I need to build my grandparents (both pairs) something that can sit on top of and connect to a TV. It only needs to be able to access the web, watch netflix movies online, and run Skype. What are some cheap options. Linux is no problem.

Any suggestions?

1/5/2009 11:36:01 PM

How much are you looking to spend? What type of tv is it? HD/SD? You could put together a pretty cheap htpc for $200-300. Or consider other options like popcorn hour.

1/6/2009 12:51:49 AM

Standard TV. I don't even need HTPC functionality. I just need for them to be able to surf the internet on their computer to watch YouTube videos that the family posts, read blogs, or visit websites.

I really just need to get some hardware ideas. I could piecemeal everything from newegg, but I didn't know if there was any other options.

[Edited on January 6, 2009 at 1:39 AM. Reason : ]

1/6/2009 1:38:59 AM

After the new mac minis are announced tomorrow you should be able to get the old ones for supercheap. Or perhaps a hacked Apple TV?

As much as I'd recommend the Popcorn hour to almost everyone, I wouldn't recommend it for this particular situation.

1/6/2009 1:44:22 AM

Start Here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220004

1/6/2009 11:55:25 AM

Quote :

"Start Here: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883220004"

I'm curious. Which device would you recommend that his grandparents use to convert the digital video signal to an analog composite (I'm assuming) or possibly even coax?

Apple apparently has a 20 dollar cable that can do this.

{edit}
Did some researching myself and found from eeeuser's forums that this device: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815117101 will do the trick coupled with a DVI -> VGA converter, but the quality will suck:

Quote :

"Cons: The text is hard to read. This unit is not for work or net serving."

[Edited on January 6, 2009 at 4:35 PM. Reason : reading is fun]

1/6/2009 4:29:26 PM

^ Text readability always sucks on televisions unless you jack the font sizes way up. Interfacing with the TV is as simple as a VGA to (DVI/component/whatever) adapter. The hardware of the EeeBox is sufficent for all the tasks the OP listed and it's cheap. The only thing it won't do is stream or decode High-Def video. You need beefier hardware for that

1/6/2009 6:19:41 PM

I still have /message_topic.aspx?topic=543665 if you're interested

1/6/2009 7:42:18 PM

^^^ Thanks, this is close to what I was looking for. If anyone else has any suggestions, please let me know.

1/6/2009 9:43:00 PM