Moving from XBMC to a streamer

spudbynight

spudbynight

spudbynight

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I have a HTPC under my TV at the moment connected to my AV receiver.

I was using it for Blu-Ray playback as well as PVR stuff and also using XBMC as a media streamer.

I recently signed up to SKY and as a result don't need my PVR functionality any more.

My wife finds using the HTPC overly complicated if she has to open XBMC or close any other apps running. I was thinking about getting a streamer to replace the HTPC and also a seperate Blu-Ray deck.

One issue I have with the HTPC is the noise of it. Even with a passively cooled Amd E-350 mobo the psu makes a lot of noise.

I have considered the Apple TV2 and sticking XBMC on it but then I lose 1080p playback. I was also considering a Popbox which seems to playback most stuff I have.

Any thoughts from people? Would I regret losing the HTPC?
 
platypus said:
My other half is pretty much retarded when it comes to technology and she can cope with XBMC. I just have it running on auto start so that when my server boots up XBMC is always running, 99% of the time. The other 1% she calls me :p.

Can you move the XBMC box? I have it under the stairs with a 10m hdmi cable running under the floor to a point behind the TV.
Click to expand...

Using XBMC is fine. We do get small issues though when cycling from other sources to the HTPC.

Sometimes the HTPC will mute itself and you have to exit or alt tab XBMC to unmute and then go back in. Sometimes as well if we switch back to the HDMI input that the HTPC is on we get XBMC showing full screen at a lower rez on top of the desktop. That then involves closing XBMC and restarting it.

I just want something as simple as possible. I love the idea of an Apple TV with XBMC on it. Maybe when they jailbreak the new AppleTV it will be the solution?
 
I have looked at picopsu setups.

The psu and the power brick both come in at around £70 in total. There is also the noise from the HDD.
 
Thinking about getting cheap second hand and slow SSD - or maybe just booting OpenELEC from a USB key.

Going to look around for a cheap PicoPSU as well.
 
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