[mythtv-users] HP Thin Client as Frontend

[Greg]

> 
> Greg wrote:
> > Has anyone looked into using one of these as a frontend?
> > 
> _http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/sm/WF05a/35123-342039-342039-342
> > 039-637507-12733734.html_
> > 
> 
> Don't see why it wouldn't work - couldn't find the pricing 
> online though.  That could be a big issue - you can build an 
> EPIA for $300.
> 
> One issue with the HP is that it doesn't have any info on hardware
> MPEG-2 decoding - which would probably be nice (although at 
> 1GHz probably unnecessary).  It also doesn't seem to have 
> SPDIF or S-Video out - so you're limited to 2-channel sound 
> and will need a VGA-TV converter (add $50 to the price).
> 
> It seems like the ideal box would be designed for multimedia 
> - the outputs would be important since converters are 
> expensive and bulky (the two reasons for using an embedded 
> front-end).  Hardware MPEG2/4 would be nice as well.  A 
> built-in IR receiver would be great.  You'd need maybe 256MB 
> of flash for MythTV and another 128-256MB of RAM.  Distros 
> like minimyth support grabbing everything over the network, 
> so you can tradeoff one for the other (my EPIA has no durable 
> storage at all - just PXE booting and it is really quick 
> especially since it stays on 99% of the time anyway).

I suppose so, I'm not too familiar with epia stuff, I may have a look into
it.
The HP hasn't been released yet by the looks of it, but it is very small and
has a low power consumption, you can also buy an addon module to add a PCI
card, which would sort out the video out problem. As you say Epia may be the
better/more flexible option.

Greg