garetheves Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Hey all, has anyone any experience with Media Streaming from PC to TV. Have been looking at the options around for this recently and have narrowed it down to 2 options: 1. Netbook - Small and just powerful enough to play Movies, shows etc, also has benefit of portability. 2. Media Streamer - Not much experience with hence the post. The link below is to the kind of thing i mean: http://www.dabs.com/products/linksys-by-cisco-kiss-1600-high-definition-media-player-and-dvd-player-4N72.html It will be used mainly for downloaded Movies and Tv shows, occasionally used to music. I have a BlueRay player so full HD compatability isnt essential (i tend not to download full HD movies anyway, would rather buy/rent those). So who has one? Used one? Are they simple to set up/use? Anyone any other suggestions for means of getting Media from PC to TV, i did think maybe a car PC might do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseys Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 I'd buy a cheap 1st gen Intel Mac Mini Then plug that into VGA in your TV, get a bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Can stream/store media on there and also surf the web. Or buy an Apple TV http://www.apple.com/uk/appletv/ Yes I'm an Apple fan... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 You want something with HDMI out for a start... Personally I've not bothered with a Media Streamer as I just think the market is too immature. If I was though, I'd probably look at this... http://www.tvix.co.kr/eng/products/HDM7000A.aspx Available via Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/DVICO-M-7000A-Multimedia-Player-without/dp/B0019NCBOU/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=miscellaneous&qid=1244448128&sr=8-6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 I fully agree with alex. I've had numerous streamers in the past and while they aren't bad, they are certainly very limited. A cheap PC is probably the best option, are you looking for HD (720 or 1080)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted June 8, 2009 Author Share Posted June 8, 2009 Ok need to make 1 thing clear...im tighter than cramp this needs to be fairly cheap to set up (few hundred quid max) so as awesome as that Jukebox looks Alex it is out of my price range im afraid. My original thoughts were of a Small PC but when i looked into it, they were coming up at the same price at that Jukebox. I then switched my thoughts to a Netbook. Has all the power i need can be moved if necessary, wireless connection to the network etc. Could probably get one for £200. I currently have my TV connected direct to my PC via VGA which tbh is good enough for me, i never download anything HD quality anyway. Caseys: I run Win XP would there be any compatability issues with the Mini Mac communicating with the PC. Cheers for suggestions so far, keep em coming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caseys Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Caseys: I run Win XP would there be any compatability issues with the Mini Mac communicating with the PC. No Apple TV can run through iTunes, you just drag and drop what you want onto there Mac Mini you'd have to just setup a network and drag/drop what you want... woudn't really stream. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 If you're tighter than two coats of paint and want a decent media centre setup, get an original XBox with XBMC installed and run it over your home network to a fileshare. It'll struggle with HD, but seeing as you're not playing that, it doesn't matter. You can get an orignal XBox for around £40-50 and the XBMC distribution is free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 If you have your PC connected to your t.v via VGA then why do you need a streamer? you can get 1080 resolution from that. If you're playing stuff form your PC, i presume it will be downloaded stuff anyway so the quality won't be sh!t hot anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Ok need to make 1 thing clear...im tighter than cramp this needs to be fairly cheap to set up (few hundred quid max) so as awesome as that Jukebox looks Alex it is out of my price range im afraid. My original thoughts were of a Small PC but when i looked into it, they were coming up at the same price at that Jukebox. I then switched my thoughts to a Netbook. Has all the power i need can be moved if necessary, wireless connection to the network etc. Could probably get one for £200. I currently have my TV connected direct to my PC via VGA which tbh is good enough for me, i never download anything HD quality anyway. Caseys: I run Win XP would there be any compatability issues with the Mini Mac communicating with the PC. Cheers for suggestions so far, keep em coming. If you are on a tight budget then throw a cheapy PC together, they don't need to be high spec, nowhere near gamingspec. In fact £200 would get a fairly adequate HTPC for most media. I spent ages putting a list together, and then lost it by hitting the wrong key so I'll quickly dig it out again. My primary HTPC is an AMD 5000+ unit, with my bedroom system being a recycled old PC of mine, AMD 64 FX2 unit. They are all capable of 720p stuff which is my current baseline. