Off-Topic

[chimaera]

My laptop died about 6 months ago. Somehow I have lived without one, using my work laptop from time to time at home where I need to type lots (though it is admin restricted so can't install any new programs).

I realise that the MAIN thing I miss given I have an ipad, galaxy tab and phone, is not browsing but being able to download and watch movies and tv shows. I've been pretty much restricted to Foxtel which is starting to drive me crazy!

So moving to a new house I was thinking about cancelling foxtel and replacing the laptop. Then I got reading up about htpc, xbmc, smart dns etc etc.

Now bear in mind I left my computer building days many years behind me (like 15+) so keep it simple, like you are explaining to your mum :p

Am I better getting a laptop(~$500+) or one of the htpc options out there. And before you suggest, I'd rather buy a pre built than make my own.

Have been looking at the gbox mx2, minix neo x8, etc.

I guess the main question I have is, if I hooked a hard drive to one, could I still torrent and watch downloaded content? Or are these all about Hulu, Netflix etc?

For $150-200 feels like a much better option for me but I'm playing catchup on such tech so no idea what I am looking for.

Thanks

 

[Dynamic]

Alrighty. Here we go.

This is just personal preference and I am just going to let you know what I would do. I don't really like limiting myself to things so I warn you I am going to opt for a P.C (or laptop).

I am going to assume you have a $500+ budget in mind. So lets work around this.

#1 - Buy a laptop/pc - $250~ second hand.
The reason I tell you this is because you get a lot of versatility with a PC. You can really go in and fine tune things exactly as you want them to work. You will not only be using your PC for making adjustments to how your network works, but you will use it for media, surfing, e-mails, porn, etc.

Quick note - Some services will not be available as apps for certain devices - a website always works. If you have a pc you can hook it up to your TV and you are set to go. This will be your plan B for media. You will also be able to torrent with this if you choose to do so.


#2 - External hard drive. Now, you hook this baby directly into your router. You can then access all the media on the drive from any device on the network.

#3 - WD TV Live player - $120

This will be your media center. You can access all of your external-drives media files using this little box. You can also install apps for services that support them (eg, netflix). This plugs directly into your TV. You can then access your media and streaming without the need to turn the computer on.


DNS - Get yourself a DNS subscription. I opt for this over VPN as with DNS it streams directly to your computer so you don't lose speed. There are a lot of good ones out there, but I hear The Reefuge is creating one.

Netflix - $8 per month and you get access to a shitload of movies and t.v shows. This service is amazing!

 

[chimaera]

Alrighty. Here we go.

This is just personal preference and I am just going to let you know what I would do. I don't really like limiting myself to things so I warn you I am going to opt for a P.C (or laptop).

I am going to assume you have a $500+ budget in mind. So lets work around this.

Yup around that max, though I also may need to buy a modem/router from that fund so we'll see how we go!

#1 - Buy a laptop/pc - $250~ second hand.
The reason I tell you this is because you get a lot of versatility with a PC. You can really go in and fine tune things exactly as you want them to work. You will not only be using your PC for making adjustments to how your network works, but you will use it for media, surfing, e-mails, porn, etc.

Quick note - Some services will not be available as apps for certain devices - a website always works. If you have a pc you can hook it up to your TV and you are set to go. This will be your plan B for media. You will also be able to torrent with this if you choose to do so.

Fair point. I guess a restriction of the laptop has tended to be the hassle of plugging it in, but if it's fairly dedicated to media then it can stay that way.

Though the surfing/emails/porn tends to get done on the iPad at the moment.

#2 - External hard drive. Now, you hook this baby directly into your router. You can then access all the media on the drive from any device on the network.

Already have a 1TB drive that's only 30% full, so no cost there, just need to set it up in this way.

#3 - WD TV Live player - $120

This will be your media center. You can access all of your external-drives media files using this little box. You can also install apps for services that support them (eg, netflix). This plugs directly into your TV. You can then access your media and streaming without the need to turn the computer on.

I looked at the WDTV, does it have advantages/disadvantages over some of the other boxes I mentioned (eg Gbox, Neo etc)? Or does it do pretty much the same thing?

