I'm not looking for anything super powerful. My needs/goals are probably less than most folks building HTPCs.
I don't really need dvr capability, I don't need a tuner, I'm not planning on using it for gaming. All I really want is a media streaming box that has zero (or almost zero) limitations.
Roku and the like are about 90% what I want, but I'm bound by whatever apps they make available in their ecosystem. I don't want that.
Here is my vision.
A relatively small, headless PC running Windows 8.1 MCE. It needs HDMI, and LAN (not wireless, though USB or Thunderbolt to Ethernet is probably ok). I want to connect it to my network and my Plasma TV. And then I will either RDC into it via my tablet and watch whatever I want (ABC.com, watchespn.com, Netflix, youtube, some random streaming site, etc...) or I might also get that Lenovo wireless keyboard for convenience.
But that is really all I'm after. Nothing fancy, just a media streaming device that has the full power of windows and isn't restricted by apps. Would be nice if it were small, but doesn't have to be ultra small.
I was considering the Intel NUC (a model with HDMI and thunderbolt). It would require a thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter, memory (I'm thinking 4 to 6gb should be adequate) and a hard drive- estimated cost: about $350.
Based on my goals though, does anyone have a better suggested configuration?
I don't really need dvr capability, I don't need a tuner, I'm not planning on using it for gaming. All I really want is a media streaming box that has zero (or almost zero) limitations.
Roku and the like are about 90% what I want, but I'm bound by whatever apps they make available in their ecosystem. I don't want that.
Here is my vision.
A relatively small, headless PC running Windows 8.1 MCE. It needs HDMI, and LAN (not wireless, though USB or Thunderbolt to Ethernet is probably ok). I want to connect it to my network and my Plasma TV. And then I will either RDC into it via my tablet and watch whatever I want (ABC.com, watchespn.com, Netflix, youtube, some random streaming site, etc...) or I might also get that Lenovo wireless keyboard for convenience.
But that is really all I'm after. Nothing fancy, just a media streaming device that has the full power of windows and isn't restricted by apps. Would be nice if it were small, but doesn't have to be ultra small.
I was considering the Intel NUC (a model with HDMI and thunderbolt). It would require a thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter, memory (I'm thinking 4 to 6gb should be adequate) and a hard drive- estimated cost: about $350.
Based on my goals though, does anyone have a better suggested configuration?
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