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Mini home theater client PC
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ChadTower:

So, having this big LCD monitor in my bedroom has gotten me thinking.  It would be very useful to me to have a small client PC next to it that I could use to stream content from the main PC downstairs.  I don't need to store anything locally, except maybe presumably what I'm actually watching and one or two other things.  Don't need DVR or any tuners, just players for stuff like DivX/DVD/other digital formats.  The monitor has a VGA in (used it last night, it's brilliant) so I don't need a video card with TV out.  There is a network jack 3 feet from the LCD.

I'm thinking that something with a stripped down Linux kernel would need the least amount of horsepower.  A smallish hard drive, moderate RAM, and a DVD drive.  Probably a wireless keyboard/mouse combo so they can be put in a drawer when not needed.  PC powered down unless in actual use.  That, or maybe a laptop with a broken screen, so that it's all integrated and small.

Anyone have any thoughts/recommendations?
SNAAKE:
two words - modded xbox
Plays pretty much any format videos,dvds,music. get a wireless control or a remote control which works for xbox media center 360.

(I mod xboxes like everyday and I can hook you up too)
ChadTower:

I have an Xbox and thought about that... but the real advantage to the Xbox for that is that it has an integrated TV out, yes?  I'd like to take advantage of the VGA capability of the LCD.  If I used an Xbox for that it would be translated to 15khz and then I'd have to convert it back to VGA.

Or am I missing something?  An app like XBMC that runs on a linux kernel would be enough.
ChadTower:

VideoLAN.

Worth a look. 
SNAAKE:
xbox outputs vga www.x2vga.com

problem solved and looks great. you can stream media through network too.
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