Does this run XBMC, or its own interface?

DNS - Get yourself a DNS subscription. I opt for this over VPN as with DNS it streams directly to your computer so you don't lose speed. There are a lot of good ones out there, but I hear The Reefuge is creating one.

On board with that - hopefully @The Reefuge pulls his finger out and has this operational soon so I can sign up.

Netflix - $8 per month and you get access to a shitload of movies and t.v shows. This service is amazing!

Aligned, definitely want to setup Netflix and maybe others like Hulu Plus - need to work out if they are worthwhile.


Overall summary - Foxtel is going, will look at 2nd hand laptops and WDTV, then ask more questions once I have everything to get it setup properly :D

 

[Dynamic]

I don't think XBMC is native to WD Live TV player. Though you could probably hack it if you wanted to. The good thing with WD Live TV player is that you can tweak settings within it to how you want it.

The new Roku will not allow you to change your DNS servers within the device. You will need to get around this by changing the DNS in your router (not a problem, but if you only have one or two devices you should change it on them instead).

I tried Hulu. You get 7 days for free then you need to pay. I watched a 30 second commercial on it, then watched 6 minutes of south park, then a commercial. Then I cancelled my membership. I am not going to pay a membership fee and put up with fucking ads. Oh, and Hulu is partly owned by the cable companies in America - you know, they ones trying to destroy the internet.

Stick with Netflix. They have a very good selection of movies and T.V shows and a really nice interface.

Keep the laptop in the TV cabinet/table/whatever. It can live there. You don't need something expensive.

As far as router goes, this may sound really stupid but I am going to put it out there. I highly recommend signing up with iinet and getting their router. Doing this solves your router problem, but it also support iinet - so far, the only ISP in Australia who has stood up for the customers. They have great service and they will take care of you.

 

[chimaera]

I don't think XBMC is native to WD Live TV player. Though you could probably hack it if you wanted to. The good thing with WD Live TV player is that you can tweak settings within it to how you want it.

The new Roku will not allow you to change your DNS servers within the device. You will need to get around this by changing the DNS in your router (not a problem, but if you only have one or two devices you should change it on them instead).

I tried Hulu. You get 7 days for free then you need to pay. I watched a 30 second commercial on it, then watched 6 minutes of south park, then a commercial. Then I cancelled my membership. I am not going to pay a membership fee and put up with fucking ads. Oh, and Hulu is partly owned by the cable companies in America - you know, they ones trying to destroy the internet.

Stick with Netflix. They have a very good selection of movies and T.V shows and a really nice interface.

Keep the laptop in the TV cabinet/table/whatever. It can live there. You don't need something expensive.

As far as router goes, this may sound really stupid but I am going to put it out there. I highly recommend signing up with iinet and getting their router. Doing this solves your router problem, but it also support iinet - so far, the only ISP in Australia who has stood up for the customers. They have great service and they will take care of you.

WDTV - $109 Kogan
http://www.kogan.com/au/buy/wd-tv-l...b9PpJZbG4RtcVD-3rRbcwgMd1I_R7CXmFmxoC07Xw_wcB
I am not fixed on needing XBMC, just curious as to the difference. Sounds like I don't need it.


Laptop - actually I may be able to salvage my old laptop using a new hard drive. Just need to get a hard drive and a copy of Windows, cheaper than buying a new laptop even second hand.

Modem/router - funnily enough I am with iinet now and use their Bob modem. The issue I have is that it does not support enough connections ... I have:
2x phones
2x tablets
1x PS3
1x Wii
1x Security (/baby) camera
1x laptop (before it died)

And probably a couple of other devices I forget. And the connection is generally terrible. I am not techie enough to know for sure whether it's teh number of connections but that's what I conclude.

Maybe the newer Bob devices is better - we have the Gen 2 I think it is. I have no major issues with iinet besides the connection speed issues. Though I was considering switching to TPG or Internode in our new place, just to give another a try.

I was considering spending $150-200 on a decent modem + router?

 

[Ben S]

I use a mac mini and load all the films into itunes, then use a apple tv and watch them on there along with netflix.

