Best option for permanent PC to telly?

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Best option for permanent PC to telly?

dafman

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#164422 9-Feb-2015 12:53

I'm looking to set up a small (in size) computer to run 24/7 on my Panny plasma 65ST60.

I don't need home theatre as I have a WDTV live connected via ethernet - so basically, the telly PC will be used for internet surfing, checking email - so don't need a lot of processing power.

Is a small NUC via HDMI the best option? If so - what is a good cost effective model to get?

The intel HDMI sticks look great, but these haven't been released yet? Anyone know when expected?

Any other suggestions?

nathan

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#1233365 9-Feb-2015 12:59

a NUC will be more powerful

the Intel ATOM based HDMI sticks, there are numerous of them already available on alibaba etc

freitasm

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#1233378 9-Feb-2015 13:17

Quite a few Intel Stick on Amazon too.

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dafman

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#1233662 9-Feb-2015 18:48

The cheapest NUC I can find configured with OS is around $500. The HDMI PCs on a stick come in at under half this price. As I am primarily interested in web and email, the atom processor should be sufficient. Think I will wait for the Intel-branded device which is due for release in March. However, if anyone knows of a small NUC sized PC that is reasonably priced, I'd love to know!

rb99

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#1233683 9-Feb-2015 19:18

Sorry, just can't resist mentioning Raspberry Pi 2. Don't know much about it, but I would imagine with Raspian or something like that it'll do browsing and email fine. Not bad for $55, though adding cases and things it might start to add up a bit.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

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JimmyH

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#1233690 9-Feb-2015 19:27

There are also some reasonably capable Android boxes in the $100-200 price range that should be fine for surfing and checking email. Mine (Minix X8H) will do that just fine. They work out of the box - much cheaper and easier that faffing around with setting up a full computer is that's all you want to do.

Although, personally, while I can do it I don't like to do much surfing or email on the telly. If I'm not using a PC do that (say sitting in my armchair) I much prefer to do that on a tablet (maybe it's my eyesight?).