Streaming stuff to TV : HTPC, or what?

[acheron]

So I want to get something that lets me stream things to my TV: Netflix, Amazon, Pandora, etc. off the net, and streaming videos (whatever format) and music (mostly in AAC) off the local network. Basic stuff, really. I kind of want to build a HTPC just because it'd be fun, but I also realize that may be overkill. So what retail set-top boxes are worthwhile looking at? I've heard the retail Boxee thing isn't very good. What about the new Roku stuff? What else is available?

 

[Chapbass]

Recently reviewed and probably a great starting point: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5129/...ear-ntv550-acryan-playonhd2-and-the-boxee-box

 

[acheron]

Recently reviewed and probably a great starting point: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5129/...ear-ntv550-acryan-playonhd2-and-the-boxee-box

Ha, that's what I get for never going to the main AT site. Thanks, I'll take a look.

 

[Chapbass]

No problem!

 

[ImpulsE69]

...and none of those reviews would make me want to buy one. Someone needs to get these things right...

 

[AeroEngy]

I was in the same situation as you. My requirements were Netflix, Amazon VOD, Hulu, and local streaming from my NAS (mostly MP4, some AVI). My main TV has a 360 for most of those options and I wanted something else for my other TV that my kids mostly use. I had a hard time finding something (for cheap) that supported all of those options.

My first purchase was an LG BD650 Bluray player ($99). It seemed like the best option for me on paper. It did everything that was advertised but turned out to be a buggy mess with a painfully slow UI.

I returned it and got a Roku 2. It has all the online streaming options I wanted but is a lot more limited in local content streaming. Basically it only supports MP4s (w/AAC audio) and maybe WMV9. It also requires a 3rd party channel (Roksbox or similar) to be installed. Roksbox (and other local streaming channels) require a web server to be running so that it can find your Video/Music library. Luckily my NAS had a built in web server so I don't have to run one off my PC.

So it was a lot of work getting Roku setup and probably isn’t the best option for most people. I think I initially ruled out Boxee because it was a little more expensive and it didn’t have Amazon VOD integration.

Ideally I would go with a HTPC but I couldn’t justify the cost for my secondary TV.

 

[Golgatha]

In my experience, each STB has some sort of shortcoming that just can't be overlooked. At the end of the day a HTPC is your cheapest option IMO anyway since it can be "upgraded" via software to display whatever Internet or local streaming you make choose.

 

[woodman1999]

So I am hoping to kind of tag along in this thread as I am in the same boat as the OP. I was taking a look at the Logitech Revue (especially since the price dropped to $99). Anyone have any experience with these? Of the reviews I've read, it seems the two issues are the keyboard (not an issue for me) and the UI as it is not as intuitive as something like the Boxee.

 

[Edge1]

What about the WD TV Live Streamer?

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digita...2512328&sr=1-1

 

[vi edit]

The Sony media streamers are pretty full featured.

http://m.bestbuy.com/m/e/product/detail.jsp?skuId=2219037&pid=1218315006846

Not bad for $50

 

[acheron]

Thanks for input everyone. It's looking like one of the Roku 2 devices might be my best bet. Sounds like it's not the best for local streaming, but my concern is about 80/20 in favor of Internet streaming, and it has all the options I want there.

If I get that or something else connected in the next couple weeks, I'll come back and report my findings.

 

[velillen]

One thing to consider i salso custom firmware. I know for the WDTV people have said the custom firmware adds a ton of options that many people wanted. I dont follow that area so not to up to date on it but might be worth checking out.

HTPC's are nice but i find myself constantly tweaking mine (i have two...bedroom and living room). latest thing has been to disable Wake on Lan since they keep turning on when i dont want them to. I have a server for media storage so no need for WOL on the htpc's. but i do like the fact i can do anything i want pretty much. I love being able to have media displayed how i want it. I know i hate my wdtv as all i get is a list pretty much. Still use it when i travel but it just doesnt do everything i want it to to use it all at home. For me it works just fine but if i had kids or a wife to worry about i might be a little skeptical of the htpc route.

 

[marcplante]

I was wondering whether the media extenders would work well. My preference is more home source video streaming, and I tried three of the Blu Ray players that all had limitations. we're upgrading to Lenovo notebooks that have Widi output, and I'm thinking media extenders maybe with a hard drive attached (Media hubs) might be the way to go. I'm working generally with .MKV, MP4, and MP3 file formats and will adopt the online streaming services from Amazon and Netflix when they have inventory.

There was a western digital mediahub that just crossed livehot deals for $99 (gone) but something similar may be worth the investment.

Anyone BTDT?

 

[bearxor]

I think the WDTV Live would probably be the OP's best bet. It does everything he'd want but has a shitty interface.

For more local streaming, I love my Boxee Box. Yes, there's a few complaints I have about it, but overall I'm very happy going from a HTPC to a Boxee Box.

 

[ImpulsE69]

The Roku with the Plex (private channel) is actually decent. You do need to have a separate computer of some sort that streams to the Roku for it to work. There is no work involved as Plex does 99% of the sorting for you and feeds that info to the Roku so you have a nice menu system complete with ratings and synopses.
That being said - it does only tend to work with certain types of codes and even then you may have 1 out of 3 that doesn't work even though it's encoded the same, so it still isn't a final solution, but it is improving regularly. Roku has some nice online streaming as well, both free and pay and if you have the connection for it, it works really well.

I also have a PBO and while there is more work involved in getting a nice menu system, it's never failed at playing anything I've thrown at it, however it has no online streaming (is pretty much local content only unless you still use a separate server (like PlayOn), but it is wireless N as well.

 

[Midwayman]

In my experience, each STB has some sort of shortcoming that just can't be overlooked. At the end of the day a HTPC is your cheapest option IMO anyway since it can be "upgraded" via software to display whatever Internet or local streaming you make choose.

+1

The issue with set top boxes is you never know what web content is going to be blocked. Hulu may be on it now, but next week they may sign an exclusive agreement with another set top box. With a HTPC you are pretty much guaranteed that you'll be able to get everything.

 

[bobdole369]

One option to look out for is TiVO. It handles Netflix, Amazon, Pandora, and with a service running on the PC that holds your media - any format.

TiVO supporters laud its simple UI, very effective searching, excellent remote, and overall outstanding experience. Wife acceptance factor is very high. It's detractors point out its cost.

Unfortunately there is a monthly cost for TiVO of $9.99 (for OTA only) or $13.99 for cable TV. DirecTV or any of the IPTV (Uverse/FIOS) not supported.

It currentlly isn't possible to not pay that fee and still get the streaming aspects.

Also note that its a little less "streamy" than you might think. Netflix streams just like the website, but Amazon VOD starts a transfer, which you can immediately begin watching. Its possible to catch up and pause. Same goes for stuff on the network.

We just reactivated TiVO that was purchased 2 years back ($199 I think) and upgraded HD to 1TB - they offered $99 lifetime guide data for resubscribing so I bought. I had paid full price for roughly a year and had deactivated for a year.

Total price then was about $450ish.

Nice to know I can go back to Comcast without having to use one of their boxes (though of course you don't get the stupid comcast on demand BS).

Also its an Excellent OTA tuner (which is what it is doing now) - inside antenna - 1st floor of 2 floor apt in deep suburbia - roughly 25miles from transmitters in either direction, and I can get both markets basically.