Re: Advice needed re TV internet media machine.
I have not done this, but these questions come to mind:
On Sat, Jul 5, 2014 at 11:06 PM, Lisi Reisz <lisi.reisz@gmail.com> wrote:
> Having just bought myself another doorstop (except that this one is too light
> even to stop a door) in the form of:
> http://www.amazon.co.uk/XstreamTec-MX-version-Internal-Included/dp/B00F0PZZIW
What exactly convinces you that's a paperweight? What does it (not) do?
> I am doing what I should have done in the first place and asking for advice.
>
> I want to be able to stream media from the internet.
What protocols? That is, what services?
> My vicissitudes have
> convinced me that it will have to be a computer that I use, and I would, of
> course, like to use Debian, though I may have to consider LMDE.
What advantages would you expect from Mint on a Debian downstream?
> But I don't
> want to buy another brick, and I am not sure exactly what I will need (hence
> my trying and failing to buy a dedicated machine).
Mint, as far as I know, requires x86, either 32 or 64 bit. You bought
an ARM 32 bit box. Debian can be installed, with some effort, on some
ARM boxes, but, in many cases, it turns out to be a downstream
derivative of debian.
> What is the minimum oomf I will need?
Well, 1G RAM is a bit small, but it should be okay if the graphics
chipset is strong enough. If the graphics chipset isn't strong enough,
I doubt 4G will be enough. You probably want dual processor at least,
1GHz or more. if you want to install Mint, or if you want to install
debian without learning a bunch of arcane incantations, you'll
probably want x86.
> I have an old netbook, but it can't
> handle streaming from the TV channels,
When you say TV, do you mean air- or cable-broadcast or do you mean
internet-broadcast? If the former two, your converter interface is
part of the equation, and I'm not aware of converter interfaces that
have open-source accessible ARM firmware. (A travesty, indeed.) So, if
you try it on an ARM processor, you need an ARM processor with the
necessary stuff built-in.
Some of the converter cards don't even have any Linux-compatible drivers at all.
> so I obviously need a bit of power.
People have done TV with Rasberry PI, if I understand things
correctly. Not high resolution, however.
> My desktop can do it, but I want to go on using my desktop as a desktop! If
> it is to be a media machine, it might perhaps be able to play DVDs and even
> record off air, but the important thing is streaming back TV programmes and
> Amazon Prime. I don't mind a series of separate machines, each doing one
> thing and doing it well. Unix anyone??? This machine is for streaming from
> the internet.
Apple TV fails to meet your criteria?
> Quiet wouldn't hurt, but is not essential.
>
> I am in the UK, which is obviously relevant.
>
> I would be very grateful for suggestions.
>
> Lisi
Not sure if any of that is useful.
--
Joel Rees
Be careful where you see conspiracy.
Look first in your own heart.
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