I'd recommend even android devices as media renderers.

I bought an nvidia shield for my birthday, and I rather like it as a media player.  It shows up as a renderer for upnp/dlna/chromecast, and is the best kodi player out there (which can add airplay and other rendering).

As another option, at our office, I installed a few android sony tv's around our office that do mostly the same things, though no one really seems to utilize the features or know they're there.  They can be a chromecast receiver, miracast receiver, or generic dlna I've found by default, plus run most any android app.  Even their bluetooth beacons as an asset which I found interesting!  I rather want one of the 85" ones I put in personally, I grinned manically watching kodi launch on that 85" the first time.

The android 48" was pretty decent, like $800 bucks (4k/60hz, nice display, it's sony), and the 85" same specs I ended up working out a deal to get one for around $4500 bucks (seen $3500 refurb).  Much below the $9k retail price on the bugger, so deals can be worked even as a business expense.

Both my Shield and those tv's at work have been pretty cool so far.  The Shield does also does google assistant (if you like the creepy always-on mic wired-to-government sort of thing), and recently made it a samsung smartthings automation hub with a usb dongle addition.  I can install or sideload pretty much whatever, but lots of android apps don't like tablet-modes it seems to use.

-mb
  

On Wed, Dec 6, 2017 at 10:46 AM, Victor Odhner <vodhner@cox.net> wrote:
OK, I’ve decided on Linux. (No longer OT!)

I need recommendations on an adequate PC to run stereo music and videos (1920x1080 projector) for a church.

I decided that Linux would be best to ensure that we can have good performance and up-to-date software for this well-defined application. We wouldn’t be at the mercy of Apple or Microsoft dragging us around a sharp corner. My main backup guy has been using Linux (Mint, like me) for some years, and the apps are basic enough that our other users would be comfortable.

I’d like to keep this as cheap as reasonable, concentrating on solid quality (e.g. really adequate power supply) so that we wouldn’t have to worry about it for 5 to 10 years. I’d want all parts to be brand new, or almost.

Is there still a Linux systems store in the Valley? Should I just put together a box with parts from Fry’s or the Web?

Hey, is there someone out there who would like to give me a quote for an assembled box? (I have kb, monitor and mouse.)

Thanks,
Victor
_________________

On 20171130, at 14:55, Stephen Partington <cryptworks@gmail.com> wrote:

well if you are looking to maintain portability you can look at the Intel NUC. but really this relies entirely on what your budget is.

Looking at your existing application Digital Performer installs on Windows or OSX, also you can look into the Hackintosh. there are some build guides out there that run with a fully tested hardware configs to consider.

But the Mac mini is a viable system even with the age of the device.

On Thu, Nov 30, 2017 at 12:26 PM, Carruth, Rusty <Rusty.Carruth@smartm.com> wrote:

I’m not very happy with Micro$oft’s product, especially 10 (have you actually tried to install 10?  I have.  Goodness, talk about a step back into pre-history!  It refused to install because there was a CHANCE that it wouldn’t boot – even though I had just proven that it WOULD boot in that configuration – and no way to override their ‘help’!)

So, for me, its ‘buy the most powerful, RAM-loaded system I can manage (with SSD if possible), and install Linux Mint.

But that’s just me ;-)

From: PLUG-discuss [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces@lists.phxlinux.org] On Behalf Of David Schwartz
Sent: Thursday, November 30, 2017 12:23 PM
To: Main PLUG discussion list
Subject: Re: OT: Mac Mini obsolescent? When next release?

I’d be tempted to get an all-in-one Windows machine (most seem to have touch-screens now) or a small iMac.

AIO Windows machines are well under $1k.

Stick to the KISS principle here. :-)

-David Schwartz

On Nov 30, 2017, at 11:32 AM, Victor Odhner <vodhner@cox.net> wrote:

Spun off from the Genius discussion:

The Apple CEO reportedly says Mini is still part of their product line, but he won’t say anything about the next release.

I was another Mini shopper, for supportability and video resolution reasons. Our church music team needs to update a 2009 Mini. I want to get a new desktop (laptop wouldn’t fit our config): my goal is to give them hopefully 5+ years of reliable operation. Any comments would be welcome.

Now looking at ditching the Mini, going to Windows or Linux to drive our video projector (MPV rocks) and an MP3 player. The Mini is where our Digital Performer lives (music synthesizer), but I’ve converted most of our library to MP3s and I can still use the old Mini if I need to get creative.

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