2014-01-17, 21:42
I've been researching HTPC options for awhile now and while I'd like a powerful kickass system, it sounds like a basic Raspberry Pi with OpenElec or Raspbmc may be my best option. Ultimately, I'd like about four of these devices for different rooms so going the RPi route is appealing for cost too. I'm just going to be streaming online content and from a NAS via Plex or XBMC so no gaming or other intensive tasks. Surfing the web from the couch would be nice but not vital. I would like to have a remotes regardless. I could probably sort it out on my own but my days of having the time and interest of playing with hardware and software are about a decade in the rear view mirror.
So I guess my question is if anyone sells a product that has everything pre-installed on a flash drive or SD card so it's more or less plug and play. I know that kind of goes against the hands-on beauty of Raspberry Pi but I'm a slacker and paying a little more for a functioning XBMC system sounds more appealing than buying all the components individually and installing an OS + XBMC and configuring everything.
Or if the consensus is that RPi isn't going to be enough to perform well for one or two years, should I just suck it up and build a microATX setups?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
So I guess my question is if anyone sells a product that has everything pre-installed on a flash drive or SD card so it's more or less plug and play. I know that kind of goes against the hands-on beauty of Raspberry Pi but I'm a slacker and paying a little more for a functioning XBMC system sounds more appealing than buying all the components individually and installing an OS + XBMC and configuring everything.
Or if the consensus is that RPi isn't going to be enough to perform well for one or two years, should I just suck it up and build a microATX setups?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.