• belit_deg@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      5 days ago

      Cool, using this setup now.

      Thinking of ways to make it more friendly for my SO and guests coming to visit or babysit etc, who are not used to linux (gnome). Any tips there?

      Top of mind is auto open browser on startup with fixed tabs for relevant streaming services. But could also be a simple wrapper of some kind, with UI similar to kodi, plex, jellyfin etc - but for accessing content on web.

  • LordCrom@lemmy.world
    5·
    4 days ago

    I use a Pi running LibreElec…basically packages OSMC.

    Plug it into a smart TV with HDMI and your tv remote can control the Pi OSMC Interface…no need for a separate remote…I was pleasantly surprised at that.

  • janNatan@lemmy.ml
    71·
    5 days ago

    I use “Beelink” brand mini PCs for this purpose. (They are the same form factor as your photo.) I have three, and they’re all good. I’ve used multiple distros on them with no compatibility issues, but MX Linux is my daily driver.

    They have fans built in, but the cases on the higher end ones are metal, which helps with heat dissipation. The only downside with that is that sometimes USB peripherals get super hot while plugged in, and I had a mouse dongle that would overheat and malfunction. A simple USB hub fixed this problem (the hub itself apparently didn’t mind getting hot).

    I use a “Mini Keyboard with touchpad” on the ones connected to TVs. I recommend those as well. Rii brand is decent.

  • Saltarello@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    5 days ago

    I finally got round to buying the Beelink EQ14 I’d promised myself. Sips electricity & handles 4k content. Can’t comment re usage as I havent got round to setting it up yet. I believe it shipped with Win11 but I’ll be putting linux on it

    • StinkyFingerItchyBum@lemmy.caEnglish
      3·
      5 days ago

      I’ll double the Beelink recco. Using a SER5 for a few years now as dual boot windows and linux as an HTPC. Zero issues with PC at 4k and 5.1. My only issue is Dirac doesn’t support linux, but that is neither here nor there.

  • Goldmaster@lemmy.ml
    1·
    4 days ago

    Had a client who wanted me to setup a geekom mini PC. Very good and reliable. Easy to unscrew and upgrade if needed. Had a crucial memory module and samsung ssd.

    • pirat@lemmy.ml
      3·
      5 days ago

      I use RPi5 for this and have it hooked up to steam link.

      can stream at 4k with no issue.

  • chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world
    4·
    5 days ago

    I was in a similar boat. I’ve been using a Ryzen 5000-based mini PC for about two years now. It’s running:

    Debian for stability

    Flex Launcher for the 10ft TV UI

    Flex Launcher has shortcuts for Plex HTPC, Netflix in a full screen Chrome page, etc.

    An AirMouse Remote with a keyboard on the back and basic controls up front. It has 5 programmable IR buttons that I have bound to TV Power, TV Input, TV Select, and Sound Bar Vol-/+

    My kids also use it for Steam and Retro gaming, so I have it launch ES-DE and Steam Big Picture Mode from Flex Launcher.

    Other than the occasional tweaking, it has needed very little and been rock solid for about 2 years now. I have a cheap Android TV set top box still attached for when Grandma goes to use the TV. I can switch inputs and hand them the Google TV remote, but my wife, my kids, and I use the HTPC almost exclusively.

  • rmic@lemmy.world
    2·
    4 days ago

    I use RPi4, it works well except with some h265 where it really sucks, laggy video, maybe it is because of the software (I use raspbian+vlc). Otherwise its great, silent, Low consumtion, etc

  • chirospasm@lemmy.ml
    5·
    5 days ago

    Older 10th gen Intel NUCs go for cheap on eBay, with memory and storage – close in price to a Raspberry Pi 5, but more powerful, active cooling without having to buy a kit, and may have greater longevity. An alternative to a Pi if you’re looking for one.

    • LilDumpy@lemmy.world
      1·
      5 days ago

      After getting an NUC, what would you install to make it more streaming UI friendly?

