3 ms·
A dedicated computer for this is quite expensive, and using your regular desktop is somewhat annoying in various aspects like switching screen configurations an
by fabian2k 9y ago
A dedicated computer for this is quite expensive, and using your regular desktop is somewhat annoying in various aspects like switching screen configurations and often not possible if you don't have the PC near the TV.
Then there are the complications DRM adds, e.g. it's often not possible to get the best quality from Netflix on your PC in the browser, you only get that with the native Windows 10 app (and then not 4K unless you have some very specific GPU and drivers). The Apps on a smart TV or a FireTV/whatever don't have these restrictions.
- dahauns 9y agoIt's not even the cost, but using a HTPC with the common streaming providers has become quite a chore nowadays, with horrible UX. With Netflix you at least get an app and the possibility to stream with highest quality (4K, HDR, multichannel sound), but the app is extremely basic and clearly only optimized for touch - it doesn't even offer basic keyboard shortcuts beyond start/stop. You can get a somewhat near-HTPC using Chrome (at least shortcuts work there) and some customizing, but you're stuck with stereo (I'm not sure about 4K/HDR, but the latter is no-go enough for me to not have tried). The same goes for Amazon Video, except that they don't even have an app outside Android/iOS, so you're stuck with stereo anyway. And so on. It would be downright embarassing, if it weren't so obvious this is intentional...
- dawnbreez 9y agoRaspberry Pi + surf = Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, Etc. fullscreen with desktop interface.