I have been looking at the media centre options for a while now and then I saw this:
http://www.jbhifi.co.nz/computers/shuttle/compact-desktop-pc-sku-25309/
It is small, low power and cheap, only $450.
What I want is something that will play movies from my HD, enable me to watch TVNZ/TV 3 on demand, be connectable to QuickFlix and with relative ease hook up to a VPN for NetFlix et al. I would also like it to be able to stream movies to a media player in a second room but this isn't a deal breaker.
I don't want it to be 'real' computer because I have a reasonable spec laptop for content creation, such as it is. I want something for movies and TV.
It is twice the price of an most media players but it seems the Shuttle does plenty more. I have an xbox but with no app for TV on demand and Gold Accounts and a second router needed for NetFlix on an xbox this seems like a better deal.
Too good to be true?
Anybody got one? Good or bad stories or reviews?