Google and several partners, including Logitech, announced Google TV in May. Logitech has finally made their set top box available for pre-order on Amazon at $299 — Logitech Revue Companion Box with Google TV and Keyboard Controller.
The kit contains the Logitech Revue Companion Box, Keyboard Controller (integrated keyboard, remote control & touchpad), IR Mini Blaster and HDMI Cable. See Amazon listing here.
To use it with your existing set-up, just plug your cable line to the Logitech Revue and attach the device to your TV set via the HDMI cable. There’s a LAN port or you can have WiFi to connect the Revue to your home network or internet.
The Logitech Revue basically makes your TV some sort of a smart TV or internet TV by combining broadcast content and web content. You can install and run apps too.
More LED TVs (mostly from Sony) will be released soon with Google TV built into the TV itself but for the existing home entertainment systems, the Logitech Revue becomes the “brains” that extends Google TV experience. I think the whole experience will rely on how fast the internet connection is and at $299 I’m not too sure if it’s a good price point (but it’s something I look forward to trying out).
The Logitech works great for me, to be honest I do not use my laptop anymore. And if it wasn’t for music I wouldn’t use my computer either. Anything I need done I can do on my iPhone or the Logitech Revue. As a DISH Network employee I know that integrating it with DISH equipment gives the best experience possible.