Although most users are shifting to wireless, we believe that the Livewire Powerline AV kit still makes sense, quite a bit of it in fact. One of the main reasons office and home users are turning to wireless is aesthetic, as nobody likes to mess around with those pesky Ethernet cables. WD’s kit relies on regular power outlets, so you can forget about drills and ugly cables lining the walls.
The other advantage is the speed. While wireless is stuck at 54Mbps, this kit delivers 200Mbps. This makes it quite a bit more suited for demanding home users or small businesses that need a bit more bandwidth. WD claims it can playback 1080p stutter free.
Additionally, the device is HomePlug compatible, so anyone who has already bought into the technology should have no compatibility issues. However, it’s worth noting that the HomePlug Alliance is working on a new standard that should appear in a few months, or next year. It will deliver speeds up to 600Mbps.