this post was submitted on 08 Sep 2026
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With the recent GN video I'd been wondering about turning an old mini PC from eBay into a little Linux TV box for streaming. I'd need access to Android apps (I guess through Waydroid).

After a brief look, it seems that the two options are some form of LibreElec system running Kodi or Arch running Plasma Big Screen. Any thoughts / advice? And if I went for Big Screen, does anyone know of any distros that ship with it or will I have to spin it up myself on Arch?

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[–] theskyisfalling@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

I'm trying on and off to do the same at the moment. Part of my problem as well is making it as accessible as possible for my wife who will simply just not use something as soon as there is even a minor amount of friction.

I tried initially to use steams big screen mode to have everything bundled together in an easy interface. I ran into problems with that though and how the likes of Netflix was basically just a browser forced into fullscreen. It worked great until you wanted to exit tk change services which just didnt work as it should (using a controller or a remote).

I want to try out plasma big screen to see if that can provide the easy to use interface because as it is right now I just have a browser open with the few services we use ready to go but navigation just is not fun when using an air mouse to try and hit tiny ass buttons.

I dont want to use kodi as I have always thought it was trash ans when I have used it before my wife flat out refused because of the interface.

So no suggestions I'm afraid but I will be watching this thread to see what other people have come up with to solve this problem.

[–] yakko@feddit.uk 5 points 1 hour ago

It does feel like such a subtle but firm line, that divides people who just want things to work and not demand anything in return, and people who see computing and media as inherently political and worth investing energy into, and critically choosing what to use and what to avoid. How we bridge that gap and wake people up is, in my mind, a bigger problem than any single use case.

[–] Cherry@piefed.social 1 points 53 minutes ago* (last edited 48 minutes ago)

Yeh same thoughts as Brave Little. My fam are good with slight changes and will adopt if its easy. It ok if i do it in small stages and i explain what and why. I have the same long term plan with consoles/phones so moving has to be a discussion with give and take.

The biggest note is when i have visitors, if its too awkward they will baulk and try and connect the device the old way.

I don't like Kodi either, tried it decades ago, even with advances and skins its still too overwhelming looking vrs a screensavers and cards approach. I kinda like having my apps separate somewhat like android.