I currently use an Apple TV 4K, which is - as far as I’m aware - more or less the best streaming box you can buy. However, it’s the version without ethernet, and Steam Link has become a dog over wifi for some reason. So I figured I’d look around to see if there’s an alternative solution.

Hardware-wise, I have a Dell Optiplex 3020 or a 2014 Mac mini (running Debian), to choose from, but have no real idea where to go from there, beyond the vague notion that KDE have put big screen mode back into beta. I did have a play with that a few months ago in a VM, but was struck that there were (obviously) no applications that made any real use of it.

Does anyone out there run anything they’ve built themselves? If so, what?

  • shellington@piefed.zipEnglish
    4·
    3 days ago

    I was using Nvidia Shields but wanted to get away from Android. Over the summer i bought some Dell mini pcs, put the Plasma Bigscreen OS on them and got some USB remote controls.

    These have been working really well and is nice to have them running linux. The tv interface is really good and for the few apps that didn’t have linux versions i just made my own.

    I use mine mainly for plex (which has an app) Youtube (vacummtube) and made my own apps to access tube archivist, odysee archivist and stash. So i guess it depends what you watch on it.

      • shellington@piefed.zipEnglish
        1·
        4 hours ago

        depends on the apps vacuum tube (youtube 4k) plex 4k, also discovered a new use for it too. Wanted to play some ps1 games but can’t find the power lead for it, so after searching fruitlessly installed duckstation plugged in a usb controller and it works great. Best £60 i have ever spent such a versatile and reliable thing.

        • Dnb@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          1·
          1 hour ago

          Okay so you aren’t using streaming services

          That’s the issue with htpc they limit to 720p if not using their apps which they’ve removed from pcs and now only mobile

    • djdarren@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      1·
      3 days ago

      This is sort of the route I was considering, so it’s cool to know that someone has tread the path before me.

      • shellington@piefed.zipEnglish
        1·
        3 days ago

        Well honestly I have been using them for a few months now and they have worked flawlessly.

        What kind of services do you tend to want to watch through them?