Want a media machine

[justinjstark]

Hello fellow Ubuntuans,

I am shopping for a system that I can plug in to my tv in order to stream (wirelessly) videos from my various computers onto the tv. I also want to use it to run nes and snes emulators. I would really like something that's inexpensive, quiet, and energy efficient. I have thought about just using an old computer but would rather have something quiet and energy efficient. Is there anybody out there who makes small computer systems for these purposes?

I want to spend <$300. Obviously, it must have a tv-out. I don't care about tv-in or recording functionality. It needs to be powerful enough to play high-res video.

Any suggestions?

[n3tfury]

that might be tough at that price point. are you looking for a specific form factor?

[Frak]

Get an old Windows 98 box buy a supported TV tuner and run Knoppmyth, Mythbuntu, or LMC on it.

[justinjstark]

that might be tough at that price point. are you looking for a specific form factor?

No. The smaller the better. I don't want a full tower machine with loud fans.

[adam.tropics]

fit-pc....fanless, (http://www.fit-pc.com/new/fit-pc/specification.html) the size of a paperback, and running ubuntu. (out of stock till december 7 though!)

[justinjstark]

fit-pc....fanless, (http://www.fit-pc.com/new/fit-pc/specification.html) the size of a paperback, and running ubuntu. (out of stock till december 7 though!)

That is the kind of thing I am looking for. But, is 500mhz enough to play a decent resolution xvid, divx, or ogg theora video? Can I connect it to a tv or would I need some kind of usb gadget for that?

[Frak]

That is the kind of thing I am looking for. But, is 500mhz enough to play a decent resolution xvid, divx, or ogg theora video? Can I connect it to a tv or would I need some kind of usb gadget for that?
For your needs, 500Mhz is plenty.

[justinjstark]

I did not see anything about tv-out. Am I blind or how would I connect this to a tv?

[n3tfury]

you need a vga converter unless you've got vga on your set.

[adam.tropics]

you need a vga converter unless you've got vga on your set.

True. There's a 'little' about that here. (http://www.fit-pc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136)

Failing that, how about a bit of a project!

This one is a kit (http://www.mini-itx.com/store/default.asp?c=38&currency=2), will require you to come up with an enclosure, but if you write a decent Linux howto for it, for a popular distro (oh hello!) may result in your money being refunded. The Tuner is included in this one, works in Linux , and TV-out support is there as well...for the price, could be fun!

[alwiap]

maybe try craigslist for a steal in your area

[bfc]

For your needs, 500Mhz is plenty.

I will have to disagree with that, 500Mhz is only good enough for playing standard res video. It will struggle with High-def video.

Right now I have a machine with an AMD Sempron 3000 and it struggles when trying to play High-def video.

[Frak]

I will have to disagree with that, 500Mhz is only good enough for playing standard res video. It will struggle with High-def video.

Right now I have a machine with an AMD Sempron 3000 and it struggles when trying to play High-def video.
If you're playing Hi-Def, I bet you're putting a bit more into your PC-of-choice.

For an average user, with average needs, 500MHz is just fine.

[n3tfury]

yeah, i'm sure that thing won' t do hi-def. but everything else should work fine.