Is There Such A Thing As An 'Internet Box' For The TV?

[im]

Rather than having to constantly plug & unplug my Laptop into the TV to get the internet on a big screen is there such a thing as a dedictaed 'Internet Box'.

Kinda like a DVD or Blue Ray or Sky box, something that I could just stick in my AV Cabinet and it would always be there ready to roll.

My Samsung Blue Ray player will take me on line to get player-related-updates or go to a couple of selected sites only ie: You Tube but I'm looking for a more comprehensive & permanent solution for the lounge.

All ideas greatfully received.

[Dave^]

Sounds like you need a 'NetTop'...

ETA - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nettop

Edited by Dave^ on Monday 1st March 12:09

[Xenocide]

You're best off getting a shuttle PC or sony media pc with wireless keyboard + inbuilt mouse.

[Plotloss]

What is it you actually want to be able to do?

[Hugo a Gogo]

you can get a computer that's like a netbox internals, without a keyboard or screen, that bolts onto the back of your telly, using the standard holes for the brackets

then you use a remote keyboard and mouse

they were selling them here in aldi for about 200euros

dunno what they're called though

hth

[im]

Surf the net (PH, Shopping, Banking, Hotmail etc) from my front room TV and perhaps play the odd on-line game - although I could live without that particular functionality if I had to.

Cheers

[Hugo a Gogo]

you can surf tinternet from a wii nowadays, piss awkward without a keyboard though

[im]

So is the consensus that for simple, basic surfing only a Nettop is fine but for more resource hungry net apps (ie gaming) I'll need a smallish desktop PC?

[cs02rm0]

I just plug in an old desktop with Linux installed on it. Great for web browsing, iplayer, etc. Can even hook the wiimote up to it.

[Stevenj214]

Something like this perhaps?

[bogie]

Intel are trying to sell the idea of streaming to an adapter that you leave plugged in to the TV ...then sit wherever you like with your laptop on the TV screen...Netgear are making the adapters ...looks pretty cool, except you need an Intel graphics adapter in the laptop .....

http://www.netgear.com/Products/Entertainment/Digi...

[Bullett]

im said:

Surf the net (PH, Shopping, Banking, Hotmail etc) from my front room TV and perhaps play the odd on-line game - although I could live without that particular functionality if I had to.

Cheers

A PS3? should do all of those with a question mark over the banking.
The browser works well generally but isn't as up to date as a PC, using a PC capable of modern games could be tricky if there is a noise/size sensitivity.

[Maxf]

Bullett said:

im said:

Surf the net (PH, Shopping, Banking, Hotmail etc) from my front room TV and perhaps play the odd on-line game - although I could live without that particular functionality if I had to.

Cheers

A PS3? should do all of those with a question mark over the banking.
The browser works well generally but isn't as up to date as a PC, using a PC capable of modern games could be tricky if there is a noise/size sensitivity.

I tried a PS3 but 4OD and ITV player don't seem to work with it.

[Dave^]

Maxf said:

Bullett said:

im said:

Surf the net (PH, Shopping, Banking, Hotmail etc) from my front room TV and perhaps play the odd on-line game - although I could live without that particular functionality if I had to.

Cheers

A PS3? should do all of those with a question mark over the banking.
The browser works well generally but isn't as up to date as a PC, using a PC capable of modern games could be tricky if there is a noise/size sensitivity.

I tried a PS3 but 4OD and ITV player don't seem to work with it.

Have you tried http://www.youtube.com/shows ?

It's newish, I think...

I haven't tried it myself (yet) as I've just been searching to see if other Catch-Up services are going to make their way onto the PS3 and found this as a sort-of solution...


ETA - www.tvcatchup.com also seems to be quite popular... (same again though, I've not tried it yet myself!)

Edited by Dave^ on Wednesday 3rd March 09:20

[Bullett]

Nice One.

[Dave^]

Ok - I've tried these now (on the PS3).

The tvcatchup.com service, dispite it's name, is Live TV (most of the main Freeview channels) but are pretty poor quality... (The site was setup for iPhones I believe, so it might look good on a small screen, but looks cack on a 42.)

It also crashed my PS3 while trying to switch channels...

The YouTube service, is actually quite ferking good... Good quality, full series of Channel 4 (inc E4), and Five (inc Fiver and FiveUS etc).

I don't watch much live tv, so with the YouTube service and the iPlayer, all I'm really missing is ITV (Harry Hill) - I'm almost ready to ditch my Virgin TV Box!!

[mcflurry]

What about an eee box ?

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?q=eee+box&x=70&am...