Acer eMachines ER1402

I wonder if it has 8 channel PCM audio like ION does?

If it is the 720a chipset then it should have 8-channel sound, DTS-HD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NForce_700#nForce_720a

I've decided to take a punt and get one and I will certainly report back when I've found out how it goes.

Okay, got it today. Booted straight up in XBMC Live off a USB stick, went straight to some 1080p HD video on the network and playback was perfect, presumably using VDPAU (video was just set to "auto").

5.1 sound through spdif, video through HDMI. I deliberately selected video that is a bit demanding.

Awesome value for $302 US. This is an ER1401, which runs the dual core K325.

Still some config to do to get an IR remote happening but it's not really that much of a hassle since it comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse anyway. So if you get your USB stick ready in advance it is pretty much XBMC in HD straight out of the box.

I'll post up any issues should they arise.

Jason

Will this do audio over hdmi, seriously considering getting one of these from the same place you did, how long was delivery from Taiwan?

anthropoidape Wrote:Okay, got it today. Booted straight up in XBMC Live off a USB stick, went straight to some 1080p HD video on the network and playback was perfect, presumably using VDPAU (video was just set to "auto").

5.1 sound through spdif, video through HDMI. I deliberately selected video that is a bit demanding.

Awesome value for $302 US. This is an ER1401, which runs the dual core K325.

Still some config to do to get an IR remote happening but it's not really that much of a hassle since it comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse anyway. So if you get your USB stick ready in advance it is pretty much XBMC in HD straight out of the box.

I'll post up any issues should they arise.

Jason

Hi Tony, it definitely sends sound through the HDMI although my setup means that I can't confirm 100% that it's 5.1 rather than stereo. However I assume the HDMI stuff is just normal Nvidia gear so it will work the same way as the R3610 etc that people are using. I am just using the SPDIF because that's what my receiver uses. In fact for me the only necessary tweak in XBMC Live was switching audio from analog to digital.

Delivery from Taiwan (to Australia) was impressively quick, less than a week. You get a tracking number although it doesn't appear in the tracking system for about a day.

Considering this cost the same as my friend's Revo R3610, and is basically the same thing but with a better CPU, it is a really good value bit of gear imho. I give it a big thumbs up.

anthropoidape Wrote:Okay, got it today. Booted straight up in XBMC Live off a USB stick, went straight to some 1080p HD video on the network and playback was perfect, presumably using VDPAU (video was just set to "auto").

5.1 sound through spdif, video through HDMI. I deliberately selected video that is a bit demanding.

Awesome value for $302 US. This is an ER1401, which runs the dual core K325.

Still some config to do to get an IR remote happening but it's not really that much of a hassle since it comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse anyway. So if you get your USB stick ready in advance it is pretty much XBMC in HD straight out of the box.

I'll post up any issues should they arise.

Jason

Where did you get this for $300 I would be really interested in purchasing it

xbmcevo Wrote:Where did you get this for $300 I would be really interested in purchasing it

They are on ebay mate, from a seller called "funnybom-us" based in Taiwan.

I didn't want to promote a particular seller but yeah that is where I got mine from. It is the same company as 23port.com who were previously selling the Revo 3610 at a good price on ebay as well (they suggested the ER1401 to me and directed me to the funny-bom ebay ad).

For anyone making an offer they are asking $309 US with best offer, I offered $299 and they counter-offered $302.

The thing is that it's really not a bad little PC either.

FWIW there are two minor negatives, one is that the stand that holds it vertical is not that sturdy, the other is that if you take that stand off and just lie it flat it has a curved shape so it doesn't sit that well. It also comes with a sort of bracket/case that lets you mount it to the back of a monitor. For me none of this matters because it's tucked in behind my amp, which you can do because the IR receiver is remote anyway. So all you see is the remote receiver.

Question: Is the USB IR Receiver of a type that XBMC can recognise? - therefore being able to program a universal remote with it and use for XBMC?

I previously bought an r3610 from 23port and the remote is the only part I've not every been able to get working due to not being able to find a suitable USB IR Receiver for cheap in Aus. I'm about to build one of these for a friend and it would be very handy if this came with just about everything required in the box.

Cheers.

AFAIK all that comes with it is the receiver for the wireless keyboard/mouse. This works but it is not IR I don't think.

I have successfully installed a Dvico IR receiver I had spare and it works, but the remote itself is lousy (it lacks an enter/okay button!). This came bundled with an old TV card I had. So I have ordered an HP MCE remote and receiver off ebay, about $30 delivered. I will let you know how I go with it when it arrives.

My expectation is that this should basically work without even needing any config, just a clean LIRC install should do it.