Toying with the idea of putting together a stand-alone video streaming system for Netflix and Amazon Prime.

My Windows 7 computer and 20 inch monitor are...satisfactory...but the seating leaves a lot to be desired. My wife has approved the concept of a separate screen in another room that will accommodate a recliner.

Interested primarily in a larger screen and the best device to process the video (probably another computer or re-purpose an older one I have). Don't need fancy audio as my high frequency hearing loss limits my ability to appreciate it anyway. I'll just use my Sennheiser wireless 'phones. In other words, this isn't even going to approach "home theater" level.

I'll likely run a hard wired connection to the room as my DSL speed is just adequate as it is and don't want wireless lag.

I'd like to keep the budget at or under $500.

Questions:

1. What size/type of monitor will provide optimal viewing quality within my budget?

2. Will an older computer running WinXP be fast enough? (Option B would be a new desktop with more RAM and a faster processor. They're pretty cheap these days)

3. Will onboard video be adequate or should I be looking at video cards?

4. Anything I'm not thinking of?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PHPaul,

You just want to play videos from Netflix and Amazon Prime?

Buy a Roku and plug it into a cheap TV.

If you can get away with WiFi, buy a $30 Roku Express.

If you really need hard-wired ethernet, buy a $100 Roku Ultra.

I'm not sure what you mean by "wireless lag," if your wireless access point is functioning properly and you have a halfway decent signal, there shouldn't be any noticeable difference in the quality of your connection between wired and wireless.

For just streaming Netflix/Prime:

Amazon Fire TV, $70 new or about $53 used:
https://www.amazon.com/all-new...300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Ethernet Adapter for Fire TV, $15:

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-...300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

You should have plenty of room in the budget for a nice TV.

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:
You just want to play videos from Netflix and Amazon Prime?

Buy a Roku and plug it into a cheap TV.

If you can get away with WiFi, buy a $30 Roku Express.

If you really need hard-wired ethernet, buy a $100 Roku Ultra.

See, that's why I ask here. Never even thought about that.

Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by lkdr1989:
For just streaming Netflix/Prime:

Amazon Fire TV, $70 new or about $53 used:
https://www.amazon.com/all-new...300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Ethernet Adapter for Fire TV, $15:

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-...300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

You should have plenty of room in the budget for a nice TV.

Nice, but...

I don't fully understand just how the "Alexa Voice Remote" relates to the full-blown Alexa, but I will tell you that there will NEVER be an Alexa or Echo Dot in my home. I'm guessing the remote has most, if not all, the functionality of the regular Alexa.

I do like the idea of a Fire stick and a nice TV tho. Maybe an older model with a manual remote?

sometime in July, Amazon will have a firestick for $25. buy one.
Wifi is fine for streaming, your internet will be the limiting factor.

You have to push a button to use the alexa on the firetv/stick remotes. it's not always on like the echo. It's benign as far as spying goes. Remotes suck batteries fast enough as it is, always-on mic would make battery life measured in days.

quote:

Originally posted by snidera:

Wifi is fine for streaming, your internet will be the limiting factor.

You have to push a button to use the alexa on the firetv/stick remotes. it's not always on like the echo. It's benign as far as spying goes. Remotes suck batteries fast enough as it is, always-on mic would make battery life measured in days.

Ah. Thanks.

I'm thinking hard about this deal.

I haven't seen the UI on the built-in FireTV televisions, but if you can try it out in the store and it is intuitive, then go for it. I've been very pleased with my FireTV's (currently running a Gen 1 FireTV, a Gen 3 FireTV, and 2 Fire sticks.) The FireTV is definitely an upgrade over the stick.

For the TV, a 43" TV @ 1080p resolution should be viewed from around 7-10' away. Multiply the diagonal measurement of the TV by about 1.5 to get the closest viewing distance and by 2.5 to get the farthest viewing distance. Then size according to your room. Bigger is usually better.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

For the TV, a 43" TV @ 1080p resolution should be viewed from around 7-10' away.

That would fit in perfectly with the space we have in mind.

Fire TV remote-wise: just have a bunch of rechargeable AAAs on hand. I have a 2nd Gen Fire TV and it's remote lasts about 6-7 weeks at a time.

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

quote:

Originally posted by snidera:

Wifi is fine for streaming, your internet will be the limiting factor.

You have to push a button to use the alexa on the firetv/stick remotes. it's not always on like the echo. It's benign as far as spying goes. Remotes suck batteries fast enough as it is, always-on mic would make battery life measured in days.

Ah. Thanks.

I'm thinking hard about this deal.

Personally, I wouldn't buy a "smart" TV just for the streaming part...I'd buy the streaming device & TV separately.

Another point to make is that some newer model TVs can connect to your Internet and have apps to show Amazon/Netflix etc.

