Recommend a good XBMC box with remote.

[limboy777]

Hi chaps


Ive seen some videos etc of XBMC boxes. I dont know much about them except I want one!

There are lots of listings on the eBay but the descriptions are all confusing.

I want a box that is:

Easy to use
Has everything installed
Easy to restore/update
Has a remote
Has a wireless/ethernet connection

Can anyone tell me which one to buy

 

[johnim]

Just build a atom based mini pc or miniitx based and a remote

Or get the now tv box and put plex on it from sky

 

[limboy777]

- - - Updated - - -

Just build a atom based mini pc or miniitx based and a remote

Or get the now tv box and put plex on it from sky

I want it to look like a normal set top box.

 

[ShambleS1980]

i just threw together a small core 2 duo system and used a xbox ir remote reciever that i soldered to a usb connector. its a LOT cheaper than buying these pre set up ones.. if you get some thing like a dc7700 or similar low profile HP or dell "whatever" mini pc, you can set up event ghost and windows xp. so it instantly boots to xbmc with remote support.
I wouldnt really use an atom based system to be honest. core 2 duo and a lower spec pci-e card is where i would be recommending. probably aim for 3Gb of ram. and 500Mb/1gb of gpu ram.
that should give you perfectly smooth streaming at resolutions of 1920x1080.
Any thing less than that could leave you desiring more.

 

[voyager_1701e]

Hi chaps


Ive seen some videos etc of XBMC boxes. I dont know much about them except I want one!

There are lots of listings on the eBay but the descriptions are all confusing.

I want a box that is:

Easy to use
Has everything installed
Easy to restore/update
Has a remote
Has a wireless/ethernet connection

Can anyone tell me which one to buy

Hi Limboy,
XBMC is a fantastic program to share media both over the device's own output and Wifi. However, it does require more than an Atom type performance PC as Shambles suggested.

Having said that, have a look at this...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/HIMEDIA-...FormatMediaPlayers&hash=item1e809fc9f5&_uhb=1

The Himedia Q5 is an excellent unit. Although it runs Android, if you really really want, it can run XBMC, but its not worth doing (XBMC requires more performance than this unit can easily provide). Using just the Android interface it is outstanding! I've tried numerous different brands/units running both their own OS and Android, and this unit has been the only one to almost completely satisfy me. I've never found it fall over on any AVI/MPG within an MKV (it does playback a huge variety of other filetypes also).....I encode all mine @ 720(HD), it will play a Bluray direct rip file (20Gb+ filesize) but it does stutter sometimes, as these are huge files! The remote is pretty good, the unit size is small and nice looking. It will connect a SATA hard drive directly (it has a port on the side of the unit and accepts up to 3TB), or HDD (in a slot type caddy or encased)/Memory stick via USB, and also has an SD memory card slot (but I haven't used that one for movies). It does have Wifi (cant remember if it has Ethernet, but you can look that up!), but I don't think I've used the Wifi function, except to connect to the net. There really isn't a need to update the system software (it generally is quite stable, and rarely misses a beat on playback)...but there probably isn't an upgrade to the Android system software available for the unit anyway. You can access Play store.....without a mouse its clumsy using the remote for this function (an indeed the internet also)...but you can connect a USB KB or mouse if you really want to!

The only minor negative I can suggest, is it is a bit clumsy rewinding and fast forwarding movies. The interface is nice, but its not really slick....but for the price it is damn good!

I don't have shares in the company, but its so good I bought 2 of them! I have been using one at work for over 6 months (we often have an hour or more downtime where nothing is happening), and none of the guys ever complain about it except I haven't put any new movies on it!

For the price, this is a small but glowing review/endorsement of this unit

 

[ColourWheel64]

If you're not bothered about HD content then it runs very well on a standard XBox. The XBox is child's play to hack via an action replay cartridge, and since the XBox has an ethernet port as standard, you can attach to a network to share music and videos from a PC.

I can't say how much this will cost you as it might be considered price-driving, but have a look. You might be pleasantly surprised.

It can't be difficult to set up as I set mine up with only the equipment described above and google as my guide.

 

[sputnik]

The Xbox was awesome and does do it's job for very cheap, as well as having an incredible game / emulator library, but I really don't think I could have it as my main media centre in 2014...

 

[limboy777]

Thanks for your replies. The hi media is the type of design im looking for however I dont mind getting a powerful unit if it runs better.

I do have an xbox, but feel its too big not slick enough to come out of my games room.

Im also looking for a UK unit.

 

[Svin83]

Raspberry PI with Xbian

Raspberry PI with Xbian

I use RaspberryPI 512mb version, with Xbian.
With expanded swap partition, and expanded main partition, on a FAST sd card it works really great

I control it over HDMI with the tv's remote (CEC)

Even my gf knows how to use it

Since it's so small, you could just stick it to the back of your tv

 

[c64man]

I use Roku Boxes with Plex Media Server running on a core 2 mini in the rack, serves everything up nicely, Plus rokus are cheap like $40USD Cheap, Or the Roku Stick at 55 USD. Best investment ever. We cut the cable tv 2 years ago, and have been happy ever since.