Good Cheap PC to play MP3s and MP4 video? (Was: OT Mac Mini obsolescent?)

[Michael Butash]

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 at 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 at 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 at 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 at 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 at 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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