If you can find one of these in your budget, you wouldn't need the Roku/Amazon external hardware. And you'd wind up with one fewer remotes. I have some TVs with this functionality in a rental house and it works great.

There could be issues if you want to connect to a source not supported by the built in TV app, so confirm that before buying the TV.

If in the future, you want a source not supported by the TV app, can always buy an external device then, by which time, due to the miracle of consumer electronics tech, they will be better/faster/cheaper (choose any three).

quote:

Originally posted by joel9507:
Another point to make is that some newer model TVs can connect to your Internet and have apps to show Amazon/Netflix etc.

Yeah, but then you're beholden to what they wish to provide, and some of them insinuate themselves into the streaming process, like Sony does with our Blu-ray player, which can lead to a sub-optimal experience.

Personally, I'd recommend keeping your display and streaming devices separate.

There are several TVs with Roku built in.
TCL units are highly rated at the price point they compete in.

Really don't like smart TV's. Our streaming experience was vastly improved with dedicated devices. We played with several and the fire TV won.

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by joel9507:
Another point to make is that some newer model TVs can connect to your Internet and have apps to show Amazon/Netflix etc.

If you can find one of these in your budget, you wouldn't need the Roku/Amazon external hardware. And you'd wind up with one fewer remotes. I have some TVs with this functionality in a rental house and it works great.

There could be issues if you want to connect to a source not supported by the built in TV app, so confirm that before buying the TV.

If in the future, you want a source not supported by the TV app, can always buy an external device then, by which time, due to the miracle of consumer electronics tech, they will be better/faster/cheaper (choose any three).

This. We have a 46" LG that came WiFi capable and built in apps for Netflix and Amazon Prime. I watch more TV on my 27" LG monitor than the TV and my wife does her thing on the big screen. It works out great for us. I'm watching the Stanley Cup game right now on the computer and my wife is getting dinner ready. PERFECT!

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:

quote:

Originally posted by snidera:

Wifi is fine for streaming, your internet will be the limiting factor.

You have to push a button to use the alexa on the firetv/stick remotes. it's not always on like the echo. It's benign as far as spying goes. Remotes suck batteries fast enough as it is, always-on mic would make battery life measured in days.

Ah. Thanks.

I'm thinking hard about this deal.

I suggest having a separate unit for your streaming from the TV itself.
After awhile they stop updating the software for the apps because the hardware can’t keep up. You still have a TV that works but your apps no longer function.
It is easier to just get a new streaming device when they quit supporting them.
I also suggest the Amazon FireTv over the Roku.
I much prefer the interface and am also a big Amazon Prime User so it caters to me better than the Roku. I have 2 Rokus and 2 FireTVs.
I jus sent back a Roku Premier Plus for another FireTV.

One problem I have with Amazon is the games they're already playing with streaming. (Re: Fight with Google.) Given this and their history I can easily see them someday playing games with streaming source alternatives to their own streaming service. So I'm avoiding Amazon Fire devices at the moment.

In fact: Lately I'm going out of my way to avoid Amazon wheneverI can reasonably do so. May even dump Prime when our current year is up.

Bottom line for me: I've a love/hate relationship with our Roku 3, but I'd be disinclined to replace it with a Fire thing. I think I'd go Apple TV, first.

Android TV devices might be ok, if you don't need/want Amazon Prime Video.

I would recommend a 50inch tv, android box and a 6 month subscription to vader streams or epic or gears of war. You can get all that around 6 hundred.

Then you have 2000 channels, nfl, nba, baseball, and every sport across the world, every show and movie as well as all the premium channels.

You would need 50 mps internet though.

I'd just get a smart tv that has good support for both. Our LG is 4k and 65" and was about $850. They're quite a bit less now. My mother-in-law bought the 55" version for about $500 a few months ago. It's an exceptional TV for the money. We both got them at Costco so they double the warranty and if you use your Costco Visa you'd double it again. So 4 years warranty...no extra cost!

Checked online and LG Model #55UK6500AUA is $529. Assuming it has the same web support you can just use the onboard apps for Netflix and Amazon (our 65" supports both).

With Rokus, and Fire available so inexpensively, there is no reason to pay the premium to get a "smart TV" These stand alone boxes work much better and if you want to upgrade in a few years it's just another $35 - $75 and you'r back on the leading edge. Granted you can plug a Roku into a smart TV (that's what we did with our Mitsubishi somewhat smart TV)which has much more functionality.

Apple TV is also an option if you buy a lot of media from the Apple store. A little more pricey than the other options but a solid piece of gear.

The thing to consider is what level of video your set is capable of. Don't spend a bunch to get a 4K High Def box when your TV is only capable of 1080. Unless of course you plan on upgrading the TV down the line but even at that, there will probably be better boxes available in a couple of years.