Mini PCs

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hellhound

41 posts

Geek

# 83679 20-May-2011 10:48

Hi all,

I am setting up a computer that needs to control 9 screens/TVs that are about 150m away from each other. The screens are all controlled via VB.NET and need to have a full screen application on each. Each screen will have different information on it.

At the moment I am looking at using USB -> VGA -> Ethernet -> VGA -> Screen adaptors to control everything but I am running into problems with getting .NET to open multiple full screen windows.

In order to overcome the problems I am looking at seeing could much it would cost to have a small PC sitting behind each screen and just running the .NET app and getting all the information from the main PC via Ethernet. The screen are not showing much information and it will only update about once a minute so there is not speed requirements.

Does anyone know of any small PCs that can sit behind or rather be mounted to the back of a 42" TV that would work? It only really needs to have a VGA port, Ethernet port and a USB for initial set-up. The cheaper the better :)

Thanks For any help you can give me

oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

# 471479 20-May-2011 10:54

You can buy Screens with embedded PCs for this type of task
Many of the on-site promotional screens you see about the place are made this way

floydbloke

2087 posts

Uber Geek

# 471618 20-May-2011 15:26

Would something like this work (unfortunately not if your dependant on Windows)
http://trimslice.com/web/

Otherwise netbooks with the smallest form factor you can find, most have VGA output I believe.

"I have noticed even people who claim everything is predestined, and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road." - Stephen Hawking

toyonut

1508 posts

Uber Geek

# 471757 20-May-2011 21:39

Maybe something like this:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Servers/Server-components/auction-377527880.htm

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

gzt

11018 posts

Uber Geek

# 472001 21-May-2011 20:29

For a once a minute update I'd go for some cheap network media players set to jpg slideshow, screenshot the application(s) nine times per min with output to jpg, and let the media player pick it up. They would have to be very cheap, or just buy some ex-lease pcs if price is the issue.

If you are not having any problems with the nine usb, the screenshot approach might work very well there without any other modifications.