I’ve recently cut the cable, done with the high cost of cable TV. I’m curious about the latest generation of Android Mini-PCs for streaming Netflix.
Anyone have first hand experience or recommendations?
Thanks
For netflix best to use dedicated box like roku. Mini-pcs have questionable long-term support.
I’m using WD TV Live for years.ItI can also play video files (mkv, avi and more) from USB drive or from a network drive.
If you’re willing to spend a little more (plurge $130 for a computer… 
), the Sero 7 Pro at walmart has hdmi out and has better quality and support than most of the android sticks from china.
If you want Netflix/Youtube then a chromecast would be a great choice. It costs 35 dollars, and with it you use your smartphone or computer to start the videos. I have a chromecast, an android stick, and a PC hooked up to my TV and the chromecast gets the most use since it is so easy to use (infact I'm using it right now to watch something on Netflix).
HDMI 1080p, great codec support, netflix etc, and has a 1tb internal drive.
Great little box.
Thanks for the suggestions.
My son’s using his PS3, my daughter her Wii and I’ve been using my ASUS tablet for Netflix, the problem has been my wife can’t remember how to operate the PS3 or Wii (depending on which TV used). A nurse with a Master’s degree, go figure!
I was looking for something simple to operate and settled on the WD TV, I think it will work fine.
I also ordered the Chromecast for myself, the tablet is a bit of a pain due to the cable connection to the TV. I’ll just use my desktop to operate the Chromecast. What can I say, I love gadgets!
Thanks again,
Matt
I used to see a lot of talk about the MK808 Being the best value for money on other forums I am a member of but I don’t have one.
I didn’t know Netflix did porn… :party:
I’m watching Netflix right now - Chromecast controlled by Galaxy S3, Nexus 7 or my PC. It’s pretty neat for $35 - especially if you can find it with 3 free months of Netflix.
I picked up the WD TV Live for my wife and Chromecast for myself. Both work really well once set up but the WD is the more intuitive stand-alone device. I should note, I was just looking for access to our Netflix account.
WD TV: just plug in, set up any network settings needed (security settings, etc.) and customize to your tastes or use as is. Simple user interface accessed via a familiar remote or an iOS or Android app.
Another advantage of the WD is that it comes with a composite cable so it can be used on older TVs without HDMI.
Chromecast was a bit more work but that is due to my own assumptions. My plan was to operate the Chromecast via my desktop PC which does not have a WiFi card, it’s hard-wired to my WiFi router so I didn’t thing there would be any problem. I was kind of right, you can operate Chromecast via a hard-wired PC as long as it’s on the same network as the Chromecast however you can not set up the PC to work with Chromecast without a wireless connection.
To clarify, even though I used my Android tablet to first set the Chromecast up on the network, when I tried to configure my PC the Google software would not allow me to do so without wireless.
I could see the Chromecast in my network on the PC and ping it from my PC but the software would still not allow me to set things up.
In the end I had to install/configure a network card in my desktop to run the set up software, less than a minute once the desktop was wireless. Then I removed the wireless card and just as I assumed, I can operate the Chromecase from my wired PC. Of course I had to install Google Chrome on the PC.
That said, Chromecase works well though I have to open the Chrome browser. If I wanted I could operate it from either my Android tablet or iPhone.
Hard to compare video quality, the WD is on a 50” Samsung, the Chromecast on a 24” Viewsonic. Picture quality is as good as I previously had on cable.
Price advantage has to go to the Chromecast, ease of use and versatility have to go to HD TV.
I’ve been having an adventure with a media PC, HTPC, for a couple years, and it never quite reached a OK to turn the whole family loose on it status. I would not do it the same knowing what I now know, but now that I know it, still not giving up. 
Roku has some deals right now, but black Friday isn’t too far away.
HTPC is most flexible. Android a bit less power. Roku even less with few apps for content. Chromecast is least useful. Only for Netflix/Youtube and needs another machine anyway, Google is locking it down hardcore. A broad screencasting solution like Miracast or Airplay is a better alternative, but only either for Android or Apple.