      Or are you suggesting to just use the tv as a large monitor and stream via websites and browser?

      • Semperverus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        5 days ago

        That’s what I do. I have a bunch of .desktop files that just open Firefox in kiosk mode to whichever website I want, and a bunch of .PNG files to make them look like apps. I installed them system-wide.

        I’m a pretty big KDE Stan but I decided to give Gnome a go since Plasma Bigscreen is virtually impossible to install for a normal user at the moment. Its not perfect but it gets the job done, and I love the basic parental controls it has. Still absolutely awful in terms of settings though.

      • kandykarter@lemmy.ca
        2·
        5 days ago

        I use an N95 mini pc, I have it set up with xubuntu (compositing turned off), and it’s loaded with Kodi (+Jellyfin add-ons), and used with a USB remote control. It’s a super-smooth. I cast music to Kodi from my phone with Symfonium.

        • LilDumpy@lemmy.world
          21·
          5 days ago

          Gotcha, so remove windows, install Linux, then install Kodi and other programs and it should function like an out-of-the-box streaming device?

  • muyrety@lemmy.mlEnglish
    3·
    5 days ago

    I’ve just set up Jellyfin on an Intel NUC with a Celeron J4025, 8GB ram and 1TB ssd and it works flawlessly, can handle at least 3 4k (hardware accelerated) transcodes (didn’t test with more). No tone mapping tho, its pretty slow. The thing cost me around 140 eur.

    If you really want tone mapping and don’t have the budget/space for a dgpu I heard the Intel N100/N150 mini pcs (like you picked) are great. I would be a little worried about the ram tho.

  • quaff@lemmy.caEnglish
    3·
    5 days ago

    Does anyone have a suggestion for something that can be used with a remote? AndroidTV boxes don’t seem to be a consistent thing anymore beyond NVIDIA shields…

    • AMillionMonkeys@lemmy.worldEnglish
      6·
      5 days ago

      I use a Pi running LibreElec and it can be controlled by my LG TV down the HDMI cable. It’s the CEC protocol. Look into that.

    • Semperverus@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      5 days ago

      An Airmouse is a gamechanger.

      Its a TV-remote-style device that works like a Wii remote to control the mouse, usually has a keyboard on the backside, and connects to a USB 2.4ghz or Bluetooth receiver depending on the model you get.

      I got a $20 Rii and a $10 other brand one to try out. Both are fine. I like the buttons on the Rii better but it has no backlight which sucks because I’m usually watching TV in bed at 9pm. The $10 one’s keyboard also responds faster so I can actually speed type.

    • TrumpetX@programming.devEnglish
      2·
      5 days ago

      The Google TV boxes (onn) from Walmart are a solid option. $49 for the Pro is an excellent price for the hardware.

      • ilinamorato@lemmy.world
        6·
        5 days ago

        Random fun fact: back in college, my girlfriend’s best friend (and my best friend’s girlfriend) was named Elisa. This being the early 2000s, I used an old school flip phone that had T9 for text entry. But “Elisa” wasn’t in the T9 dictionary, so I would hit 3-5-4-7 and it would prompt “Elis”—presumably expecting an “e” after—but once I hit that last 2, it would change to “flirc.”

        It’s interesting that that’s actually become a thing now.

      • quaff@lemmy.caEnglish
        1·
        5 days ago

        I bought one of these a while back but could never get it working. Skill issue probably 😅 I’ll try it out again!

    • SoulKaribou@lemmy.ml
      2·
      5 days ago

      I’ve tried Kodi on librelec, the old Xbox launcher. It has an app called kodi remote: your phone is the remote.

      Currently I’m using an old 2013 laptop with Debian and xfce. I’ve installed KDE connect on it, and it also has an app KDE connect that turns your phone into the remote.

      The main advantage of the remote on your phone is you can type text, copy/paste URLs, passwords and whatnot