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LRa · 2012-07-31, 08:22

Hi,
I'm looking for a cheap(sub 100$) portable(atv size is possible) way to run xbmc. It should also support usb connectivity.

A friend recommended me the Raspberry Pi or the Allwinner A10. Are they good and do they work well with xbmc?

Thanks

artrafael · 2012-07-31, 08:39

Check out these forums/threads, among others:
http://forum.xbmc.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=164 (new Android support subforum)
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=113824
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=126995
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=134056

Use the SEARCH link at the top of the forum page to locate other threads regarding these products and how capable they are in running XBMC and various video formats.

LRa · 2012-07-31, 08:47

Thanks but I know how to use the search button.

I posted here since I saw at least 7 alternatives(only at first glance) that fit that category. So instead of going through countless threads, I posted a question on the forum, which is why there is such a thing as a forum.

artrafael · 2012-07-31, 08:53

That's fine, but if there's already a lot of discussion on these products (pros, cons, features, availability, maturity of the XBMC offering for a particular product), why not avail yourself of that wealth of information instead of asking people to rehash everything? That's another benefit of having forums.

LRa · 2012-07-31, 08:57

The reason is because it's very time consuming, although I did browse the forums before for 2-3 products, but couldn't get a straight answer(too much information. For example 2 of the 4 threads you linked to are 59 and 73 pages long).

artrafael · (This post was last modified: 2012-07-31, 09:04 by artrafael.)

Therein lies the rub! Wink

There isn't a simple answer and there are a lot of differing opinions. I think you'll end up with the same myriad of conflicting opinions/responses in this thread as you've seen in the other threads -- just duplicated!

LRa · 2012-07-31, 09:24

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.

~~Ned Scott~~ · 2012-07-31, 10:13

http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=136168

LRa · 2012-07-31, 15:29

(2012-07-31, 10:13)Ned Scott Wrote: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=136168

You're referring to XIOS?

Ferdi-T · 2012-07-31, 16:33

I'm using ATV2.0 and I'd reccommend it to anyone who already has a nas up and running.

LRa · 2012-07-31, 16:36

(2012-07-31, 16:33)Ferdi-T Wrote: I'm using ATV2.0 and I'd reccommend it to anyone who already has a nas up and running.

As far as I know it doesn't fully support 720p and has no usb connection...

**vicbitter** · 2012-07-31, 21:39

ATV2 does fully support 720p however there is no usb connection that can be used to connect an external HDD. However, you could put a NAS on your home network and access the content that way.

hawsey · (This post was last modified: 2012-07-31, 22:06 by hawsey.)

Raspberry pi is looking good for you :-) I just got mine and have installed a pre built image from some good fellow of openelec and it is playing 720p no problem; also if you have a TV with Anynet + the remote will also control xbmc.
It depends what you mean by portable but I also use an O2 Joggler running Linux Mint which auto boots in to XBMC which works very well , for those who don't know the Joggler is a 7 inch tablet sized mini pc with an Atom processor with a stand attached and is mains powered .It can run many OS,s including Xubuntu ,Joli , XP , Android (sort of ) ,Mint , Squeezeplay Os , PNPIII .
http://www.jogglerwiki.com/forum/ .

**PatK** · 2012-07-31, 22:34

Once Xios is released with XBMC, (it's ported, just the kinks are being worked out) it will become the top contender... it's supporting XBMC forums, and devs from XBMC are on this one.

MassIV · (This post was last modified: 2012-08-01, 00:04 by MassIV.)

(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 Nod

.

Just XBMC box, without options, thinking, or more then 20min of searching Tongue

-> 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 Tongue

.