On 03/08/09 23:43, Alastair Biggs wrote: > I was looking at investing in a Popcorn Hour after reading a review in Linux > Format, Is it anygood at handling HD movies? > > Alternative option I had was to setup a shuttle or a mini-itx system and use > geexbox as the hub for control of media. > > But I am really tempted to get a Popcorn Hour worthwhile investment?
Possibly. I have one of these (not a PC** per se, but rather good, actually...): http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=572 Smaller than any of my (powered) USB hard disks and about £80 as an experiment from PC World (yes, really!) when my tranquilpc decided that enough was enough and no longer boots (I still have hopes of rescuing that, though. Nice kit.) I flashed the wdtv with the ext3-boot firmware. Plug in a USB drive and go - it has component and HDMI/toslink out for video/audio. Mine has a 7-port powered USB hub attached and several USB drives - which work marvellously. Full of my music collection (mostly flac and ogg, with some of the evil mp3, slowly being replaced) and collection of ripped DVDs. The ext3-boot firmware will also do network-based streaming, with an additional USB network device (not included). That's the next experiment for me. Possibly a usb wireless device (although more likely ethernet as the switch is within easy reach) About the only thing it doesn't do is timeshift/record live telly. But then I don't care about that sort of thing. :) Regards, Stuart ** although it does run linux and the firmware is all GPL :) -- Stuart Sears RHC* "It's today!" said Piglet. "My favourite day," said Pooh. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------
