After spending the last few days, tinkering and trying to put together an HTPC for my family, I wasn’t able to get a smooth enough experience to match even our old, ad-filled, laggy, Roku. In particular, every streaming service I tried needed to be controlled almost exclusively by mouse, as everything has been reduced to electron apps/websites with little-to-no keyboard or controller navigation support. As such, I’m looking for other options, although considering how quickly these platforms change and how outdated a lot of the information available on them is its hard to single out the best options.
In particular, I’m looking to be able to:
- Use Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. Ideally other services too, since we tend to juggle subscriptions.
- Control it with a remote, controller, or similarly simple device
- Be able to cast to it from a phone
Does anyone have much experience with options for this - esspecially if you’ve tried multiple and can compare?
You were on the right track with the HTPC. It just needs an appropriate input device. I recommend:
The best “TV remote” in the world.
The simplest solution is Chromecast + device of your choosing. Followed by Apple TV, but I can’t remember if those can cast.
If youll spend a bit more, you can also get an Xbox one. You’ll get access to a multimedia device that has the Microsoft app store for subscriptions, it’s available as a Chromecast device, unfortunately Microsoft is nose diving hard right now, but I rarely play games on mine anymore.
I use a HTPC. Using a traditional mouse is the worst. For a long time I used a Mac Mini because the Apple Bluetooth trackpad is the only external trackpad I’ve ever used that’s any good.
Then I got a Bluetooth trackball mouse. It’s by far my favorite. It’s rugged, easy to toss around, and it just lives on a couch arm.
The only steaming device I have is a Chromecast that’s exclusively used to turn on and off the TV.
Do you have a link to a track ball mouse as an example of what you mean? What do you think are the pros and cons of using one?
Here’s the one I have:
I have another Logitech one that cost about $25.
I really, really like it. They’re really durable, easy for a kid to use, and pretty inexpensive.
Only con is if you drop it and the ball pops out, it can roll under the couch.
I still haven’t found something better than Chromecast that can stream obscure video sites (yar-har). Everything else seems to only accept large companies with dedicated apps (Netflix, YouTube, Crunchyroll, etc.). Unfortunately, with Google phasing out their Chromecasts, I might have to go back to a super long HDMI cord connected to my PC.
LG or Sony TV, never connected to the internet, with an Nvidia shield. There is nothing better at the moment.
Yeah, it’s a toss-up between the Nvidia Shield and the Apple TV 4K. Go with Nvidia if you want to be able to load your own custom launcher. Go with Apple TV 4K if you want ease of setup. Either one will be a workhorse of a device, both have robust app stores to run whatever streaming services you prefer, and both will run whatever custom media you want to throw at it via Plex, Kodi, or VLC’s network play.
