Google TV / WD TV Live / Boxee -- help!

My parents are on a TIGHT budget. I mean TIGHT. They don't pay for TV, but my dad likes watching Burn Notice on Hulu (yes, they reluctantly pay for high-speed internet), amongst other programs. He also likes watching videos about health products on YouTube. He'd love to be able to watch them on the TV in the bedroom instead of just on the computer.

First question -- would he be able to watch free Hulu shows with a Hulu Plus app? He's not interested in paying a Hulu Plus monthly fee. If not, then Hulu Plus might be an irrelevant / less valuable app.

Second question -- partially based on the results of question No. 1, what would serve them best? Google TV would offer web browsing, Facebook access (to see photos of the grandkids, etc.)...but I heard Hulu is blocked on Revue boxes, so he couldn't just "browse" to hulu's website. The full-sized keyboard would be a nice asset, though, as if they'd need to punch "letters" via a remote, it'd be a pain for them. How about WD TV Live? File format playback wouldn't be used a bunch, but...I'm not familiar with Boxee, but people supposedly rave about it.

I'd be buying it for them as a gift, and although I'm not on a super tight budget, I want to keep it around $100. Wireless internet is also important, otherwise, they'd have to bore holes to run cables to get to the TV (there is a doorway between the computer/cable modem and the TV). I'll be giving them a wireless router (can do N) with it, so that will be taken care of.

Any help is MUCH appreciated.

Quote from TheEdge : My parents are on a TIGHT budget. I mean TIGHT. They don't pay for TV, but my dad likes watching Burn Notice on Hulu (yes, they reluctantly pay for high-speed internet), amongst other programs. He also likes watching videos about health products on YouTube. He'd love to be able to watch them on the TV in the bedroom instead of just on the computer. First question -- would he be able to watch free Hulu shows with a Hulu Plus app? He's not interested in paying a Hulu Plus monthly fee. If not, then Hulu Plus might be an irrelevant / less valuable app. Second question -- partially based on the results of question No. 1, what would serve them best? Google TV would offer web browsing, Facebook access (to see photos of the grandkids, etc.)...but I heard Hulu is blocked on Revue boxes, so he couldn't just "browse" to hulu's website. The full-sized keyboard would be a nice asset, though, as if they'd need to punch "letters" via a remote, it'd be a pain for them. How about WD TV Live? File format playback wouldn't be used a bunch, but...I'm not familiar with Boxee, but people supposedly rave about it. I'd be buying it for them as a gift, and although I'm not on a super tight budget, I want to keep it around $100. Wireless internet is also important, otherwise, they'd have to bore holes to run cables to get to the TV (there is a doorway between the computer/cable modem and the TV). I'll be giving them a wireless router (can do N) with it, so that will be taken care of. Any help is MUCH appreciated.

First question --

As far as I know, you must be a subscriber to get shows out of Hulu Plus.


Second question --

Google TV or WDTV are good choices. But for Hulu to work, you need playon to stream from your computer to googleTV or WDTV. I have both and they all work very well. WDTV plays whatever video format you throw on it. Revue/GoogleTV has some sync issues sometimes and it does not play MPEG2. But if the keyboard, browser, etc are something you want, googleTV is a good option and close to your price range. I have Boxee installed on a Linux box, not the Boxee Box. It is very good as well, but the Boxee Box will definitely costs more than what you want to spend and a hulu plus subscription is still required or playon to get free hulu content.
Have you looked at XBMC? It is excellent and can be installed in a low spec PC. I do have it in an old P4 HT and plays everything as well as access Hulu via Google Chrome or Firefox installed in the O/S.

Hope this helps.

Quote from amlino : Have you looked at XBMC? It is excellent and can be installed in a low spec PC. I do have it in an old P4 HT and plays everything as well as access Hulu via Google Chrome or Firefox installed in the O/S. Hope this helps.

So would you just output your computer's video output to the TV via HDMI? If so, therein lies part of the reason I've been looking into "other methods"...their computer doesn't have an HDMI out and their TV doesn't have a VGA/PC in. So I'd have to get a new video card just for that. I know one can be had for <$50, but for that price, might as well go with the $100 external solution. To boot, the computer is on the other side of the doorway, so to get video across to the TV, they'd need to hardwire cables under the floor, etc...a royal pain in the butt.

Quote from TheEdge : So would you just output your computer's video output to the TV via HDMI? If so, therein lies part of the reason I've been looking into "other methods"...their computer doesn't have an HDMI out and their TV doesn't have a VGA/PC in. So I'd have to get a new video card just for that. I know one can be had for <$50, but for that price, might as well go with the $100 external solution. To boot, the computer is on the other side of the doorway, so to get video across to the TV, they'd need to hardwire cables under the floor, etc...a royal pain in the butt.

I hear you.. cables are a real pain... And just to inform you on the HDMI... you do not need HDMI to HDMI. In case your PC has DVI, a DVI to HDMI cable should do the trick.

I guess you are better off with google/tv and playon. It is a not an expensive solution and will do what I understood you want. Keep in mind that you still need a PC for playon to stream Hulu, etc from it. Anything else can be played direct in googleTV, assuming there is an APP for it or it is not blocked in GTV chrome's browser.

