The less expensive Slingbox 350 ($150) may be a better choice for most people. It doesn't offer WiFi, SlingSync or SlingProjector features, but still has the ability to sling remote HD video which is the main reason I'd consider getting one of these things.
PROS
Delivers on its "Watch Your TV Anywhere" promise
No monthly service fee
Offers complete TV control via web or mobile app
All necessary cables included
CONS
Set-top box is ugly
Some delay in TV controls
SlingPlayer mobile app costs $15
Benefits (Expanded)
Great way to view TV content that may or may not be available wherever you are. My father-in-law had a great time watching the Eagles-Titans preseason game on the NFL Network while I was on vacation.
Mobile access (almost) anywhere.
HD quality is stunning, even HQ and SQ quality is very good.
Video quality at 600kbps and up is quite good (SQ). HD is over 2000 kbps and can get up to 6000 kbps or higher--if you have the bandwidth.
Worked well over weak 3G Sprint connection at an indoor swimming pool.
Can simultaneously view content on your TV at home and mobile - as long as you both want to watch the same thing.
Built in guide is useful for changing channels instead of using the DVR guide. But need to use the DVR menus for watching recordings, which is slow to maneuver remotely.
Can sling photos and videos to the Slingbox via Android and iOS mobile phones (but not tablets) via SlingSync and SlingProjector features. Add a USB drive to store the content locally.
Can play files (photos, video, audio) stored on a USB drive attached to the Slingbox 500. Codec support is somewhat limited.
Downsides (Expanded)
Can't have two different things playing on the TV and mobile/remote.
When choosing remote actions in the Android mobile apps, there is a few second pause in the audio and video after each key is pressed. This is quite an annoying lag time between remote button push and the completion of the action.
Video quality has to be manually adjusted (SQ/HQ/HD or audio only for the tablet app). More hiccups with HD setting of course. Wish it would more automatically adjust streaming quality like Netflix.
Need good network connection for HD, otherwise picture is choppy.
Depending on your up- and down-stream bandwidth and network infrastructure at home, streaming may not always work perfectly. This is one of the risks of running your own server at home.
On TV app selection (Slingbox 500 only) is non-existent--it's not (yet?) a replacement for a Roku, Apple TV, or GoogleTV. You can sling photos and videos from your phone, but there is no Neflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc.
No mobile app options for Windows RT--but there is support for Windows Phone 7 and 8.
Issues that were encountered
While I was on vacation, I went back and forth between watching shows on the Slingbox and finding the same shows via their network websites (HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central). This was because using the Slingbox can be clunky at times--and I had a few hiccups where the Slingbox was unreachable so I switched to the network apps or websites instead.
The Slingbox device rebooted in the middle of us watching TV on the big screen.
Data rate varies widely and affects picture quality and hiccups.
Locked up one evening when I was on vacation, but then worked fine the next morning. No way to remotely fix it, of course.
Overall, I would recommend it if you need the wifi option but honestly the 350 will do just fine. I have both
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