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Comment by deafpolygon | Hacker News Reader

The best streaming boxes these days? A not-too-outdated laptop that's been retired from everyday use. Sure, it's bulkier than your 'streaming box' but it can double-duty as a backup laptop for browsing or play some basic indie games on the TV. Install an ad-blocker, install your browser of choice. It probably already has Windows 10 or 11, so you're good to go - you can even install a VPN and unblock various regions for streaming services.

With a decent amount of on-board storage, and all of that - you can set it up to be an HTPC. Most laptops within the last 3-4 years will support 4k over HDMI. Those with a discrete GPU definitely will. If it has an integrated GPU, with intel 610 or newer - it most likely will.

You can buy a remote and an IR sensing dongle. Or go with a small handheld keyboard and touchpad.

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Hard disagree. I ran various HTPCs over the years, including Windows, and they're untenable with streaming. No remote control is any good at any web interface. Many services block surround sound and the highest resolutions on any full PC experience (Windows, Mac, Linux, whatever).

I'm forced to agree with the article's premise - everyone's gotten worse. I loved my NVIDIA Shield, but Google's UI refresh made it into another adfest like all the cheapest devices so there's no point in paying for the premium experience. I tried to use an XBox Series X which works fairly well but its apps are all neglected - Paramount Plus had subtitles broken for a long time, the back button works only half the time, and Plex will randomly flash static on the screen when streaming plain old h264 from the local network.

I've recently ordered an Apple TV, which is my last hope. If that's garbage, perhaps it's time to stick to my new year's resolution and stop watching things on the TV.

> Many services block surround sound and the highest resolutions on any full PC experience

I have 4k streaming from Netflix, Disney, Prime. I don't know about sound, but as far as resolution is concerned, I'm fine here.

> I'm forced to agree with the article's premise - everyone's gotten worse.

I also agree. Windows has native apps for most of the streaming services - have you tried that? You get full 4k, audio and all the usual bits (as far as I'm aware, but I haven't tested).

> Plex will randomly flash static on the screen when streaming plain old h264 from the local network

I have not experienced this.

> I have 4k streaming from Netflix, Disney, Prime.

No you don't. Disney and Prime both only stream in HD in the browser/Windows App and Netflix requires Edge or Safari to stream in 4K and is limited to 720p in Chrome.

I have a really hard time telling the difference.

Edit: in the "App Setting" on the Edge browser, it says up to 4k UHD. On the Windows Store App, in the same place, it says "Up to HD". I use the browser most of the time, and if I'm only getting HD then it's just really good.

>I have not experienced this.

AV setups are a pain to debug and I have no patience for it. Something in the Plex -> XBox -> HDMI Cable -> Receiver -> TV pipeline has issues, and it's only Plex on the XBox. Plex on any other device (including Android devices hooked up to the receiver/TV) are fine. Other apps on the XBox are fine.

I also have massive issues getting content to direct play on my XBox that worked fine on my Shield similar to this user: https://www.reddit.com/r/PleX/comments/xmg7xk/xbox_plex_why_...

I haven't tried the Windows apps lately, but with whatever they're calling the framework-formally-known-as-UWP I doubt they're much better than the XBox versions. Heck, I bet the XBox versions get more testing.

> Plex will randomly flash static on the screen when streaming plain old h264 from the local network.

Like, actual old school static like on an analog TV that's tuned to a dead channel? Because (with the exception of the HBO intro sequence), that really shouldn't be happening since the switch to digital.

What I want from a streaming box: I click a button, it wakes up, I can play whatever I want including stuff I downloaded (Plex). This is exactly what the Apple TV gives me.

What I don't want from a streaming box: Install updates, have a bulky laptop stand next to my tv, install an ad blocker, have a browser, add dongles to then use some control with many buttons.

>What I don't want from a streaming box: Install updates, have a bulky laptop stand next to my tv, install an ad blocker

You don't need an ad-blocker: you can just watch lots of annoying ads.

If you don't like that, you need an ad-blocker. Almost no one wants to give you a service that isn't full of ads. Remember, they promised this with cable TV back in the early 80s: "pay a monthly fee for our TV service and you'll never have to watch ads again!" It was a lie. Anyone promising the same today is also lying.

I'm using YouTube Premium, Netflix and Apple TV+, there's no ads on these services.

I'm using torrents and mpv, there's no ads on these services :sunglasses:

Yep, that's exactly what the cable TV subscribers said too.

Those who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

So what is your suggestion then? Not use streaming services at all because they potentially get ads in the future?

I don’t see any ads on my Apple TV

In the Apple TV interface, there are tiles for other shows and movies to watch, some of which I'd have to pay extra to watch. Which is totally an ad. If you have AppleTV+ you might not be seeing those as ads because you don't pay a la carte for each show.

I use exactly this setup with a Logitech K830 https://www.logitech.com/en-ca/products/keyboards/k830-illum... and I couldn't be happier. The keyboard is extremely robust (had it for about 10 years, spilt coffee on it once).

You can sit on the sofa, surf normal websites on your TV using the setup, etc. Connect various external HDs for any downloadable content, run programs to do said downloading, use VLC, etc.

I have a 1080p TV and run Windows at 200% on it, sure there's not that much room for content but for casual surfing and file browsing etc. it's fine.

The premise is that they all suck because of things like universal search that isn't universal. That's a pretty minor complaint.

A laptop connected to your tv works pretty well, but its a far more fiddly experience than any of the streaming boxes. If it works for you that's great, but if you were to try and sell it as a competitor to apple tv or Roku you'd be laughed out of town for the terrible UX.

> if you were to try and sell it as a competitor

I never claimed it has the superior UX. It will never be, probably. As a product, it's not a HTPC - it's a laptop.

Not the best option honestly, a lot of services offer a crippled experience through the browser or on desktop OSs in general. Not to mention HDMI copy protection and the ever-evolving requirements to circumvent it.

For the moment I'm happy with my Apple TV and Plex/Jellyfin, but the situation feels a bit precarious.

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