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TV over Internet recommendation.
Bill_Pine
27-09-2010
Just wondering if someone could give me a heads-up on this one please.

Just got shot of Sky and got myself Freeview and Freesat now I'm looking at just a little something to compliment them both. Did notice Argos have the Apple TV in on the cheap but content starts from £2.49, £££ grabbing gits!!

Any thoughts on this one - talktalk?
masona2
27-09-2010
That is such a loaded question.

There are loads available,

But what do you actually want to watch, for a minimal amount of money?

The latest bang-up-to-date stuff, or more dated stuff you haven't watched before?
Bill_Pine
28-09-2010
Originally Posted by masona2:
“That is such a loaded question.

There are loads available,

But what do you actually want to watch, for a minimal amount of money?

The latest bang-up-to-date stuff, or more dated stuff you haven't watched before?”

OK primarily for the new season of Supernatural when it hits the UK. Basically just a realiable service with good content - films, tv shows and kids stuff...
Bill_Pine
29-09-2010
Anyone??
masona2
29-09-2010
Who are you with for your internet service?
Bill_Pine
29-09-2010
Dont laugh........

talktalk..
masona2
29-09-2010
Well,

This is my personal recomendation only...

Sky don't have on demand.

Virgin DO have on demand, but,

I've just been on their forum and a lot of VM customers complain they cannot access the service during peak-time.

I have BT Vision, which I find excellent and so do all of my family.

BUT, you do have to have a BT phoneline and BT broadband to get it.

Vision on demand packages start from only £7 per mth. For that you will get access to all the TV on demand content.

Not bang up-to date shows like Sky, but older content which is still excellent.

In the two years I have had the service, the box has only crashed once.

Oh, and you will be able to watch and record Freeview.
DJGM
30-09-2010
OP ... what sort of TV do you have ... a bog standard traditional CRT, or modern flat panel LCD/Plasma?
Bill_Pine
30-09-2010
Originally Posted by DJGM:
“OP ... what sort of TV do you have ... a bog standard traditional CRT, or modern flat panel LCD/Plasma?”


Got a 42" Panasonic Plasma.....
masona2
30-09-2010
Originally Posted by DJGM:
“OP ... what sort of TV do you have ... a bog standard traditional CRT, or modern flat panel LCD/Plasma?”

Sorry,

But why would this be important?
DJGM
01-10-2010
Originally Posted by DJGM:
“OP ... what sort of TV do you have ... a bog standard
traditional CRT, or modern flat panel LCD/Plasma?
”

Originally Posted by Bill_Pine:
“Got a 42" Panasonic Plasma.....
”

Originally Posted by masona2:
“Sorry,

But why would this be important?
”

Most modern LCD/Plasma TVs have a VGA input, so the OP could easily plug a secondary PC into
the TV (preferably a small form factor) install either VLC or XBMC, and play back pretty much any
video format you could possibly throw at it, rather than putting up with the various limitations of
multimedia STBs, especially proprietary and excessively restrictive junk like AppleTV.

Plus, full internet access via any standard preferred internet browser the OP chooses, including all
the popular video sites like YouTube and BBC iPlayer ... which is far better than a dumbed down
limited interface with a cherrypicked selection of services chosen by the TV manufacturer.

I recently bought a refurb'd HP Compaq DC770 (small form factor) PC especially for this purpose,
as the choice of internet video services and codec support on my Sony Bravia TV is very limited.
The HP PC is connected directly to my main PC upstairs (in a room directly above) via ethernet,
from which I can directly stream all my video stuff stored on its 1.5TB hard drive. The Bravia
always struggles to get an IP address even when it's directly connected via ethernet.

The HP DC770 SFF PC was only £80 (inc delivery) from Speedie Computers in Birmingham.
While it maybe somewhat larger than most multimedia STBs on the market ... it just works.
Bill_Pine
02-10-2010
Mmmmmmm, its a thought - but aside from iPlayer and YouTube where would the content come from?

Yes, I am pretty clueless when it come to new stuff
DJGM
02-10-2010
Pretty much wherever you want it to come from. Any video streaming website accessible through any
current internet browser (Mozilla, IE, Safari, Chrome, Opera) or directly from another PC or Mac on
your network with video files downloaded from various sources, both official and unofficial.

Get one of the computers I mentioned in my previous message, and if, like you say, you're clueless
with new tech stuff, get someone to get it all networked up for you. Don't use a "service" such as
the "TechGuys" from PC World or Currys. They really are clueless, and they'll overcharge you!

Use a local and trustworthy computer repair and services firm to set it. Me and my colleagues run
such a firm called Kitamura Computers, but we're based in northwest Manchester, so there'd be
a somewhat slightly higher than usual call out charge to come over to north Wales ... !
DJGM
02-10-2010
Something I was going to add to that last post (but can't as it's edit option has timed out) is an extra bit of
info about that HP Compaq DC770 SFF PC from Speedie Computers I mentioned in my earlier message.

I had actually ordered a DC7600 listed as having a 3.0GHz P4 CPU, 512MB RAM and a 40GB hard drive,
and was going to spend a bit extra upgrading the CPU, RAM, hard drive and graphics. The machine I
recieved was a DC770, with a 1.86GHz Core2Duo CPU, 1GB RAM and a 160GB hard drive!

I still intend to add some more RAM and a better graphics card. It comes with a mediocre Intel GMA950
onboard graphics chipset. As it was primarily designed as a business desktop workstation computer,
then a naff Gfx chip is to be expected, rather than a whizz bang ATi or nVidia PCI-E gfx card.

I'm looking at getting an ATi Radeon HD4350 for it ... not the latest, but it's good enough
Finn Mac cool
14-10-2010
DJGM is correct in their analyze, I have something similar although I spent over a grand on an i3 overclocked system with a GTX 460 1gb GDRR5 graphics card. I use it on an LG LF7700 and the picture quality is great, especially for the latest games, which is the reason I spent so much on the computer. It is all linked together using BT BB and network cards which are plug and play, the content is the best and from around the world.
r_mitchell85
14-10-2010
could you please give us a bit more info on where you source the additional content on these PCs?

I only know of the bbc Iplayer and 4od and 5od.

what other site would be useful for getting content? is it free? whats the picture quality like on a 42" tv?
hanssolo
14-10-2010
Try seesaw.com
Tesco.com (downloads) and Amazon's Lovefilm.com
hanssolo
14-10-2010
Originally Posted by masona2:
“Sky don't have on demand.”

They do to a PC skyplayer.com on a monthly contract!
masona2
14-10-2010
Originally Posted by hanssolo:
“They do to a PC skyplayer.com on a monthly contract!”

Apologies if this is wrong, but wouldn't that just be the equivalent of signing up to Sky?
r_mitchell85
14-10-2010
Originally Posted by masona2:
“Apologies if this is wrong, but wouldn't that just be the equivalent of signing up to Sky?”

pretty much. the cheapest option seems to be £14, which isnt too far off the price of the cheapest sky tv package.
r_mitchell85
14-10-2010
have been thinking about getting a PC for the living room.

could put a blu-ray player in it and do away with the blu ray player.
could even put a couple of tv cards in it, and do away with the pvr.

not sure how simple this would all be to put together and operate tho. still looking into it.
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