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[HTPC4ME]

I tried netbooks when they first came out for jriver for using as a remote control, and for having my library be able to play on netbook anywhere on home network and it took so long to load my large library, and to scroll through my items in theaterview (very glitchy) playing videos on it wirelessly was horrible, then going from theaterview back to keywords, would take ages, that i ended up returning it.

I would love to get this tablet for our business but also use it for jriver as a remote control for HTPC, and be able to use the tablet as a portable media player if we want to.By installing jriver on it, and connecting to server and then enjoying our library on slate anywhere in the house, bonfire, garage etc.

You guys think it will be powerfull/fast enough, to be used as a remote/player? or should i save my money until technology brings out faster, more powerfull tablets?

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/321957-321957-64295-3841267-3955550-4332585.html#reviews

Thanks

[glynor]

The graphics card on that thing stinks, but the Atom in it isn't that terrible.  It probably won't do HD h264 or Flash video, but I bet it'll run MC fine in "Tremote" mode.  Theater View might be a bit tricky though, with the crappy onboard graphics.

I'd probably wait for a definitive review.

I'm interested too, but I don't know...

[HTPC4ME]

ok... thanks Glynor for the heads up

[jmone]

It may not be as bad as you think.  Full HW / Flash support is now out http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/flash-10-1-beta-3-released-adds-support-for-intel-gma-500-and-a/

[glynor]

It may not be as bad as you think.  Full HW / Flash support is now out http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/flash-10-1-beta-3-released-adds-support-for-intel-gma-500-and-a/

Yeah, I'm well aware... I still wouldn't call their results with HD playback "satisfactory":

http://techreport.com/articles.x/18065/1

That's what it gets with ION.  Intel's steaming pile known as GMA 500 results are decidedly worse.  I have a supported EeePC with an older Atom, but with GMA 500.  On THAT machine, 10.1 brings it up to the quality level I described.

480p video is basically perfect (often unwatchable without 10.1 acceleration)
720p video is tolerable in a window (if you lower your standards a smidge), perfect fullscreen (unusable without 10.1 acceleration).
1080p video isn't tolerable.  Certainly not by my standards.

But that's on a netbook with a decidedly larger form-factor.  Just because it is called GMA 500, doesn't mean it is clocked the same.  Intel allows wide leeway on the clocks on those things to hit thermal targets.  One is not the same as the next.

So, I'd wait to see more data and tests before jumping on one of these.  Plus, Asus is probably going to put out their own version in a few months, which might be a better price.

I still don't think Windows 7 is ready for a touchscreen environment.  But it COULD really work as a HTPC remote control.  With VNC and something like AirMouse?  Heck yes.

[HTPC4ME]

any other slates out there that would work that you guys know of off the top of your heads?

[JimH]

There should be a lot of tablets coming in the next few months.  Many are Android.

[HTPC4ME]

yeah ive been reading up on the androids, even debated getting a droid phone, just to be able to have gizmo app for jriver, being your not supporting windows but we use Microsoft office one note and many other microsoft products. and correct me if im wrong.. but can we install jriver on a android tablet? i thought you guys only support windows os?
i want to be able to use a tablet for remote and also to connect to library when at home. and have the cool theaterview on the tablet.
thanks

[WinoOutWest]

I drool at the thought of a MC Android app for tablets.  I've been playing with several Android phones for about a year now.  i want to be able to kick sand in the face of my friend with his iPad control of iTunes.  iTunes bites but that is a pretty sweet combination, especially with the remote control capabilities of zones (airport express).

[swinster]

The only Android tab coming out at a reasonable cost at the moment is the Creative 7 and 10" tabs. Under £200 for the 7" and not much more more for the 10". Only a resistive screen but seems like it might have good audio out. I have been waiting for the ideal remote for around 2 years now!

[fitbrit]

According to the specs in the link, the slate has the Broadcom Crystal HD chip, so it should play HD h264 fine: http://www.broadcom.com/press/release.php?id=s387278

[glynor]

According to the specs in the link, the slate has the Broadcom Crystal HD chip, so it should play HD h264 fine: http://www.broadcom.com/press/release.php?id=s387278

Unfortunately, the Broadcom Crystal HD really isn't all it is cracked up to be:
http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/asus-eee-pc-1005pr.aspx?page=2#axzz14uHbqKfm

That's just one review, but I've seen similar image quality tests elsewhere.  (And that's assuming you can even find available DirectShow filters that will actually use the chip.  FFDSHOW sure won't, nor will CoreAVC.)  Decoding HD H264 is hard.  It took Nvidia and AMD 3-4 product generations and TONS of driver revisions to get it right.  I don't have a lot of hope for a product from Broadcom obviously designed for low-end devices.

It is mostly a marketing feature.  Designed to satisfy a checkbox on a chart, not to be a truly useful product.

[fitbrit]

Thanks for the info and link. This is surprising to me, as I thought the Broadcom Crystal was this golden gadget for 1080p decoding. Isn't this the one that many people were installing in their AppleTVs and running XBMC?

[JimH]

Samsung Galaxy Tab