You can get a PC-on-a-stick these days for $100. Twice the cost of what you propose, sure, but given the flexibility and easier management potential (especially if something goes wrong), it just seems like a better option IMHO.
I've been using this one on a TV with sling & plex apps. It works pretty well with the video. Powered by 2 amp microUSB. I had a Vensmile but it died an early death.
I'm not super knowledgeable but I own one of those mini-pc's that run on Windows - would something like that be able to do the job? Or alternatively one of those "pc on a stick" doohickeys like this one.
If not, just ignore me and best of luck ♥
It seems nice for the price, but it's still not really cutting edge. You need to buy storage and a power supply separately, right? You can go online and get something like this that not only includes a full case and power supply, but has wifi, 2GB RAM, quad core Atom, 32GB storage, and has a built-in HDMI male plug so you can plug it directly into a tv, and even comes with Windows 8.1, for only $129. By the time you buy/build a case, add storage, buy power supply, and HDMI cable, seems like the RPi would be easily at that price, and without Windows (I think there are Linux versions for cheaper if you prefer).
Also the PC Stick I use also uses about as much power as the Pi, and it also charges with USB. I can ALMOST get to run reliably with just 0.5amps at 5V.
It's basically a PC that's the size of a flash drive that plugs in via HDMI
A "Pc on a stick" should be able to do that.
Something like this is around $100
Exactly. My computer runs at around 5 Watts and you are obviously a man that appreciates solar power. https://www.amazon.com/Azulle-Quantum-Access-Windows-storage/dp/B00X4O6GRK
Consumers don't want them, professionals don't want them, people can tricked into buying them. People want a Facebook machine, desktops themselves have steadily been declining in general. There's just no point in buying a core 2 duo machines, even at $100 if you went the desktop route you could easily get an i series desktop like so:
Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/201821563007
how about one of these? It's a stick PC that runs a full instance of Windows. https://www.amazon.com/Azulle-Quantum-Access-Windows-storage/dp/B00X4O6GRK/ref=pd_lpo_147_lp_t_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=P92D985F90GHKWPBQ8NQ
Well if you're just watching videos I'm not really sure what you need an actual pc for, but you could also try a compute stick like this
who makes the fanless compute stick that mele and quantum suppliers rebrand and sell?
There's a subreddit dedicated to HTPC. We got an under $100 Mini Stick on Amazon. It does everything on your list but the audio out to receiver I think.
https://www.amazon.com/Azulle-Quantum-Access-Windows-storage/dp/B00X4O6GRK
Edit: I was down voted?