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75 Comments
- ShadowMarth, on 05/29/2009, -3/+25Or: Take any outdated PC you have lying around (I'd wager most households have one at this point), download the software, plug it up to the HDTV everyone has in their living room now, learn to use the remote. Done.
- Snap65, on 05/29/2009, -1/+23Whatever I'm bored.
BOXEE: So I hear you got dumped?
XBMC: yeah that whore HULU dumped me.
BOXEE: That's what I heard.
HULU: Hi guys!
XBMC: Ahhh crap.
HULU: Hey BOXEE, you miss me. I hear you can't still get over me?
XBMC: What?
BOXEE: shhhhhhh.
HULU: You know you miss it BOXEE.
XBMC: What the hell is going on here?
HULU: Well incase you didn't know BOXEE and I had a thing going on for a while.
XBMC: wtf BOXEE. I teach you everything you know and this is how you repay me?
BOXEE: Sorry man, Hulu is just so tempting and I had to have her.
XMBC: ******* - Aldanga, on 05/29/2009, -0/+19A Phenom? Are you kidding me? That's a waste of $130. Just throw an el cheapo X2 in there with a decent integrated or dedicated graphics card and the right codecs and you can decode HD content just fine.
- spritom, on 05/29/2009, -1/+17One page instead of 6 (with pop-up print script)
http://www.maximumpc.com/print/5591 - Ismith988, on 05/29/2009, -4/+19OK HI, SO MY NAME IS BOXXY
- alpha19, on 05/29/2009, -0/+15Had you read his comment, you'd see he said Mac Mini, not AppleTV. The Mac Mini will do Hulu.
- inactive, on 05/29/2009, -0/+11I heard you do drugs.
- frontaxle, on 05/29/2009, -0/+9How do we run a cable from the US to Canada so we can use Hulu too. :(
- inactive, on 05/29/2009, -1/+9www.xbmc.org
Windows, Linux, Mac. Pick a flavor & install. The default UI isnt that pretty, but you can replace it with a variet of existing themes/skins.
Media Portal also works, more user friendly and handles video recording ok. Boxee is based off an older build of XBMC, it just has a fancier UI. - Pattyo13, on 05/29/2009, -0/+7i had a comment all typed out complaining about how expensive it was, but then re-read the title as "ultimate". so, for those that find this over their budget, save your breath
- Ommatidia, on 05/29/2009, -2/+9A few problems with that:
Many outdated machines won't have the necessary connections and speed. Furthermore, it's obviously more aesthetically appealing to have one of these slick boxes FTA that fits inside your entertainment center, rather that your big, old, loud, beige tower that probably won't fit inside your entertainment center. - Subduction, on 05/29/2009, -0/+6Use a cheapo VPN service to obscure your IP address. You can find them for as low as 3.95 per month with servers in the US.
- Wander2000, on 05/29/2009, -0/+6Check out the Gigabyte HD4550/4350 video card at the egg. Cost about $25 or so, has VGA, DVI, and best of all HDMI --with- audio. That's right. No need to fool around with getting those adaptors for audio. Just plug in an HDMI cable, and your pc will hear the digital audio just as it should. Best bang for the buck. Plays 1080p like icing on a cake with an old AMD X2.
- FirstOne1, on 05/29/2009, -0/+5get over yourself
- inactive, on 05/29/2009, -0/+5Mac Mini will be fine if you want to playback 1080i/1080p files. Otherwise the AppleTV will handle 720p and cost 200-230$.
Boxee was originally made for AppleTV, it works fine. - aimhelix, on 05/29/2009, -0/+4I did this - went to Tigerdirect and got a deal on a cheapo refurbished laptop for about $270 and bought a $50 set of wireless keyboards and mouse. Of course, its cause I'm lazy and didn't want to build a box -- and a black laptop has the perfect dimensions for me to slip it under my tv shelf.
- whodathunk, on 05/30/2009, -0/+4Buy Windows?
It say's Buy CPU, Buy mainboard, Buy case, Buy memory, but it forgets "Buy Windows" and "Install Windows"...
Nowhere does it say where/how to buy windows for a price that keeps that 'Ultimate' box affordable... - kierucom, on 05/29/2009, -0/+4@Nooze: You realize the article itself promotes the AppleTV as a viable alternative right? Better watch out, those pesky Apples are spreading everywhere! Oh noes!
