Apologies if this is the wrong instance for this.

Is there a best option for HTPC streaming solutions besides throwing Linux on an old desktop? Plugging in a desktop for streaming doesn’t work too well for wall mounted televisions. My options are mini PCs or a 3rd party streaming stick. Even a RasPi stick running OSMC should do the trick.

These 3rd party sticks online are extremely tempting for power and features but I’m concerned about embedded malware. Best option would be to wipe it and load OSMCor raspbian to ensure its clean. Anyone have experience with this?

Care to share your setup?

$14.41 | DQ06 ATV Mini TV Stick Android12 Allwinner H618 Quad Core Cortex A53 Support 8K Video 4K Wifi6 BT Voice Remote Smart TV Box | Link

Runner up: $12.90 | Orange Pi Zero 2 W 1GB RAM DDR4 Mini PC Allwinner H618 Orange Pi Zero 2W WiFi Bluetooth SBC Single Board Computer Zero2W | Link

Update: My ideal solution would be $20-$50 for a replacement to several fire sticks in my home. For a solution around $100 I’d just go with a old refurbished mini pc from ebay/amazon and throw full Linux on it.

Setting up Kodi via the linux OSMC distro or even Android TV both work. Might stream games with steam link. Eventually going to setup jellyfin in my home

Current Plan: Get a mini pc and mount it behind / near my television. Ideally I would prefer just a stick for a cleaner / cheaper solution.

$100 MiniPC - HP EliteDesk 800 65W G2 Business Mini PC Desktop Computer/Intel Quad-Core i5-6500T up to 3.1GHz/ 8GB DDR4 RAM/ 256GB SSD/WiFi/Bluetooth/USB 3.0/ Windows 10 Professional OS(Renewed) | Amazon

Photo of mini pc mounted behind a TV.

pulled from amazon reviewer

Update2:

Finally researched about the Orange Pi (rasp alternative) and the darn thing comes with full hdmi! Orange Pi 3B Full HDMI and SD / eMMC / M2 (sata3) slots!

Orange Pi 3B 4GB RAM Rockchip RK3566 Mini PC Quad-Core 64-bit WiFi+BLE Gigabit Run Android Linux OpenHarmony OS SBC Single Board https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805733558464.html

    • Landless2029@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      3·
      11 months ago

      Yeah my issue is I have fire sticks and I want to transition away from it. Instead of purchasing another mainstream device I was hoping there would a lemmy approved alternative.

      • Bobby Turkalino@lemmy.yachtsEnglish
        3·
        11 months ago

        I recently switched from fire stick to Roku and overall, it’s been a great move. The remote is my only gripe. Hate squishy rubber buttons.

        I understand your desire to not use a mainstream device, but personally, the last thing I want to do after a 10 hr work day of software debugging is sit down to watch TV, see some error messages, and find myself in a terminal troubleshooting network issues or whatever. I just want to watch TV.

        • Landless2029@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          Yeah it’s a balance between privacy/performance/time. When I say I don’t want a mainstream device. It’s I don’t want mainstream bloat on my device. These things never age well and they become unusable with all the bloat. My best path might be getting a regular device and either flashing the OS or debloating.

        • Landless2029@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          5·
          11 months ago

          I’m aware. I can do it right now with the fire sticks. But they run the crap, loaded with ADs, Kodi crashes and it’s amazon branded. I’ve been looking for replacements. Currently looking at ONN from walmart for a cheap solution or a orange pi 3 for a nicer small solution. After that I’d do a tiny pc.

          • Proxima_Centauri11@lemmy.worldEnglish
            6·
            11 months ago

            I just got an ONN, debloated it using ADB, changed launcher, used a button remapper app to remap the brand buttons, and it’s so clean now :D

              • Proxima_Centauri11@lemmy.worldEnglish
                3·
                11 months ago

                That’s actually the guide I used! The only difference is when I tried to connect to adb normally, it wouldn’t recognize the device, so I had to use adb over WiFi (Make sure your computer and ONN are on the same local network, then type “adb connect ONNIPADDRESS” (replacing ONNIPADDRESS with the ONN box IP address which you can find in Network Settings on the streaming box).

              • Auli@lemmy.caEnglish
                1·
                11 months ago

                But couldn’t you do this with the fire sticks you already have?

                • Landless2029@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
                  1·
                  11 months ago

                  The fire sticks I currently own are a few generations old. I have to unplug and replug two of them in to even use them. Initially I was hoping for a new $20-$40 device I wouldn’t have to spend several hours tinkering with to get it to play nicely. (Time is money after all)

                  But after the assistance from the other lemmings I’ve decided to try and work with the fire sticks I currently have just for the experience.

                  Once that fails I would purchase an ONN to replace my fire sticks and setup linux on a mini pc for my living room. Mini PC is already in place. Just need to learn more Linux. I might distro hop around.