My wife and I have a pretty nice, fairly big, analog TV with nothing but RCA inputs. We like to watch Hulu using the Hulu app on my computer. But since I am doing a lot of contract SEO work lately, I could be working during these times (she clips coupons, so we don't count it as "quality" time necessarily). The problem is getting Hulu onto our TV. In addition to this consideration, we also want my wife's amazing but technologically inept mother to be able to access whatever entertainment upgrades we make, and when we rent our house out for IronMan, we want our renters to be able to use our cool new toys, too. Sometimes bragging about your entertainment center gets you renters secured for the next year faster, or gets you a higher price for your house.
I thought a lot about the old Apple TV + Boxee, but I can't tell if Netflix and Hulu will actually work on Boxee when it's hacked up onto the Apple TV. The new Apple TV is really cool, but content is still too rich for my blood. I want Hulu. And Netflix instant content too if possible. So if I'm going to run content from an Apple product to my TV it needs to be either my MacBook Pro or a Mac Mini (which, the new ones are really sweet and have HDMI outputs built in).
Here are the scenarios I've cooked up to try and get me Hulu on my TV so I can free up my computer to do SEO work while we watch our shows:
SETUP #1 - The ideal setup for everybody (renters, Mum, Wife, and Me), lots of perks, but expensive.
$199 23” flatscreen (may want to wall mount)$699 Mac Mini (brand new)
$4.49 HDMI cable
$69 Apple wireless keyboard
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$1040.49
SETUP #2 - Same as #1, but an older Mac Mini, sacrificing some performance for savings.
$199 23” flatscreen (may want to wall mount)
$355 Mac Mini (used older model)
SETUP #3 - Just adding an old Mac Mini to our current TV. Still all the functionality, and usable by everybody, but not as elegant, space-saving, or cool. We could add the TV later (effectively upgrading to SETUP #2).
SETUP #4 - New TV, but no Mac Mini - just hookups for our laptops. Great for us, and very elegant, but not usable by Margaret or renters. We could add the Mac Mini later (effectively upgrading to SETUP #1 or #2).
$199 23” flatscreen (may want to wall mount)
$4.49 HDMI cable
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$208.72
SETUP #5 - No new TV or Mac Mini - just hookups for our laptops to our current TV. Gets us Hulu on our TV, but nothing for Margaret or renters, and not guaranteed to work. Cheapest of the options.
$0.66 VGA to RCA adapter
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$10.17 There are more expensive converter boxes that are more likely to work, but for their prices ($200+), SETUP #4 is a better deal by far.
With one of the new TV setups, we could potentially sell our old TV to offset the cost. Which makes #4 very attractive, since it does the trick I was initially looking for, is fairly affordable (especially given the chance to sell our current TV), and is fully upgradable to my ideal (#1), should I ever run into more expendable money.
What do you think? Do you have any advice? Do you need any advice? Do you run a Mac-based entertainment center, and if so, what's your rig?
[iPhone TIP: Mobile Mouse Pro does a bang up job at transforming your iPhone into a mouse and keyboard for your Mac, which is just dang cool.]
checkout the Boxee Box! it will play hulu as well as other content. Not sure when it comes out, but I think it is supposed to be launched soon. Costs $199 preorder on Amazon.
ReplyDeletehttp://newteevee.com/2010/01/05/the-boxee-box-will-stream-1080p-play-hulu-videos/
http://www.boxee.tv/box
The Boxee Box looks really really well thought through and well executed. (I wonder if they need investors?) This would present an alternative to SETUP #3 for me, and for about half the price, but the site says that though it has RCA audio out, it "only" has HDMI video out. This means that just getting a Boxee Box wouldn't be enough, I would have to get a new TV too. This would make it more of an alternate to SETUP #1, but for less than the cost of SETUP #3:
ReplyDeleteSETUP #1' - Another ideal setup for everybody (renters, Margaret, Lindsey, and Louis), but without the new computer, and more affordable.
$199 23” flatscreen (may want to wall mount)
$199 Boxee Box
$4.49 HDMI cable
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$402.49
Even if I got the new TV now, and the adapter and cable necessary to use my computer until the Boxee Box release, and then got the Boxee Box, it would still be one of the most affordable and beneficial options for me (as much as I want an excuse to buy a new Mac). I will probably go this route.
Keep the comments coming, though! I am interested in hearing about people's experiences with different TV's and boxes, the Mac Min, Apple TV, Netflix, Hulu, Hulu plus, etc. etc.!
While MobileMouse Pro is great for the iPhone, the Apple Remote does a fine job with the Hulu Desktop app.
ReplyDeleteHere's a good article from Wired Magazine on how to choose your perfect TV setup.
If you can seriously get a flat screen that cheap nowadays, I wouldn't expect to sell your old TV for very much. $25 maybe?
I think you should definitely get a box of some sort, to appeal to your renters and Margaret. You should also probably type up a simple laminated instruction sheet somewhere near for those who aren't going to get it.
I wound up getting:
ReplyDelete$189.98 Mac Mini (eBay)
$27.99 Apple Wireless Might Mouse (eBay)
$32.72 Apple Wireless Keyboard (eBay)
$2.69 S-Video cable (Amazon) (I already have a DVI-RCA/S-Video adapter)
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$253.38
…for everything out the door, and I can use my current TV, which is bigger and doesn't cost me any more money (though it is not 1080p HD). And I still have the option of buying a new TV in the future if I want. I feel like I got a pretty good deal, since it is essentially SETUP #3, but for a $239.62 savings and an option to upgrade to SETUP #2 down the line. I still support the Boxee Box, but the Mini can run the Boxee software + do everything a full blown Mac can do.
Good call on the laminated instruction sheet!
ReplyDelete