BBCi Player etc.

[Gower]

I have just connected my laptop to my TV set in order to watch BBCi Player. To make it more convenient, I was thinking of buying a inexpensive, small desktop PC (maybe a Dell Small Form PC, Pentium 4, DVD & WiFi - £100) and connect it permanently to the TV.
Can I assume that the graphics card wouldn't be too important? Could I get a remote to work with it? Will Windows XP Pro be OK or should it be Media Edition or Linux?
Has anyone gone along this route and if so, advise Do's & Don'ts.
Cheers,
Jim
PS anyone going to Westonbirt a week Friday?

 

[chris_d]

Can I assume that the graphics card wouldn't be too important?

Depends on your TV. If you have a high-def TV then you should get a graphics card with a HDMI output otherwise it is not that crucial other than the usual connector/conversion issues.

Could I get a remote to work with it?

Yep, there are loads of third party COTS remotes, choice of infra-red or RF based units and most work seamlessly with XP-Media Edition. USB is the common connection format.

Will Windows XP Pro be OK or should it be Media Edition or Linux?

Depends on your budget. If you can afford XP-ME then it is well worth the expense as it becomes a true AV 'appliance' rather than a PC trying to be a digi-box.

Has anyone gone along this route and if so, advise Do's & Don'ts.

Recommend using a solid state disk (ie Flash RAM based storage drive) to keep the noise down (when compared to spinning mechanical HDDs). Also recommend using a fanless power supply and CPU, again to keep the noise down but you'll have to pay a bit more for those and you're likely to need a specialist case to help dissipate the heat by conduction.

Furthermore, if it is just BBC-iPlayer/4oD that you want then just buy a Nintendo-Wii which is quiet, small, white, has WiFi, plays games, plays A/V CDs/DVDs, is relatively user friendly and even comes with a remote control for less than £180. However, it doesn't have an integrated EPG since you access BBC-iPlayer/4oD using a web-browser but there may be third-party EPG applications available.

HTH,
Chris

 

[Anonymous]

Look at this.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/167205/sh ... o/playvid#

Koolwabbit

 

[RogerS]

That's a very good point regarding noise, Chris. All the various boxes that we have including the TV have noisy fans. The MacMini is fanless and relatively cheap. There was an article in MacFormat - Issue 211 July - recently regarding using one.

On the downside, following a powercut, SWMBO's PVR had a hissy fit and messed up a few programmes that she wanted to watch. So I introduced her to BBC iPlayer on her iMac. What a mistake! She was enthralled with it. So bang goes my monthly download quota :evil:

 

[chris_d]

So bang goes my monthly download quota :evil

I know the feeling, I've had to upgrade my broadband quota for two months on the trot whilst my wife has been on annual leave! She is addicted to 4oD.

P.S. Have you received the auction listing for this coming Saturday at H.J.Pughs? There is nothing on their website and I haven't received any email from their mailing list - I'm particularly interested in the trailers.

Regards,
Chris

 

[Gower]

Thanks Chris, my granddaughter has a Nintendo-Wii. I'll give it ago and see how I get on.

Koolwabbit, I'm not sure if the bit of kit you recommended will do what I want,namely watch BBCi Player and the like on my HD TV set. But thanks anyway.

Cheers,
Jim

 

[RogerS]

So bang goes my monthly download quota :evil

I know the feeling, I've had to upgrade my broadband quota for two months on the trot whilst my wife has been on annual leave! She is addicted to 4oD.

P.S. Have you received the auction listing for this coming Saturday at H.J.Pughs? There is nothing on their website and I haven't received any email from their mailing list - I'm particularly interested in the trailers.

Regards,
Chris

Sorry Chris. Have heard nothing.

Roger