(2014-10-10, 23:01)kwanbis Wrote: So my options are:
FireTV: $100
RK3288: $95
RPi: $80
For me it is between the FTV and the RPI. I like the FTV more because it is very nice looking, nice control, and much more powerful. I like the RPi because it is open and I don't risk amazon locking the bios.
Yes, the RPi is open, and don't get me wrong here because I do like my RPi, but it is also a single core arm SoC and has it's own limitations just due to that.
As far as the price though, the RPi can be cheaper, you don't really need case (I have run mine for 2 yrs with no case, hanging from the back of my TV from it's HDMI cable), or if your WDTV is dead, just open that case up and pull out the guts and with a little modification you could use it to mount your RPi. It just depends on whether you want something "pretty".
I would also keep this in mind, Androids new version will be released in a few months (Android "L" for phones and Tablets and Android TV for STB, TVs, etc.) which Android TV will bring a lot of new features and make things more "TV friendly". And although this is pure speculation on my part, I would be surprised if the AFTV doesn't get a Android TV or at the least a Fire OS based on Android TV update.
Yes, Amazon has already locked down the FW from being rootable (with latest FW), but root isn't really necessary to run XBMC and for everything else there is usually a work-around to make it work the way you want. I have mine rooted, but even if it wasn't it wouldn't effect the way I use it.
For one, I launch XBMC/Kodi and then never shut it down, so it's always on. And if want to launch another app, like Netflix, Hulu Plus or even games, I just do that from within XBMC and when done I just close that app and I'm back in XBMC. And there is always the possibility that someone will come along and figure out how to get it rooted again.