 

[chimaera]

Bought myself a WDTV on the weekend - $119 from Officeworks.

Hooked it up directly to my HD for now as I am still waiting for internet at my new place. Decent interface, looks promising so far. And best of all, the wife is delighted that she has easy access to the "Every Disney movie ever made" folder on the HD :D

 

[MTG]

i run a pc on my tv, runs full windows 8 ( i prefer this setup as you can use it as a full fledged computer)
boot is on a 180GB intel SSD so its decently quick
back drives are 2x2TB for movies and tv shows
downloading is done with torrents and NZB's using a private host.
for the video codecs i use KL codec pack (been using this for 10 years its been great)
run everything through onboard HDMI.

this current media centers been running faultless for 3 years now and is great! (third along in the cabinet ) looks nice to in that case used to have it wired up caseless in a cabinet draw

 

[MTG]

Bought myself a WDTV on the weekend - $119 from Officeworks.

Hooked it up directly to my HD for now as I am still waiting for internet at my new place. Decent interface, looks promising so far. And best of all, the wife is delighted that she has easy access to the "Every Disney movie ever made" folder on the HD :D

i had problems with the WDTV not playing all the codec types that i downloaded i think that was back when MKV was rather new tho not sure if they have fixed the problems now tho? (was about 4 years ago) following this keep us updated!

 

[chimaera]

i had problems with the WDTV not playing all the codec types that i downloaded i think that was back when MKV was rather new tho not sure if they have fixed the problems now tho? (was about 4 years ago) following this keep us updated!

Well so far it's played every movie/tv show I had stored on my hard drive. No idea what codec they have been though!

Looking forward to finally getting internet hooked up so I can use this fully. I am sure @The Reefuge will have launched the smart DNS service by then ;)

i run a pc on my tv, runs full windows 8 ( i prefer this setup as you can use it as a full fledged computer)
boot is on a 180GB intel SSD so its decently quick
back drives are 2x2TB for movies and tv shows
downloading is done with torrents and NZB's using a private host.
for the video codecs i use KL codec pack (been using this for 10 years its been great)
run everything through onboard HDMI.

this current media centers been running faultless for 3 years now and is great! (third along in the cabinet ) looks nice to in that case used to have it wired up caseless in a cabinet draw
View attachment 42915

That's a nice setup! I forgot to mention that I also need a new TV ... haha. Moved into a bigger place any suddenly my 32" is looking damn small across the other side of the room.

 

[MTG]

Well so far it's played every movie/tv show I had stored on my hard drive. No idea what codec they have been though!

Looking forward to finally getting internet hooked up so I can use this fully. I am sure @The Reefuge will have launched the smart DNS service by then ;)

That's a nice setup! I forgot to mention that I also need a new TV ... haha. Moved into a bigger place any suddenly my 32" is looking damn small across the other side of the room.

i know how you feel mate!! i went with a 60 inch samsung its only 1080 not 4K but that doesent matter for rips anyway you can pick one up for 1200-1500 for a good brand!

 

[chimaera]

i know how you feel mate!! i went with a 60 inch samsung its only 1080 not 4K but that doesent matter for rips anyway you can pick one up for 1200-1500 for a good brand!

Yeah I'm not fussed about 4k just yet. Was looking at 50/55" seeing what is available fek around a grand.

 

[MTG]

Yeah I'm not fussed about 4k just yet. Was looking at 50/55" seeing what is available fek around a grand.

heaps in that price range!! have a look at the samsungs, sony and lg all decent brands
id go 55inch minimum

 

[The Reefuge]

i had problems with the WDTV not playing all the codec types

This can be a router issue. Although not likely, it is possible. When my dad set up his station we found that for some reason, some routers don't like to send through certain types of movies.

 

[MTG]

This can be a router issue. Although not likely, it is possible. When my dad set up his station we found that for some reason, some routers don't like to send through certain types of movies.

i was streaming straight from a HDD it didn't have any real apps built in back then mainly just played vids, allways had issues with MKV tho but they have probably fixed that now!

 

[chimaera]

When I read up on WDTV, sounds like the new versions are big improvements on the older ones.