I have a chromebook (Acer C720) with similar specs. Same RAM, same CPU. It is perfect for a media center player - Kodi client or plex client. I wouldn't run a plex server on it or plan to do any transcoding, but at this price point, with all the features that Kodi+PlexBMC bring for a silent viewing device (not so picky about the sources) - this price cannot be beat.
It is hard to explain how much better this is than a Roku, ChromeCast, Fire Stick, or whatever Apple is selling and other players for people with local media. No more screwing around with transcodes to get audio working or wondering if your music collection will playback. I've tried repeatedly to get a chromecast to be a nice client for playback from my plex / xmbc / kodi server.
Of course, we need to wipe chromeOS off this device and load any ubuntu variant. This can be a non-trivial exercise for anyone new to Linux. Just bring the box to your local LUG and ask for help. It would be helpful if you let them know you are coming in advance with sufficient details.
Of course, of you just want to pay your money and have an internet streaming device that works - a Roku is probably what you want. Trying to deal with a chromecast has been a pain for me - honestly, the roku3 isn't much better and stutters for some TV recordings.
YoFu....I agree that this is a good deal, but I think I would hold out. Google is about to launch the Chromebit which will have similar specs to this device but at a sub $100 price PLUS it is basically a stick that just plugs into the HDMI port.
So this is okay, but in a few months it will be easily passed by the chromebit.
That said, my mom was always screwing up computers and I bought her a Chromebook and couldn't be happier. If she screws something up the "powerwash" that brings it back to factory takes 3 mins or less. When she signs in with her google account she is fully up and running as if nothing ever happened. Plus I use chrome remote desktop to do support. It's great.
I was looking for a good streaming video solution for years (XBMC Windows 7, Windows Media Center, AIOS Pivos, Chromecast etc) and nothing comes close to the video quality and ease of the Western Digital Media Player. Streams from windows shares/NAS and everything.
I did a side by side comparison and the Western Digital killed everything else in terms of video quality playing BluRay and 720p/1080p MKV/AVI/MP4 content.
Comments & Reviews (4)
It is hard to explain how much better this is than a Roku, ChromeCast, Fire Stick, or whatever Apple is selling and other players for people with local media. No more screwing around with transcodes to get audio working or wondering if your music collection will playback. I've tried repeatedly to get a chromecast to be a nice client for playback from my plex / xmbc / kodi server.
Of course, we need to wipe chromeOS off this device and load any ubuntu variant. This can be a non-trivial exercise for anyone new to Linux. Just bring the box to your local LUG and ask for help. It would be helpful if you let them know you are coming in advance with sufficient details.
Of course, of you just want to pay your money and have an internet streaming device that works - a Roku is probably what you want. Trying to deal with a chromecast has been a pain for me - honestly, the roku3 isn't much better and stutters for some TV recordings.
So this is okay, but in a few months it will be easily passed by the chromebit.
That said, my mom was always screwing up computers and I bought her a Chromebook and couldn't be happier. If she screws something up the "powerwash" that brings it back to factory takes 3 mins or less. When she signs in with her google account she is fully up and running as if nothing ever happened. Plus I use chrome remote desktop to do support. It's great.
I did a side by side comparison and the Western Digital killed everything else in terms of video quality playing BluRay and 720p/1080p MKV/AVI/MP4 content.
Thank you!