(2012-07-31, 09:24)LRa Wrote: Anyhow I just spent 20 minutes on the forums and couldn't get a straight answer. They go from no support yet to 720p works great :/
If someone can provide a simple answer, that would be nice.
There is no straight answer. And every time someone asks this it costs each person that responds 5 minutes times x threads.
Do you consider portable; what fits in a transport van, or what fits in a jeans pocket? (yeah you kinda answered that already)
Do you want Linux, Android, XBMCbuntu, OSX, iOS, Windows, or ...?
(They are not all free so that could cut costs, or you might want what you are used to, ect)
Do you want to build something or do you want to buy a box from a store?
Do you want both sound and video over the same HDMI cable, or do you need a different sound output for example?
Do you need hard disk storage space in there, should it be SSD, how big?
Do you want just XBMC, or do you also want to run a download program?
Ect.
And the cheapest product in the USA won't be the same as that in Europe or Asia.
Ect, ect. Multiplied by 50 different opinions = 75 pages, easily.
I would still recommend a self build htpc, dual Ivy M, with a small SSD, good Nvidia M card, running plain Ubuntu or Win7 (+ seedbox).
The cheapest, no.
Cheapest way to get best performance + extras + tuning + programs + games + most fun
.
Just XBMC box, without options, thinking, or more then 20min of searching
-> Clearly Apple -> ATV2.
(Hang an external HDD on your router)
Absolute cheapest way + lowest learning curve = pull a long HDMI cable from your desktop to the TV.
Other options, wait and see what android brings when this is mature.
Stuff like R-pi are more for people that like searching
.