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Cheap HTPC pricing Case - 24.99 - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150275 PSU - 14.49 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/125004 2Gb RAM - 22.29 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129954 CPU - AMD 5200 - 43.77 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135662 MB - 45.99 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160927 Total cost -> 151.53 Stick a hard drive or a small solid state in there and you will have a nicely function HTPC This isn't a brilliant system, but would certainly do the job. I personally would go with a slightly bigger processor if you are going 1080. remote - 5.75 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129977 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 If you're tighter than two coats of paint and want a decent media centre setup, get an original XBox with XBMC installed and run it over your home network to a fileshare. It'll struggle with HD, but seeing as you're not playing that, it doesn't matter. You can get an orignal XBox for around £40-50 and the XBMC distribution is free. Good suggestion as well, I've got 4 of these running in this config and it is great for the kids who have 7" screens installed in their beds. Wouldn't pay £50 for one though , can get them for around £15 at CEX or free if you look around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted June 8, 2009 Author Share Posted June 8, 2009 Cheap HTPC pricing Case - 24.99 - http://www.ebuyer.com/product/150275 PSU - 14.49 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/125004 2Gb RAM - 22.29 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129954 CPU - AMD 5200 - 43.77 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135662 MB - 45.99 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/160927 Total cost -> 151.53 Stick a hard drive or a small solid state in there and you will have a nicely function HTPC This isn't a brilliant system, but would certainly do the job. I personally would go with a slightly bigger processor if you are going 1080. remote - 5.75 http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129977 That is what my original plans were gonna be, a small PC. But i never got prices like that, they were always £300 plus. Id just have the measure the space available in the TV unit to see if a case that big would fit in there. What does HTPC stand for lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Id get a banned Xbox 360 console off ebay so you have HD output, just incase you move to streaming HD content. Advantage of being able to play backup games as well. Maybe you already have a PS3 or Xbox 360? A new arcade console is only £90 if you were to buy new. then use tveristy software to share off PC and also stream Youtube vids to your TV as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Id get a banned Xbox 360 console off ebay Banned x-box console?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 That is what my original plans were gonna be, a small PC. But i never got prices like that, they were always £300 plus. Id just have the measure the space available in the TV unit to see if a case that big would fit in there. What does HTPC stand for lol Home theatre PC.... Ask away.... I'm currently installing a complete system for a client, including lighting controller, 5 HTPC systems and home network. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Banned x-box console?! Xbox 360 consoles can be flashed to play 'backup' games. If microsoft detect that the console is playing a 'backup' they get banned from going on to xbox live. hence have a lower resale value but advantage of playing 'backup' games Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Id get a banned Xbox 360 console off ebay so you have HD output, just incase you move to streaming HD content. Advantage of being able to play backup games as well. Maybe you already have a PS3 or Xbox 360? A new arcade console is only £90 if you were to buy new. then use tveristy software to share off PC and also stream Youtube vids to your TV as well. Tversity is okay....but the consumers don't like waiting for the transcoding, hence the reason I've stopped using it. I prefer the set-top box style of operation, click and watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 then use tveristy software to share off PC and also stream Youtube vids to your TV as well. TVersity is quite limited in the formats it can send to the XBox. It's struggled with a few of mine that XBMC just laughs at and displays. TVersity is ok, but it's got a way to go yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted June 8, 2009 Author Share Posted June 8, 2009 If you have your PC connected to your t.v via VGA then why do you need a streamer? you can get 1080 resolution from that. If you're playing stuff form your PC, i presume it will be downloaded stuff anyway so the quality won't be sh!t hot anyway? I need a streamer/link of some sort cos the PC is going to be in another room and dont want a) wires everywhere and b) to have to get up off my arse to start the next episode of House/Lost etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 ..or get an XBox or PS3 and stream it through that - with Media Player Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 No Apple TV can run through iTunes, you just drag and drop what you want onto there Mac Mini you'd have to just setup a network and drag/drop what you want... woudn't really stream. Just use Front Row. Been using a Mac Mini for exactly this, streaming over the network - works like a charm and a lovely simple point and click setup too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted June 8, 2009 Author Share Posted June 8, 2009 ..or get an XBox or PS3 and stream it through that - with Media Player Thats an interesting point, could i set my PS3 up to all this? How difficult/complicated is this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imi Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Thats an interesting point, could i set my PS3 up to all this? How difficult/complicated is this? I also have this setup on my PS3. you just need a streamer on the PC (a UPNP one) to get it to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitesupraboy2 Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Yes your PS3 will do the Job perfectly fine. You have 2 choices really to use windows media player to share the media or tveristy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt H Posted June 8, 2009 Share Posted June 8, 2009 Xbox 360 consoles can be flashed to play 'backup' games. If microsoft detect that the console is playing a 'backup' they get banned from going on to xbox live. hence have a lower resale value but advantage of playing 'backup' games Oh right, that's a good idea. No way of changing the console so it's not recognised as being previously "banned"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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