My computer is a lousy TV

gittist

SatelliteGuys Pro
Original poster
Apr 30, 2014
164
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Pennsylvania
and my TV is a lousy computer. Watching video on my computer is generally pretty good but I' stuck at my desk with an 18 inch monitor and poor sound. Watching video on the TV is good but slow to get to using a ROKU and of course I can't do an internet search.

What's the happy (or tolerable) middle ground?

My ideal would be a box (small CPU only for internet?) attached to the TV with a wireless keyboard that can access the internet with the speed of my 5 year old computer. It doesn't need word processing,spreadsheets, or gaming packages, just a raw internet connection and some speed.

Suggestions?
 
Consider something like an Android TV box. Doesn't have all the channel support of a Roku, but the computer-like stuff is all there and the keyboard and pointing device choices are endless.

Best of all, you can get a pretty decent setup for under $100 (depending on your keyboard choice).
 
Check out the Intel Compute Stick-

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/compute-stick/intel-compute-stick.html

IMG_0108.JPG



Sent from my iPad using the SatelliteGuys app!
 
So you've found HIDs (keyboard, pointing device) that will work at that distance?
I don't use a wireless input device. (they suk) I'm line of sight from the desk to the big TV in the living-room. I pull up the video I want and go sit down and watch it. I don't surf web videos on the TV much. Primary use of the cable is to watch satellite feeds of my local college teams. I have a DVBS2 tuner in my computer connected to a 10' C/Ku dish :)
 
I keep a tablet (iPad) near my TV watching position for those times I have an urgent need to look something up online.
 
That's your problem dude.
The problem with what you offered is that you substantially ignored what the TS specified: a device that attached directly (presumably not between rooms) to the TV and provided a wireless keyboard to facilitate searching on the Internet.

Years back, this might have been a Web TV or a Logitech Revue. Now that baton has passed to Android TV devices -- either boxes or sticks.

If the computer is five years old, it may or may not support HDMI and that could make anything involving sound an issue in addition to requiring more bits and pieces.
 
Based on what I've read online, it'll cost well over a $100 to get the right Android TV box, the wireless keyboard/mouse will go about $20 to $40. Apparently there are a bunch of faux boxes out there. Is the value of browsing the web on the TV that high? Running an HDMI (RGB?) cable seems to be the best idea and get a wireless keyboard with a mouse pad on it. It'll be cheaper and uses the equipment already on hand, for the most part.

If running the cable isn't effective, one really needs to ask themselves if it is worth spending over $100 just to browse on the TV.
 
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Based on what I've read online, it'll cost well over a $100 to get the right Android TV box, the wireless keyboard/mouse will go about $20 to $40.
The hot value right now is the Beelink GT1. I bought a 3GB model for under $70.
Is the value of browsing the web on the TV that high?
I would imagine that's what the TS is trying to determine.
Running an HDMI (RGB?) cable seems to be the best idea and get a wireless keyboard with a mouse pad on it.
A wireless keyboard that will work a computer more than a few feet away and through walls may not be a trivial (nor inexpensive) acquisition and represents one of the bigger problems of meeting the criteria set out. Many of the cheap wireless configurations beg for a near LOS situation to the receiver and if your floorplan isn't entirely open, that can be an issue.

If we assume that the HID gear is the same either way, how much is a good HDMI connection going to cost? Going wired at 40' looks like about $40 on up plus whatever frustration is involved in placing it.
It'll be cheaper and uses the equipment already on hand, for the most part.
That depends substantially on how much a reliable HID solution. Having to buy a USB extension cable to go with an HDMI cable represents additional money and effort.
If running the cable isn't effective, one really needs to ask themselves if it is worth spending over $100 just to browse on the TV.
Outside of your somewhat arbitrary money figure, it sounds like the TS has already gone there. Certainly cheaper than a PS4 or an Xbox. Also cheaper than buying a smart TV and being saddled with a TV remote to operate it.
 
A wireless keyboard that will work a computer more than a few feet away and through walls may not be a trivial (nor inexpensive) acquisition and represents one of the bigger problems of meeting the criteria set out.
No walls have been mentioned and Logitech has solutions that are relatively cheap, $20 to $30 for a keyboard with a pad.
Many of the cheap wireless configurations beg for a near LOS situation to the receiver and if your floorplan isn't entirely open, that can be an issue.
And if he lives in a home with shielded walls and nuclear missiles...

If we assume that the HID gear is the same either way, how much is a good HDMI connection going to cost?
What, $20? HDMI cables through Amazon are real cheap.
Going wired at 40' looks like about $40 on up plus whatever frustration is involved in placing it.
Depending on his set up. And the HDMI cable would go around $20.
That depends substantially on how much a reliable HID solution. Having to buy a USB extension cable to go with an HDMI cable represents additional money and effort.Outside of your somewhat arbitrary money figure, it sounds like the TS has already gone there. Certainly cheaper than a PS4 or an Xbox. Also cheaper than buying a smart TV and being saddled with a TV remote to operate it.
And if he has curious little monkeys living in his home, it could create a real problem as they are notorious for getting snagged up in wires.

No details were offered, so I furthered a perspective regarding cost and keeping in context, the value of surfing on the TV. If they wanted to offer more details, those can be taken into account.
 
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