Quote from amlino : I hear you.. cables are a real pain... And just to inform you on the HDMI... you do not need HDMI to HDMI. In case your PC has DVI, a DVI to HDMI cable should do the trick. I guess you are better off with google/tv and playon. It is a not an expensive solution and will do what I understood you want. Keep in mind that you still need a PC for playon to stream Hulu, etc from it. Anything else can be played direct in googleTV, assuming there is an APP for it or it is not blocked in GTV chrome's browser.

Thanks again for the feedback. I don't think their PC even has a DVI out...but yeah, even if it did, then we're back to having to run a cable where it won't be tripped on since the TV is on the other side of the doorway.

If I gave them the wireless router (N capable), they could stream from that to the GTV box without the need for cables since we could go all wireless.

Appreciate the time. Now if I can just find one for $99. I read there was a price drop, but other than refurbs, I can't find one for $99. I set up a deal alert, so the moment one is posted as a deal, I'll hop on it.

Dont forget, you need to subscribe to Hulu Plus to view Hulu on these devices...

Quote from dealmonkey : Dont forget, you need to subscribe to Hulu Plus to view Hulu on these devices...

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I finally hooked up the Logitech Revue on their TV and installed PlayOn software on their PC. Everything works fine -- even Hulu (free version). Dealmonkey, PlayOn lets you watch the free Hulu content without a hitch.

I went to pay for PlayOn (we were on the 14-day trial) and that's when I noticed it costs $4/month or $40/year or $90 (or something like that) for a lifetime license.

Are there any other alternatives? It does what I need it to do (the main objective is free Hulu viewing since Logitech Revue blocks direct Hulu free content access), but if my parents are going to pay $4/month, they might as well just pay for Hulu Plus (I think it's a very comparable price).

I'm up for suggestions. And as always, appreciate the feedback.

Quote from TheEdge : Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I finally hooked up the Logitech Revue on their TV and installed PlayOn software on their PC. Everything works fine -- even Hulu (free version). Dealmonkey, PlayOn lets you watch the free Hulu content without a hitch. I went to pay for PlayOn (we were on the 14-day trial) and that's when I noticed it costs $4/month or $40/year or $90 (or something like that) for a lifetime license. Are there any other alternatives? It does what I need it to do (the main objective is free Hulu viewing since Logitech Revue blocks direct Hulu free content access), but if my parents are going to pay $4/month, they might as well just pay for Hulu Plus (I think it's a very comparable price). I'm up for suggestions. And as always, appreciate the feedback.

Yes, I know about PlayOn. I was referring to the set top boxes the OP asked about... PlayOn is not practical for most people. I've given it a try, its ok at best. As far as alternatives. I've tried Tversity which is free, haven't used it in years though.

Quote from dealmonkey : Yes, I know about PlayOn. I was referring to the set top boxes the OP asked about... PlayOn is not practical for most people. I've given it a try, its ok at best. As far as alternatives. I've tried Tversity which is free, haven't used it in years though.

Just got back from lunch...but before I left, I saw a few people mention TVersity as well on other sites. I'll have to give it a whirl and delve deeper into that.

Thanks for the suggestion.

And just to clarify -- I was the OP asking about set top boxes. It seems as though there are NO set top boxes that allow Hulu (free) content to be streamed straight out of the box.

Quote from TheEdge : Just got back from lunch...but before I left, I saw a few people mention TVersity as well on other sites. I'll have to give it a whirl and delve deeper into that. Thanks for the suggestion. And just to clarify -- I was the OP asking about set top boxes. It seems as though there are NO set top boxes that allow Hulu (free) content to be streamed straight out of the box.

Gotcha. Let us know how Tversity is.

Quote from dealmonkey : Gotcha. Let us know how Tversity is.

I ended up passing on TVersity and going with Plex. It only cost 99 cents (instead of $20 -- being a hardcore SD'er here). For whatever reason, I can't get the Hulu channel to work with their 3.2 FW Revue box (3.2 was supposed to open up a lot of options for content streaming). I was able to get the USA Network channel to work in Plex, though, and that gives him Burn Notice. So that's 99% of what I was trying to achieve for him.

We also got a bunch of other channels to work -- such as "The Onion", Fox (Faux) News, some content on Crackle, etc.

Quote from TheEdge : I ended up passing on TVersity and going with Plex. It only cost 99 cents (instead of $20 -- being a hardcore SD'er here). For whatever reason, I can't get the Hulu channel to work with their 3.2 FW Revue box (3.2 was supposed to open up a lot of options for content streaming). I was able to get the USA Network channel to work in Plex, though, and that gives him Burn Notice. So that's 99% of what I was trying to achieve for him. We also got a bunch of other channels to work -- such as "The Onion", Fox (Faux) News, some content on Crackle, etc.

Just as an fyi, there is a lot of content that can be viewed using playon, it already comes with a bunch of channels and then there are third party plugins which open up a whole world of content. You can get these plugins from playonplugins.com and playonscripts.com. Personally I got the older non-subscription version of PlayOn which was excellent until they started making a lot of their channels to only work on the premium playon version, even now there is a lot of third party plugins that I can use. If they chanrged something like $20 or $30 for lifetime license then I would consider the premium otherwise it seems too expensive.

Since you now have the Logitech Revue make sure you check out GTVHacker where you can learn about rooting the Revue and the possibility of viewing any content such as Hulu and other streaming sites normally blocked on the Revue. Also check out GoogleTVForum.com, it also has a lot of useful information. There is a dedicated thread called "Project Free TV" that might interest you.