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Thread: Media Box or HTPC?

  1. #1
    sandman_1's Avatar Poster
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    GoogleTV and Boxee look like good solutions for what I need to do but I see a growing trend where Networks are purposely blocking their content from these media devices, i.e. Hulu, ABC, ect.. Are there other alternatives that they can't block or would the best thing to do here is to just spend the extra money and build a HTPC?

  2. Software & Hardware   -   #2
    Detale's Avatar Go Snatch a Judge
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    WDTV-Live with b-rad firmware. there was recently another thread about this here bud
    Last edited by Detale; 12-07-2010 at 10:06 PM.

  3. Software & Hardware   -   #3
    lightshow's Avatar Asleep at the wheel
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    I'd recommend Acer Aspire Revo or Zotac Zbox and XBMC Live as the OS. Both those use the Nvidia ION which supports hardware decoding. This means you can have a weak atom CPU, but still play 1080i HD since all the video decoding is offloaded to the GPU (supported on Windows + Linux [not sure about Apple]).

    The boxee box is closed and you can't load any other OS on it. Boxxee apps are also closed so you can't install custom non-boxxee apps. Boxee is planning on dropping free Hulu in favor of Hulu Plus (subscription based), so don't expect to get free hulu on the boxee box.
    I miss the days of random nut '03
    Click for more activation options, then activate by telephone. Run the keygen.
    if I call them, aren't they going to get me? (you know, down there)

  4. Software & Hardware   -   #4
    Detale's Avatar Go Snatch a Judge
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    Acer Aspire Revo is over $200 as per a quick google when the WDTV Live is about half that. You can do all sorts of customizations to it and it plays pretty much everything you throw at it. Also there isn't much to set up like on a mini pc.

  5. Software & Hardware   -   #5
    Shinzen's Avatar Poster BT Rep: +25BT Rep +25BT Rep +25BT Rep +25BT Rep +25
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    You can make a Boxee yourself if you want but WDTV Live is preferred with b-rad firmware as pointed by Detale

  6. Software & Hardware   -   #6
    Xbox_360's Avatar Poster BT Rep: +1
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    I would also suggest going for a media box like the WDTV Live. Not only is it very small you don't have to mess around with an OS or OS updates etc and installing codecs. Everything is loaded in the WDTV Live just plug it in and go.

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