- unknamed, on 05/29/2009, -1/+5Except Boxee still isn't officially out for Windows yet...
"first, thanks for coming to check out boxee, the best way to get all your entertainment in one place.
we're sorry to say boxee for Windows is not publicly available yet. we told Maximum PC that it would be, but since speaking with them we've had to react to a few situations and shift resources around, delaying the launch. we want to get boxee for Windows to you as quickly as possible, but we also want to ensure boxee works well across all the different flavors of PCs before we release it.
we hope to release boxee for Windows closer to June, but in the meantime we continue to send out a few thousand weekly Windows invites. you've been automatically added to that pool, and we'll send you a note as soon as the Windows version goes public."
best,
avner and team boxee - fsweep, on 05/29/2009, -1/+5Hulu and all the geoblocking sites suck.
- Rikkochet, on 05/29/2009, -0/+4Connect a VGA cable from the PC to the VGA input on your TV and be content with 720p until you're convinced HTPC is for you. THEN go and shell out some money on a real solution.
- giyad, on 05/30/2009, -0/+3hulu sucks actually (personal opinion), i have boxee and have used hulu a whole two times... never used it in the browser, I have enough media to watch before I start watching the things that I don't have.
I would choose boxee over Hulu anyday - FirstOne1, on 05/29/2009, -0/+3it is nice to have the operating system though on the mac mini. and the dvd player.
- inactive, on 05/29/2009, -0/+3www.xbmc.org, you can run scripts that let you stream CNN, Hulu, CBS, Etc, but the UI sucks (for navigating streaming sites), which is like navigating an FTP site. And the scripts often need to be updated (once a month?) to keep up with whatever Hulu is doing to prevent such access.
- Sol1, on 05/29/2009, -0/+3Yeah, because DNS has nothing to do with the region restrictions sites like Hulu use. They know your IP is from outside the US. DNS is just name resolution.
- cawpin, on 05/29/2009, -0/+3Any PC made in the last 15 years has a PCI slot, any in the last 10 have AGP. You can find video card and sound card to hook it up to anything you need.
- DimensionalPunk, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2My HTPC has a 45 Watt X2 and doesn't need anything more. The only thing that uses the CPU is Media Portals GUI.
- realillusions, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2You don't need Windows to run a computer.
- bdejong11129, on 05/29/2009, -2/+4I use a 350.00 HP refurb from Tiger to run my media center. It had a triple core Phenom, with 3GB of ram, the built in video was crap so I added a 50.00 Nvidia 7600GT card to it. I use Vista Media center with (2)-Dual tuner ATI 650 PCI-E card. I can record 2 HD and 2 SD channels at the same time, while watching a recording or movie from my file server.
Remote is a Logitech 550 using a simple IR detector from a media center remote kit.
Been running this for 9 months and love it. Pause, rewind, guide, its all there. Spent a little over 500.00 for it all and it has already paid for itself with no cable bill.
Was very plug and play. took no time to setup and everyone can use it with no trouble. Plays all my music, video files in any format and I can use my 360 with media center to watch tv on any other tv in the house. - lex0nyc, on 05/29/2009, -0/+2VGA to DVI adapter - $5.99
- mikemehak, on 05/29/2009, -1/+3or use a free proxy...
- Suzilla, on 05/29/2009, -0/+2Yup. Thanks. Saw earlier comment and will check it out. Is this based on MythTV? I've always found that to be much promise, with little pay-out. I'm particularly interested in setting up a digital library for a group I know of who have many tapes and dvds of recordings going back many years. Thought this might work for that.
- mrBitch, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2@ Snap65, RE: " .. BOXEE: So I hear you got dumped?
XBMC: yeah that whore HULU dumped me.
BOXEE: That's what I heard.
HULU: Hi guys!
XBMC: Ahhh crap. "
You should seriously think about firing off a few script proposals to NBC, can't hurt to try... - Tek12, on 05/29/2009, -0/+2Some suggestions then please?
- frontaxle, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2Correct me if I am wrong, but the network latency and number of hops that this adds makes me wonder about spinning beachballs on the old Mac.
Google allocates me to google.ca not google.com. We get some server cluster in a closet in Regina, Saskatchewan - inactive, on 05/29/2009, -0/+2No, not based or affiliated with MythTV, which I would say, for Linux, is a better option. Both are very nice, but MythTV will record TV, where XBMC is strictly a media player. I still use my original Xbox running XBMC, havent found a better device that matches or beats combo.
