Raspberry Pi Model B (512MB RAM) £27.62 at Amazon

Duggy747

I got one a month ago and am well impressed with it, it's a fun thing to play with. Set up OpenElec, overclocked it to high, and had it connected to my TV powered by it's USB port using the CEC feature.

I have another SD card setup as an emulator machine but I have a Gamestop Xbox controller which there are no drivers for the particular one I have under Xboxdrv so that's on the back burner for the moment. Manual override doesn't do much either but I don't care much about that yet.

It has a similar setup as the HTPC and while it runs fine with smooth menus (the type of skin you use will impact it's performance), I still use the HTPC since it's far faster so the Pi was more like an experiment and thing to play with.

Then last night I forgot we had an old CRT TV in one of the spare rooms, put it into our bedroom, hooked up the Pi (disabled forcing HDMI and added sdtv_mode=2 to config.txt) via composite to scart and it works perfectly by being controlled by Yatse. Just have to put on some USB-powered speakers when I get home and that's the GF happy that she can watch her crap in bed, then. :pac:

Allyall

Nice case with Heatsink here for €2.80 delivered if anyone is looking for one.

maximoose

Finally got to play around with the box last night, forgot I'd need a wireless mouse initially but borrowed one and got it set up with Yatse on my phone and XBMC remote on my ipad.

Working great. Can move through the UI very smoothly, apps/add-ons load quickly and no more than a 2 sec wait to stream - although I have been using ethernet connection so far, yet to test it on the wireless adapter.

Another few hours setting up favourites and hooking up HDD and this thing will be a beast

illdoit2morrow

Allyall wrote: »

Nice case with Heatsink here for €2.80 delivered if anyone is looking for one.

Just bought three, I'll post a review when I get them.

Zardoz

Thinking of getting one of these but have a Smart tv with an external hard drive connected ,would the Pi be of any use to me ?

illdoit2morrow

Zardoz wrote: »

Thinking of getting one of these but have a Smart tv with an external hard drive connected ,would the Pi be of any use to me ?

It will connect to the TV via HDMI provided you have a spare slot, you'll still be able to connect the HD via USB.

loki7777

I think that is not the answer for his question - i also have smart tv(Sharp) but it lacks a lot when it goes about file formats(too many) and subtitles(not mentioning other things).
So the answer is Yes - it is a good investment - hassle free when it goes about playing movies, audio etc. on yours.
My will arrive next week:)

Sgt Pepper 64

illdoit2morrow wrote: »

It will connect to the TV via HDMI provided you have a spare slot, you'll still be able to connect the HD via USB.

I got my HDMI cable and my mini usb cable from the 2 euro shop for the price ......each! The blackberry curve one they sell works great, os its powered off my NAS, so it doesn't stop and start each time the telly is turned off or on plus its cheaper and neater than buying the proper power supply

Zardoz

loki7777 wrote: »

I think that is not the answer for his question - i also have smart tv(Sharp) but it lacks a lot when it goes about file formats(too many) and subtitles(not mentioning other things).
So the answer is Yes - it is a good investment - hassle free when it goes about playing movies, audio etc. on yours.
My will arrive next week:)

Thanks for that reply.
My tv plays most file formats ,I have a smart Bluray player too ,that plays everything .
Might just get the Pi to play around with it.

Sgt Pepper 64

Zardoz wrote: »

Thanks for that reply.
My tv plays most file formats ,I have a smart Bluray player too ,that plays everything .
Might just get the Pi to play around with it.

Its not just the playing. Its the fact that you can use XBMC on it.
That's the big "Win"
If you don't know about XBMC I suggest you download it (Its free) on your laptop and have a look.
Basically (And again I apologise if you know all this)
Its a great media interface as it not only plays all your files, but connects to the internet and gives you info on the films\tv series, like plot, actors, genre, year etc etc from like IMDB which is also searchable and sortable. It will queue up files, resume from when you left off, tell you which ones you have watched, which ones were recently added and does the same for music and your own pictures
Basically it blows your normal TV USB and BLuray player out of the sky.
Its pretty impressive, and its free. Different skins can be downloaded, its widely supported and constantly updated.

Once you go XBMC, you never go back!

illdoit2morrow

illdoit2morrow wrote: »

Just bought three, I'll post a review when I get them.

I got these cases, all good, heat sinks applied after watching a youtube video. The cases themselves have to be assembled. It took about 10 days for delivery.

degsie

Currently down to £25 with Amazon free shipping.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raspberry-Pi-Model-512MB-RAM/dp/B008PT4GGC/

Greenmachine

degsie wrote: »

Currently down to £25 with Amazon free shipping.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raspberry-Pi-Model-512MB-RAM/dp/B008PT4GGC/

Just saw that too. Looks like you beat me too it.

maik3n

Down to £23.89 now.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raspberry-Pi-Model-512MB-RAM/dp/B008PT4GGC

or for around £10 extra you can get a start up kit.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raspberry-Pi-100035-Starter-Kit/dp/B00ALW7WWQ/

or you could go really wild and get a full kit
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Raspberry-Pi-Starter-bundle-IceBerry/dp/B00BG593ZG

Zilog

Looks like for starter kits you'll need ParcelMotel, the seller (New IT) does not post to Ireland.
Nice find though! Already have a couple running XBMC, tempted to get another to use as a squeezebox or just trick around with.