A New Product Category

I have recently recycled the old PC which used to be wedged between the TV and the wall. It worked well for watching Netflix via heavy component cables and digital output into my ageing HTS for DTS or Dolby. I only felt brave enough to chuck it after discovering my tiny, cheap, travelling netbook provided great quality through its HDMI cable. The only problem with this solution is I still often want to use my netbook when teaching at BCIT.

I now have a small, empty space in the TV stand because the new Telus PVR is substantially smaller than the old Bell satellite receiver. Hum. I used to think it'd be fun to build out a mini-PC based on one of the multitude of tiny footprint motherboards now available. Some of the cases are, well for the lack of a better word, cute! As I want to stream media from some US sources I have to hide my Canadian IP. I am a huge fan of Hotspot Shield as it allows up to five devices to VPN to other countries for a very reasonable annual fee. I can use the software directly on Windows as well as on my Android devices, such as my phone and tablet.

That prompted me to search for "Android box" on Google. Oh, the things you learn when you have a few minutes to research! I can probably live without another licensed copy of Windows 8.1 now. I learned about the following product.


The nerdy fun never stops! I want one.