this post was submitted on 07 Oct 2024
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I just run an old PC plugged in to my TV. It's been running Windows, but I'm strongly considering switching it to linux now that it seems HDR on linux is getting stable. I might even use SteamOS directly since it's got a nice interface for controller use.
I didn’t realize Valve released SteamOS to be installed on other devices, that’s killer! I just threw mint on a 15 year old laptop a few weeks ago and VNC into it from my phone to control it as my streaming box.
I'm using a N100 mini-PC with Kodi as a Media/TV Box and it works pretty much as a dedicated device would with one of these remotes.
I seldom have to actually access it with a keyboard and mouse, though that machine also works as my home server so I do regularly access it remotelly for stuff that has nothing to do with using it as a media box.
Oh that remote is not a bad idea, does it do mouse input via the circle d pad? Or is it keyboard only?
There's a button there to enable/disable air-mouse functionality (basically the tilting of the remote moves the mouse pointer), though it's awkward to use compared to a normal mouse.
The keyboard on the back is also awkward to use, not just because the keys are small and not quite in standard positions but also because Shift and Alt are both "press to enable, press to disable", with no notification lights (so, say, your keyboard might be in "Alt mode" and you're trying to used it and it's just doing weird stuff).
The thing does work as a combo of media player remote + mouse + keyboard, but it's not very practical for the last 2. Also that specific model seems to have problems with the remote buttons not working if the remote is tilted (which shouldn't be at all a problem given that's a wireless remote).
The idea is good, the implementation could be better. There are other models like that around. Just avoid the "Google" remotes as that's Android-locked and for voice recognition (plus it comes pre-enshittified with only a handful of buttons which only start apps such as Netflix).
Even with the quirks of the remote, whilst using that setup I often find myself altogether forgetting that what I'm using there is a PC with Linux.