap:

The EVA8000 delivers high-definition content (up to 1080p) to home theater systems via HDMI and optical audio out connectors, as well as S-Video out, composite video, and component video, and analog audio out (RCA type plugs). It collects to home networks via 10/100 Ethernet or an integrated 802.11g adapter.

Once connected, the EVA8000 searches all PCs and Macs on the network and integrates all the HD movies, standard-definition video, audio files, and photos it can find into a single media library that users can browse via the TV screen and the included remote. It also has two USB 2.0 ports for attaching additional storage devices or MP3 players, whose content will be added to the same library.

The device adapts its output, regardless of source, to whatever display device it's connected to, from 480i up to 1080p, without requiring user intervention.

Multiple EVA8000 receivers in one house will enable multi-room playback. Using the EVA8000's "Follow Me" feature, users can pause video playback in one room and resume it in another. The "Party Mode" feature plays the same music on all EVA8000 units. The EVA8000 supports a wide variety of audio and video playback formats. It will discover content on both Macs and Windows PCs, and does not require a media server program to be running on these PCs.

Post by Mark Hachman