I've seen a lot of threads covering "best media streamer" questions, however I've got a very specific situation I didn't see addressed in those threads.

I have a homebrew Windows Home Server box that I've been ripping my DVDs to - I'm not transcoding or anything, rather I am storing the decrypted rips directly. I figure, they're as lossless as you're gonna get, and storage is dirt cheap, so I can afford to rip my entire fairly meager collection (around 120 DVDs total).

It has so far been able to stream VIDEO_TS files just fine, over a Linksys WRT54GL router to a HTPC in the living room running a basic G wi-fi adpter. PC is running VMC with Media Browser to enable the VIDEO_TS playback.

I've actually been quite surprised at the quality and smoothness of the playback over wi-fi, and I'd like to set the kids' room up with a media streamer for the express purpose of playing back videos in the same manner. I'm only concerned with VIDEO_TS format, and wi-fi capability - any other features like music streaming, or HD streaming, would be gravy. ETA: I should add that I want a fairly user-friendly/remote-friendly interface, since the kids (3, 7 and 9) will be using it. They're pretty quick - they figured out how to order On Demand from the cable box menu (the little demons) - but I doubt they'd be able to navigate file tree-type menus.

I'm wondering if you all have any suggestions? My upper limit is around $300 - any more than that and I can start building an ION-based media center, which I'm perfectly comfortable doing. I've got 5 homebrewed PC's already, what's another?

One more related question - is there a Linux distro that anyone knows of that could reliably handle VIDEO_TS files wirelessly over a network drive? And does Linux leverage GPUs for video acceleration yet?

Bump - anyone have a recommendation?

Really with wireless you wont achieve any sort of high defintion capability....

BUT if using standard def video (sdtv)....it gets better....use XBMC

DVD Icon like navigation....streams beautifully sdtv...nice interface....your kids and wife will pick it right up.

Here's how you do it:
1. You buy a first generation console XBOX (~$40)
2. You buy Action Replay adapter (~$10)
3. Used Splinter Cell game (~$8)
4. XBox Memory Cartridge (~$6)

Then you install the software exploit and install the Softmod Installer (SID) referencing the steps in this LINK (http://binarypirate.blogspot.com/2007/09/install-xbmc-onto-your-xbox-using-soft.html)

Here is the LINK (http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/311710r) for the SID software installation and sources for installing the SID

The XBMC xbox will take video stream of standard definition ripped DVDs with the utmost quality over wireless. And if you have hdtv at the viewing end of your system you can buy the xbox component cable and quite frankly I could barely tell the difference between "The Incredibles" recorded off the air ATSC playing back on the Sony PS3 and the XBox XBMC running sdtv of "The Incredibles" DVD and my family couldnt tell the difference at all. The XBMC Xbox upconverts the picture and it looks sweet.

I was once a naysayer...hesitant....skeptic of the worse kind. Until I did my first XBMC XBOX. Now I have XBMC Xboxs deployed all over my house at every tv location acting as media servers. And the cost goes down with each XBMC Xbox as I already have the hardware to do the softmods.

I have them running both wireless and wired ethernet and I use a NAS for my server so I dont have to keep a pc running but did that for long time before I got the NAS. For the wireless I modded linksys routers to become bridges and bought used netgear wireless access points off Amazon as they were cheaper than buying the Microsoft wireless xbox adapters ($50)

If you dont want to stream hidef....the XBOX XBMC is the way to go. Just a little work upfront (you build your own pc's its easier than that).

You can experiment with XBMC Live if you want to play around with the interface of XBMC. Its pretty slick....give it a try.

I'm definitely not worried about HD content for the kids' room. If I ever start ripping HD content, it would be solely for the living room, and I'd likely just go with a MoCA solution over my current wireless-G setup, for networking to the living room.

Your recommendation is intriguing - I've given some thought to checking out XBMC Live, but ironically, I hadn't thought of buying an old XBox to put it on.

I'm just not sure I'm up to the networking bits. You had me up until you mentioned modding Linksys routers to become a bridge. I won't ask you for a step-by-step, but can you confirm - is this a firmware mod you're applying, or a hardware mod? Not sure I want to tinker with the guts of a router, but if it's just a firmware thing I could probably stumble my way through it.

Problem is, if I stack up the cost of a used Xbox, and the necessary equipment including the networking stuff (and a remote, since I want to keep things simple), I'm getting up to around $150 or so with shipping. No offense, but some of your prices were lowballed a bit (I can't find the Action Replay adapter for less than $25). Are there any devices in the $150 range that you'd suggest?

Still, thanks for the recommendation - it's wayy cheaper than building an ION box.