So from what I can gather the answer is NO, I will not be able to browse shared folders on my PC like I currently do with my old Beyonwiz where I just select network using my remote and browse the shared folders and click the file I want to play and don't need to be running any software on the PC to do this.
I don't use Windows Media Player I uninstalled it and use VLC for video and Winamp for music.
It seems that DNLA media servers need to build a library everytime they are started, that sounds very slow and frustrating and a major step back. My PC that I keep my media on is the family PC in the living room, it's a few years old but still quite functional. But I don't want to be using it's resources to be running extra programs and transcoding streaming media on the fly, how resource hungry is that? I don't even know if my PC would be able to do it smoothly, especially if someone was using it for another task at the same time, which they would be.
I really want to like the Skippa and I'm trying hard to be convinced to buy one, when the T3 came out I hung on and waited for Skippa, but now I'm still not convinced.
Looks to me that the answer to my Skippa as a media player question is....
Skippa = DNLA
T3 = The Beyonwiz T3 embodies the most advance networking options every seen in a PVR supporting SAMBA, DNLA, NFS, FTP & DYN DNS so it is compatible with the most simplest to the most advanced home networks. The T3 also delivers an advanced Driver system allowing easy plug and play integration with many standard WI-Fi dongles & Bluetooth Keyboard and Mouse systems, it also comes standard with an external eSata port for supper fast External HDD Integration.
The Beyonwiz T3 not only allows you to stream Movies, Music and Photos in many different popular formats from your local PC, Network Storage or other Media Centres but can access content from all around the world through a variety of IPTV and Streaming plugins.