The Real Deal: Real Deal 117 - Video streamers
- 6/30/08 3:53 PM
Real Deal 117 - Video streamers
by acedtect - 6/30/08 3:53 PM
Just me, and a day early. Talking about the different ways to get video off the Internet and on to your TV.
Next week we talk Internet Personalities. Your thoughts questions and suggestions are much welcome!
What about Tivo
by Andreas Graham - 7/1/08 8:51 AM In reply to: Real Deal 117 - Video streamers by acedtect
Great show, but how could you forget to mention Amazon Unboxed on Tivo. Tom I know that you are a Tivo fan, but they always seem to be left off shows like this. Tivo, you can stream music from iTunes, it has Podcasts and you can buy movies from Amazon Unboxed directly from you TV. Please show your Tivo some love!
another Unbox fan
by tinach - 7/5/08 8:30 AM In reply to: What about Tivo by Andreas GrahamTom , I was also disappointed that you didn't mention Amazon Unbox on Tivo. And as a Mac user, I don't have to worry about compatibility - it just downloads directly to my Tivo. No extra box to buy, no extra membership fees. And I don't have to worry about hard drive space - if I choose to buy a movie, Amazon stores it for me on their website. It works so well for me that I cancelled my Blockbuster membership.
HP Slimline
by brlf - 7/2/08 6:47 AM In reply to: Real Deal 117 - Video streamers by acedtect
I purchased a HP SLIMLINE S3220N DESKTOP PC (with a 400GB HD) earlier this year along with a wireless keyboard and mouse, all for under $400. Luckily my 47' LCD Visio has the VGA connector, which I find better gives a better picture than Component RCA. It also comes with an S-Video and coaxial connector.
First, it's 1/3 the size of a regular PC which allows it to easily fit in my cabinet.
Using Windows Media Center, I'll use the internal tuner to watch the ball game (on mute) and surf the net while I'm watching Hulu, Joost, CNET TV, streaming movies from my NetFlix account, watching CNET video podcast via ITunes, or viewing an up converted DVD.
Great show, but just how do you connect them to the TV?
by biergeliebter - 7/3/08 8:45 AM In reply to: Real Deal 117 - Video streamers by acedtect
I have been streaming between my ReplayTVs for years, but my new Roku Netflix box is really my first attempt at streaming anything from the internet or a PC, so this show was great at breaking down which hardware can do what, and it sounds like I might have to get a Popcorn Hour or an XBox 360 to use as a media extender. Thanks for the great info Tom!
But how do you connect all these things to the TV? I have a TV with 3 sets of component inputs and a coax input, and with the addition of the Netflix box, they are all full. I suppose I could daisy chain the Netflix box into an input on the ReplayTV, but my wife already gets confused by having to change the TV input between four different things. I can't imagine her changing the TV input and the ReplayTV input to watch a movie, especially since changing the input on the ReplayTV is not nearly as easy as on the TV. (You have to go into the setup menu)
So if I get a popcorn hour, or Wii or XBox 360, (or eventually all of them) how can all of them be connected at the same time in a way that the wife and kids wouldn't need regular remedial instruction?
Universal Remote
by brlf - 7/3/08 12:00 PM In reply to: Great show, but just how do you connect them to the TV? by biergeliebterYou could try a Harmony universal remote. You can still daisy chain the devices, and the remote can be programed with a macro to set each device to a separate setting based on what you want to watch, and all at the touch of one button.
I'd like to hear a universal remote review during one of the road test segments. I still use my six separate remotes and need more encouragement to convert to a single device.
I love my Popcorn Hour!
by chadepp - 7/3/08 11:59 PM In reply to: Real Deal 117 - Video streamers by acedtect
I've had my popcorn hour for about two months now, and I absolutely love it. It plays just about every video file i have on my computer via my home network, except recorded shows off media center and vids bought off itunes. Only recently I dropped in a 500gb hard drive, enabling me to move off video files that were clogging up my main hard drive on my computer.
I wouldn't mind getting the Roku, also. With rumors that it might be able to stream off Hulu sure makes it look more appealing now. If only the Popcorn Hour could stream from Netflix and Hulu....I'd be set!
Cheapo Vista laptop as dedicated DVR works for me
by danika1234 - 7/5/08 3:45 PM In reply to: Real Deal 117 - Video streamers by acedtect
I'm with brlf (and actually wonder why this isn't noticed by more people). Tom you said a PC with Vista Premium/Media Center and the right perf characteristics is expensive. But it seems to me (next to a Myth Box) it's the best DVR price/"performance" out there right now -- provided you can do VGA. brlf's rig is an HP Slimline -- mine is similar. But I figured a laptop would be more device-like, so I went with a cheapo, compaq, Sunday-flyer-loss-leader laptop at Best Buy, and added a cheapo external USB drive and cheapo Media Center remote. Works great.
Another cheap PC option
by zkam - 7/9/08 2:11 PM In reply to: Real Deal 117 - Video streamers by acedtect
I just listened to the next episode (118) of the Real Deal, in which Tom read a response from a listener regarding less expensive PC options. This reminded me of something I read earlier today:
http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/07/08/acer-aspire-x1200-pc-is-cheap-tiny-and-could-be-your-next-htpc/
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