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Apple TV alternative

GER_T4IGA
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I settled for a google chromecast as reviews seem pretty positive, feature set looks omre than good and price is a non issue so if my dad ends up not liking it I can always just take it downstairs and use it on my monitor.

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I hope this is the right section. Any mods? Feel free to move this if it is not, please.

 

My dad is planning on getting an apple TV but I managed to convince him that he will be better of with a more flexible device like the chromecast, Amazon fire TV and other are. 

I am looking at the chromecast but I heard things about obvious heat or performance problems within these small devices. Van you calm me down about my concerns?

 

To state this explicitly. We are looking for an in home streaming capable device that can sort of serve as a "smart TV uupgrades for our old Samsung flat-screen.  Budget is basically unlimited. I have no specific functions other than YouTube (no Netflix or prime necessary but a Joe gimmick of we divide on a subscription in the future) It should just not suck at what it  does. 

I hope one can grass what I am looking for. 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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well, if theres no specific ecosystem you're looking for, nor there being a limit in cost, the gates are pretty much wide open.

 

some possibilities:

- chromecast or fire tv, this'll most likely be the most plug&play easy to use solution

(dont worry about the heat, they're not samsung washing machines, its *fine*)

- raspberry pi, which'll be your DIY "getting nice and deep into the guts" solution.

- something like a brix or nuc if you want smooth 4K or some actual compute power at your TV (for things like steam in-home streaming for example)

- a high end HTPC build like what kyle did recently, if you want to actually be gaming in the living room.

 

these are organised from cheapest to most expensive, and probably also from easiest to hardest to set up and use.

it kinda also depends on how amish your old folks are, even with buttons marked with their function my dad just CANNOT operate kodi media center without needing assistance. (okay, i admit the arrow buttons werent marked, i hoped that'd be self explanatory to someone who learned how to compute before mice happend)

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13 minutes ago, GER_T4IGA said:

I hope this is the right section. Any mods? Feel free to move this if it is not, please.

 

My dad is planning on getting an apple TV but I managed to convince him that he will be better of with a more flexible device like the chromecast, Amazon fire TV and other are. 

I am looking at the chromecast but I heard things about obvious heat or performance problems within these small devices. Van you calm me down about my concerns?

 

To state this explicitly. We are looking for an in home streaming capable device that can sort of serve as a "smart TV uupgrades for our old Samsung flat-screen.  Budget is basically unlimited. I have no specific functions other than YouTube (no Netflix or prime necessary but a Joe gimmick of we divide on a subscription in the future) It should just not suck at what it  does. 

I hope one can grass what I am looking for. 

roku 4 or nvidia shield

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1 minute ago, JohnT said:

What you need is Amazon's Fire TV. Do not buy the stupid stick... get the regular sized box. And most importantly, use a wired connection to reduce any chances of low performance.

i'd rather recommend the stick over the box, because i live in a house where if theres a wire, someone at some point will manage to break it.

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30 minutes ago, manikyath said:

i'd rather recommend the stick over the box, because i live in a house where if theres a wire, someone at some point will manage to break it.

Wires wouldn't be to bad. The TV is net to power and the router. So no chance of anything getting Brocken. However I heard bad things Especially about the Amazon stick and that their bonus so much better. 

 

You gave very great suggestions. I have no interest or use in setting up a PC nor any idea how do set up what I would want to do with it(implying that it would all have to work without a keyboard - I mean what's the point of having it in the living room). I also do not need 4k support. 1080p would be Plenty. 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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31 minutes ago, courtiousdoge said:

i know but if hes a gamer or want to be 1 it might be good

I want to watch movies and your I've not enoy my parents by blocking the TV with playing games I could play on my 144Hz monitor downstairs even better. 

Thanks for the recommendation though. 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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1 minute ago, GER_T4IGA said:

Wires wouldn't be to bad. The TV is net to power and the router. So no chance of anything getting Brocken. However I heard bad things Especially about the Amazon stick and that their bonus so much better. 

 

You gave very great suggestions. I have no interest or use in setting up a PC nor any idea how do set up what I would want to do with it(implying that it would all have to work without a keyboard - I mean what's the point of having it in the living room). I also do not need 4k support. 1080p would be Plenty. 

then i'd say just get an out the box solution like the chromecast. not worth getting something more complex if its only gonna be a hassle either way.

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37 minutes ago, JohnT said:

What you need is Amazon's Fire TV. Do not buy the stupid stick... get the regular sized box. And most importantly, use a wired connection to reduce any chances of low performance.

Low performance of Internet speeds?? Or what?never seen low performance caused by low power. 

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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@Manikyath My phone doesn't let my quote...

Do you the next a steam link would be a good option to or are it's functions to game oriented?

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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@manikyath

stupid phone ... see above :P

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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1 hour ago, GER_T4IGA said:

Low performance of Internet speeds?? Or what?never seen low performance caused by low power. 

The wifi in the TV Stick gets....... tired. It also works like a roller coaster. Three months ago it wouldn't play Youtube for more than 5 minutes. Presumably it would run out of memory. Last night it wouldn't play video directly from Amazon. It kept saying my internet connection was slow and disconnected the movie. I have zero issues using Netflix or Youtube now.

 

Also, Amazon did some sort of an update in the past 3 months, so now the stick runs at 720p instead of 1080p.

 

It's a confused little device. I would never buy one again.

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15 hours ago, SuicideAnomaly said:

Roku, because it has porn channels. And everybody loves porn?

Because I am going to watch porn in the living room with my parents, right?

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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I settled for a google chromecast as reviews seem pretty positive, feature set looks omre than good and price is a non issue so if my dad ends up not liking it I can always just take it downstairs and use it on my monitor.

http://linustechtips.com/main/topic/334934-unofficial-ltt-beginners-guide/ (by Minibois) and a few things that will make our community interaction more pleasent:
1. FOLLOW your own topics                                                                                2.Try to QUOTE people so we can read through things easier
3.Use PCPARTPICKER.COM - easy and most importantly approved here        4.Mark your topics SOLVED if they are                                Don't change a running system

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