The biggest problem with XBMC is the freaking remote control, it can be a pain in the ass to get running, but thats what their forums are for. I personally bought an old Xbox to USB adaptor for my Windows based XBMC system, so I basically keep the old remote (or use DVR/RCA universal remote control codes). PC is hidden away, with the Remote Sensor latched onto the side of my HDTV & using an External USB DVD-RW, it keeps things fairly minimal. I can play 720p files on the HDTV while streaming SDTV content to my old Xbox running another version of XBMC.
I recently upgraded to 4 TB on that system and I need more. You also get teardrop audio visuals that make WATCHING music pretty cool, especially if your a braindead hippie. - D3koy, on 05/29/2009, -0/+2 I was all excited thinking Boxee was ready and I missed the windows launch. Lame...
- ChunkerMunker, on 05/30/2009, -1/+3 Plex>>>>>>>>>> Boxee
Just install Plex on your Macbook/mini, buy the necessary cable (under $30 depending on what your tv output is), buy a $5 audio cable and voila!
You can either connect an ethernet cable or stream via wifi.
Your entertainment center just got a huge upgrade. - Subduction, on 05/30/2009, -0/+2Sigh.
PureVPN.com
FlashVPN.com
MadVPN.com
You and I have access to the same Google... - kreneskyp, on 05/30/2009, -0/+1boxee works on linux. though be prepared to fight with the sound. Some apps work for me. others have no sound and the video plays at 2X. Boxee is still an alpha program though so quirks are expected
- carlosos, on 05/30/2009, -0/+1But you need it for Hulu desktop at the moment.
- carlosos, on 05/30/2009, -0/+1My HTPC from about a year ago:
1 x ($49.99) CASE ROSEWILL|R379-SM RETAIL - Retail
$49.99
1 x ($21.99) DIGI M/R ANYWARE HA-IR01SV R - Retail
$21.99
1 x ($59.99) CPU AMD|A64 X2 4850E 2.5G AM2 R - Retail
$59.99
1 x ($66.99) MB FOXCONN A7GM-S AM2+ 780G RT - Retail
$66.99
1 x ($34.99) MEM 1Gx2|OCZ DII1066OCZ2N10662GK R - Retail
$34.99
Total Amount: $245.96 (including shipping)
Great setup for a lot less than the article mentioned. I had a spare hard drive and remote control but the article already paid that much just for the case and those parts are now after one year much cheaper! - kierucom, on 05/29/2009, -6/+7For a non-pc alternative you can also just purchase a Mac Mini ($599) and a Apple remote ($19). Boxee and Hulu accept input commands from the remote, so it's pretty easy to use from your couch.
- dizilbdog, on 05/29/2009, -2/+3I just hooked up my Macbook Pro using an DVI to HDMI to my 40inch Samsung, and then I'm using my logitech speakers for sound, and then use boxee to stream my movies which i've downloaded some 1080p which Boxee will play even though they are VLC it's working out nicely, and I use my old iPhone as a remote for boxee, and Remote Tap.
- esc27, on 05/29/2009, -0/+1Shame Boxee only really supports mac and Ubuntu (no widespread linux support, source code is barely usable...) And the Hulu desktop is only Mac and Windows.
- christinme, on 06/01/2009, -0/+1extremely thorough. I like it. I am thinking of building one of these and thought about going with the atom but I was never fond of intel and have ALWAYS used amd. I will stick with amd now that I now it will hand HD better. Thanks for the article.
- Warom, on 05/29/2009, -0/+1A phenom isn't too bad, I mean you can get a phenom X3 8650 for the same price of a AMD 64 X2 and performance is pretty much similar. I think the phenom has been given an awful lot of hate when really it isn't too bad especially for the price it was lowered to after phenom II was released.
- t0ny, on 05/29/2009, -0/+1I love my AppleTV I just wish flash was not so slow on it.
@FirstOne1 If you have a Linux computer you can use dvd fs ( http://jspenguin.org:81/dvdfs/ ) and then share the dvd over samba and play it with XBMC on the AppleTV :). - trane262, on 05/29/2009, -1/+2
F Charter - jihadjohnson, on 05/31/2009, -0/+1"Windows, Linux, Mac. Pick a flavor & install. The default UI isnt that pretty, but you can replace it with a variet of existing themes/skins."
For Example;
http://www.aeonproject.com/ -
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