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Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

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Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#31

Post by xpose2000 »

jsmeaton wrote: post #22

What I'm after is something that can run Kodi (xbmc) which links to a NAS for its media. Running Netflix is a nice to have. What devices are out there that I can use for this purpose? At the moment I have a fairly heavy htpc running Windows, but I have more tvs that I would like to use for similar purposes. Edit: Bonus if it can do 4k video, but 1080p minimum is a must.

You also have the option of Amazon FireTV or Fire Stick. http://kodi.wiki/view/Amazon_Fire_TV You can enjoy netflix, amazon prime, hulu, etc and install Kodi. Although you have to go through an extra step to install it. Amazon removed Kodi from its store officially.

It otherwise plays exactly like an HTPC. Everything I threw at it played fine.

The only downside is that it does not support HD audio passthrough.

http://kodi.wiki/view/Amazon_Fire_TV

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#33

Post by Sanddancer »

jsmeaton wrote: post #22

What I'm after is something that can run Kodi (xbmc) which links to a NAS for its media. Running Netflix is a nice to have. What devices are out there that I can use for this purpose? At the moment I have a fairly heavy htpc running Windows, but I have more tvs that I would like to use for similar purposes. Edit: Bonus if it can do 4k video, but 1080p minimum is a must.

There are a bunch of atom-based devices for a hundred dollars or so. One of the ones that looks tempting for me is the Kangaroo -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883722... -- $15 more than the chromebit, and you get twice the storage space, two usb ports, one of which is usb 3, and an all in all more interesting device.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#34

Post by xpose2000 »

nitrogen wrote: post #29
jsmeaton wrote: post #22

What I'm after is something that can run Kodi (xbmc) which links to a NAS for its media. Running Netflix is a nice to have. What devices are out there that I can use for this purpose? At the moment I have a fairly heavy htpc running Windows, but I have more tvs that I would like to use for similar purposes. Edit: Bonus if it can do 4k video, but 1080p minimum is a must.

There's the CuBoxTV ( http://cuboxtv.com/ ).

I'm shocked how expensive that is. Cool find though. Didn't know it existed.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#35

Post by jsmeaton »

peterhadlaw wrote: post #25
jsmeaton wrote: post #22

What I'm after is something that can run Kodi (xbmc) which links to a NAS for its media. Running Netflix is a nice to have. What devices are out there that I can use for this purpose? At the moment I have a fairly heavy htpc running Windows, but I have more tvs that I would like to use for similar purposes. Edit: Bonus if it can do 4k video, but 1080p minimum is a must.

Raspberry PI has pretty much what you're looking for. I one set up exactly for this purpose.

I've been thinking about a raspberry pi for this purpose but I'd prefer something already packaged up (even if it was a pi underneath).

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#36

Post by jsmeaton »

Sanddancer wrote: post #33
jsmeaton wrote: post #22

What I'm after is something that can run Kodi (xbmc) which links to a NAS for its media. Running Netflix is a nice to have. What devices are out there that I can use for this purpose? At the moment I have a fairly heavy htpc running Windows, but I have more tvs that I would like to use for similar purposes. Edit: Bonus if it can do 4k video, but 1080p minimum is a must.

There are a bunch of atom-based devices for a hundred dollars or so. One of the ones that looks tempting for me is the Kangaroo -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883722... -- $15 more than the chromebit, and you get twice the storage space, two usb ports, one of which is usb 3, and an all in all more interesting device.

That looks interesting, but it's out of stock in Australia at t he moment. It does say Intel HD graphics, but does that mean 1080p?

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#37

Post by Sanddancer »

monochromatic wrote: post #9

I'm trying to figure out what in the world people are going to use these for. Single-app kiosk? Sure, but that's gotta be a tiny market. TV streaming box? Maybe, but it's not clear to me that it really offers anything I care about that isn't already done by Chromecast/Roku. I dunno. It's kind of a cool idea, but it feels like a solution in search of a problem.

Personally I'm using a similar form factor atom-based stick in a body-worn computer to handle animatronics and lighting for a costuming project. The Raspberry Pi isn't powerful enough to handle the tasks that I need to do, and the $100 price is a lot cheaper than industrial boards.

For a home-based solution, it seems like a solution for non-hackers to set up a computer for the kids, etc that they don't have to worry about. For schools, it's a cheap way to turn surplus monitors into computers for student use. For an office type layout, I can see these as being useful for people who don't need more than google apps and the like. If there's a problem, a reboot will fix it, if it's more than that, the help desk person can just pull a replacement out of their pocket. Tiny's pretty useful when you need to deal with the logistics of a few hundred desktops throughout their lifespan.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#38

Post by guelo »

xpose2000 wrote: post #31
jsmeaton wrote: post #22

What I'm after is something that can run Kodi (xbmc) which links to a NAS for its media. Running Netflix is a nice to have. What devices are out there that I can use for this purpose? At the moment I have a fairly heavy htpc running Windows, but I have more tvs that I would like to use for similar purposes. Edit: Bonus if it can do 4k video, but 1080p minimum is a must.

You also have the option of Amazon FireTV or Fire Stick. http://kodi.wiki/view/Amazon_Fire_TV You can enjoy netflix, amazon prime, hulu, etc and install Kodi. Although you have to go through an extra step to install it. Amazon removed Kodi from its store officially. It otherwise plays exactly like an HTPC. Everything I threw at it played fine. The only downside is that it does not support HD audio passthrough. http:/…

I have not been impressed with mine, slow and buggy. It also is not a fit for the NAS requirement.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#39

Post by jsmeaton »

RealGeek wrote: post #30
jsmeaton wrote: post #22

What I'm after is something that can run Kodi (xbmc) which links to a NAS for its media. Running Netflix is a nice to have. What devices are out there that I can use for this purpose? At the moment I have a fairly heavy htpc running Windows, but I have more tvs that I would like to use for similar purposes. Edit: Bonus if it can do 4k video, but 1080p minimum is a must.

I run XBMC on Nexus Player, which costs less than $50. You can install Kodi from Google Play store. It can smoothly play 1080p videos from NAS or USB. It also runs most of the video add-ons available for XBMC.

Australia tax hits again. Seems to be $130 here, but I think that's going to be the rough price I pay for any device I go for. The addition of chromecast is nice.

Re: Google and ASUS Launch the $85 Chromebit, a Chrome OS Desktop on an HDMI Stick

#40

Post by Washuu »

jsmeaton wrote: post #35
peterhadlaw wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Raspberry PI has pretty much what you're looking for. I one set up exactly for this purpose.

I've been thinking about a raspberry pi for this purpose but I'd prefer something already packaged up (even if it was a pi underneath).

Once the case, wireless adapter, and a few other items are added in to make the Raspberry Pi 2 function as a nice HTPC it comes out to about $100. The same cost for much less hardware.
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