(1) You are looking for a media PLAYER. A media SERVER is the back end device (like your NAS) that hosts the files and serves them to a player.
(2) So, if I'm reading your list correctly, you want to playback video files (what format?), dvd and bd discs, and photos (from your NAS?). Anything else?
(3) The Dune isn't optimized for photo playback. It works, but it is not the best slideshow I've ever seen. HDI's focus has been first and foremost on video playback, with everything else secondary. I haven't tried photos on the most recent firmware, so perhaps something has been improved. Hopefully others will chime in. However, video playback is pretty solid. Web surfing is available, but frankly, it's just like any other non-pc device - it's not its original purpose, so it will be less than optimal. For "occasional" use, it's ok. I know at least one company (Diamond Design, a Dune reseller) who sells a wireless keyboard to be used with the Dune.
(4) No, Netflix is most certainly NOT the standard in these. Some have it or state they intend to have it. I don't believe that the Dune has it as a feature that is expected anytime soon. The other top contender that would have bd disc playback is the C200, and I haven't kept up with it to know if it has Netflix playback or not.
Once I got my Dune, I stopped paying attention to what every other product was doing, so I can't really give you any comparisons.
(2) So, if I'm reading your list correctly, you want to playback video files (what format?), dvd and bd discs, and photos (from your NAS?). Anything else?
(3) The Dune isn't optimized for photo playback. It works, but it is not the best slideshow I've ever seen. HDI's focus has been first and foremost on video playback, with everything else secondary. I haven't tried photos on the most recent firmware, so perhaps something has been improved. Hopefully others will chime in. However, video playback is pretty solid. Web surfing is available, but frankly, it's just like any other non-pc device - it's not its original purpose, so it will be less than optimal. For "occasional" use, it's ok. I know at least one company (Diamond Design, a Dune reseller) who sells a wireless keyboard to be used with the Dune.
(4) No, Netflix is most certainly NOT the standard in these. Some have it or state they intend to have it. I don't believe that the Dune has it as a feature that is expected anytime soon. The other top contender that would have bd disc playback is the C200, and I haven't kept up with it to know if it has Netflix playback or not.
Once I got my Dune, I stopped paying attention to what every other product was doing, so I can't really give you any comparisons.