recommend: a media centre type computer hooked upto a TV

[p1tse]

first choice would be mac mini being a mac convert

however this is for my parents, who want to stream videos online and view pics and music in a slide show, so mac mini seems pricey

thoughts?

 

[arad85]

Acer Revo (don't know what the current version is) running XBMC or Boxee under Linux... You have some work to do, but it's worth it.

 

[p1tse]

Want something easy out of the box to be honest

 

[p1tse]

Read that they're not good in streaming videos though

 

[Snaptastic]

first choice would be mac mini being a mac convert

however this is for my parents, who want to stream videos online and view pics and music in a slide show, so mac mini seems pricey

thoughts?

All depends on

1. Budget
2. What you want to stream (movies from pc or online streams)
3. TV its going into (HDTV etc)

http://kylo.tv/

http://www.mediacenter-tv.co.uk/super-small-media-centres.html

 

[arad85]

Read that they're not good in streaming videos though

Err... where? Depends what you mean by streaming (all my media is on a central server for example so I don't have the ADSL to worry about) but mine is faultless.

There is a all-in-one package for them too here: http://www.openelec.tv/. Supposedly takes 15 mins to setup. Not tried it myself (too much of a tweaker )

 

[neil_g]

Acer Revo (don't know what the current version is) running XBMC or Boxee under Linux... You have some work to do, but it's worth it.

The Revo is supposed to be good at everything you throw at it so I would agree. I had issues with mine but it appears I am the only one so probably a configuration issue.

I would suggest running xbmc live though to take windows out of the resource loop.

 

[ding76uk]

Do they currently have a PC/Mac?

Apple TV which reads from that could be an option? Very user friendly and cost wise a good option.

 

[p1tse]

Thanks

What's xmbc?

Would be streaming from online

Budget well maybe would go for entry level mac mini but obviously cheaper would be better

 

[RobertP]

Are you sure you need a computer or just a new TV?

Our Samsung TV does internet. Browse youtube and play videos etc. Also has USB so plug in a memory stick or hard drive with pictures or video on it and it plays.

 

[p1tse]

Read streaming no good here

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1310189

 

[p1tse]

Tv which gets on Internet, how?

 

[RobertP]

Lots of them do now. Just plug in a cable from your router or buy the wifi accessory.

edit. samsung link to show the idea- http://www.samsung.com/uk/internet-tv/

edit2... I don't have a bluray player but I think some of them do internet too if you don't want a new TV

 

[p1tse]

Ah thanks
Parents tv is a a couple of years old Sony, wander if they have something for it

 

[arad85]

Read streaming no good here

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1310189

Ahh.. It certainly wasn't powerful enough to do flash video in software (which is what the YouTube stuff is...). Not sure if that's been solved in xbmc with updated Nvidia drivers. It isn't a motherboard problem, but processor performance problem...

 

[Craikeybaby]

It's aleady been mentioned, but Apple TV £100 simple.

 

[neil_g]

be aware though, the apple tv only supports up to 720p. no 1080 content so a little lacking by todays standards. but it depends what you want it to do..