Windows effing ten

[Yadkin]

I cut the cable years ago and since 2005 have been obtaining my movie fix, first by DVDs-by-mail, then by Netflix/Prime/Youtube. I have a PC rigged to a screen in the great room. The last time it was replaced was Windows 7 era.

Now it doesn't work- Streamers are requiring Windoze 10 or 11.

I learned long ago that "upgrading" an old machine to yet another version of bloated Winders doesn't go well.

Right now I'm using an old Blue-ray player and it works fine except that it likes to take a popcorn break after about 20 minutes into the movie. Apparently that's my punishment for being such a cheap bastard.

What are my options for internet-only service here?

[Bill]

Get a Roku.

/thread

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Get a Roku.

/thread

https://www.amazon.com/Roku-Streamin.../dp/B09T4VZDYV

?

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

https://www.amazon.com/Roku-Streamin.../dp/B09T4VZDYV

?

That's really a bit of overkill. Try the beginning model.

https://www.roku.com/products/roku-express

Works great, easy to install apps, plugs right into TV. There's a 4K version, but honestly, how much content actually even streams in 4K? 1080 is clear enough. There's so much free content, your biggest problem will be just picking something to watch.

[Stevedore]

We've had a succession of Rokus over the years; all have worked well. Currently using 2 Roku Ultras.

They have "channels" built in for the popular streaming services, as well as several I've never heard of. They also include a media player, so if you have a media server on your network you can watch anything you have stored on it, e.g., home video, downloaded videos, etc.

[Yadkin]

I have about a cubic yard of DVDs that I still intend on using. Looks like I'll have to keep the Blueray player going along with the Roku, or is there a better option?

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

I cut the cable years ago and since 2005 have been obtaining my movie fix, first by DVDs-by-mail, then by Netflix/Prime/Youtube. I have a PC rigged to a screen in the great room. The last time it was replaced was Windows 7 era.

Now it doesn't work- Streamers are requiring Windoze 10 or 11.

I learned long ago that "upgrading" an old machine to yet another version of bloated Winders doesn't go well.

Right now I'm using an old Blue-ray player and it works fine except that it likes to take a popcorn break after about 20 minutes into the movie. Apparently that's my punishment for being such a cheap bastard.

What are my options for internet-only service here?

Ahem..... if it's already a dust collecting paper weight, I have a solution for free streaming that I've shared many times. All you need is firefox browser, Adblocker Ultimate Add-on (free), and windows defender running. I use this method daily at home and at work from time to time between jobs.

[Rodnok1]

Go buy a new dvd/blueray player ya cheap fuk...

[Stevedore]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

I have about a cubic yard of DVDs that I still intend on using. Looks like I'll have to keep the Blueray player going along with the Roku, or is there a better option?

Get a media server going on your home network & rip those dvds to it.

We have shelves full of dvds that I’ve done that to; much easier to click around a menu to find something to watch than locating a dvd, putting it in the player, etc.

[Rikki Z-06]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

Ahem..... if it's already a dust collecting paper weight, I have a solution for free streaming that I've shared many times. All you need is firefox browser, Adblocker Ultimate Add-on (free), and windows defender running. I use this method daily at home and at work from time to time between jobs.

DJ knows stuff

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by Rikki Z-06

DJ knows stuff

And I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express once, so you know my credentials are good

[Louie Detroit]

Figure out why the player takes a popcorn break. Sounds like a setting problem to me.

[Onebadcad]

Nothing wrong with being a cheap bastard, for the next 6+ months I plan on getting a lot cheaper, as we are going down a hole with this administration, it will get much worse before it gets better.

Three things that will make you rich if you are that one genius, as people no longer want to pay rip-off pricing for:

1) internet
2) cable tv
3) cell phone

Internet and cable tv I believe are the easy ones, as neighborhood and smaller communities can group their service using owned infrastructure, that would require initial capital and then lower-than-industry maintenance costs.

Cell phones are not easy, but prices continue to fall as more companies emerge that piggyback off the big networks--phones are more affordable if you keep yours for 5+ years, like this cheap bastard does, current phone is a samsung S8.

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by Yadkin

I have about a cubic yard of DVDs that I still intend on using. Looks like I'll have to keep the Blueray player going along with the Roku, or is there a better option?

LOL....I still have boxes of VHS tapes and a few players. They work fine. 99% of the time, though, I watch off of youtube. Infinite things to watch, and for me, pretty much all of the movies are pre 1980.
I also watch the car stuff on youtube. **** television and the stupid shows and people on it. And there's really no need for networks when I can watch Yadkin road vids or Doug cat vids on the big screen by the fire.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by GTOguy

LOL....I still have boxes of VHS tapes and a few players. They work fine. 99% of the time, though, I watch off of youtube. Infinite things to watch, and for me, pretty much all of the movies are pre 1980.
I also watch the car stuff on youtube. **** television and the stupid shows and people on it. And there's really no need for networks when I can watch Yadkin road vids or Doug cat vids on the big screen by the fire.

I use http://fmovies.to for free streaming. Make sure you use Firefox or Chrome with an adblocker add-on to keep from getting popups. Never once had a virus from the site, either. Yes, it is illegal for somebody to host that site, but not to see what they are hosting. Blah BLah blah.... we've debated that gray area issue for years at the shitty forum.

Other times, I watch YT for background noise and wot-not. Example, I'll watch full episodes of The Red Green Show (friggen hilarious) or a 3 hour collection of classic Looney Tunes.

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Get a Roku.

/thread

Or a FireTV.

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by Ill Duce

Linux server with 60 Terabytes of BluRay movie and TV series rips + Jellyfin = **** you Netflix and your subscription fees

By stealing content you're saying **** you to more than just Netflix.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by dvarapala

Or a FireTV.

And if you side load KODI then you'll have to run updates and reprogram about once per month to get free streaming. My way listed above bypasses all that crap.

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by Stevedore

Get a media server going on your home network & rip those dvds to it.

We have shelves full of dvds that I’ve done that to; much easier to click around a menu to find something to watch than locating a dvd, putting it in the player, etc.

That's what I was using the PC for, except I only ripped a few of the DVDs.

[Yadkin]

Originally Posted by Onebadcad

Nothing wrong with being a cheap bastard, for the next 6+ months I plan on getting a lot cheaper, as we are going down a hole with this administration, it will get much worse before it gets better.

Three things that will make you rich if you are that one genius, as people no longer want to pay rip-off pricing for:

1) internet
2) cable tv
3) cell phone

Internet and cable tv I believe are the easy ones, as neighborhood and smaller communities can group their service using owned infrastructure, that would require initial capital and then lower-than-industry maintenance costs.

Cell phones are not easy, but prices continue to fall as more companies emerge that piggyback off the big networks--phones are more affordable if you keep yours for 5+ years, like this cheap bastard does, current phone is a samsung S8.

1. $45/ month here for the lowest tier that seems to work.
2. $0
3. $45/ month for two cell phones through PureTalk. I buy a new phone about every three years on Motorola.com- typically $150-$200.