HP Dream Screen Photo and Music Player

While I have not played with this product first hand I like what I see from the printed and video press on this device.  Sure it will not do everything that a full blown media server, multi room audio or home automation system can do, but I like the fact that it is another device that brings media servers to the masses.

While one would like for distributed audio and video to be more widely accepted, the fact remains that most of the public is just catching on to it.  Over the past several years the category has grown with items such as the AppleTV and Windows Media center as well as other servers. but the main interface for these products is the TV screen.  Most customers don't  want to turn on the TV just to listen to music.  Sure a good custom installer can add a remote that would control these devices without the TV, but that is costly and it does not help the general public who does not know about custom installers.

For the average person (and even me for smaller usage areas) this is a good device and will expand the world of custom installation and bigger systems.  Start them off with the basics and then the big systems will be asked for by more and more.