Location Free Player - Wanna Play?

Even though you've been able to buy a location free player for quite a few years, you'll still get a lot of people scratching their head when you start talking about them.

Whether you're talking Slingbox Pro or LF-V30, this is the hot technology that allows you to pack up your favorite tv shows, DVDs or DVR, hit the road and "take 'em with you."

These small sized units stream video sources, including live television, to any Windows PC or PSP on the planet which has a broadband internet connection.

You aren't required to have a host PC and there are no monthly fees connected with it's use.

It accepts HD component video signals and features a built-in wireless network including being able to act as a full-service access point on your in-home intranet.

To date, there are only two players that stand out within this field.

Sony, who basically invented the technology has been given a back seat status with the introduction of Sling Media's Slingbox Pro.

Entering the market about a year later than Sony, the Slingbox Pro was an immediate "runaway best seller."

In fact, Dish Network's parent company, EchoStar, has since bought out Sling Media, due to the overwhelming popularity of the Slingbox Pro.

The latest version of Sony's unit, the LF-V30 (0 list) adds compatibility for HD component video and boasts full pass-through inputs and outputs for 2 separate video sources. Other than that, there's very little more to it than last year's LF-B20 unit.

These two systems allow you to use your internet high speed connection to maintain control over your in-home cable box, DVR and DVD player, even from handheld devices.

Your selection of handheld devices will be the only determining eleMent in choosing which of these location free player products will be best for you.

They're both designed to be suitable for different hand helds so you'd need to check this out if you are planning on using one in conjunction with your player.

Sony's biggest drawback is the tech savvy requireMent in configuring it properly.

Even in this day of tech savvy consumers, it just seems to complicated for most people to set up so they opt for the easier alternative.

On the other hand, the Slingbox Pro or Slingbox Solo are pretty self-explanatory and simple in contrast to Sony.

This is a big eleMent in the popularity of the units over the Sony products.

If you are considering a location free player, you'll definitely want to take these features into account.

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