• chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    I was in a similar boat. I’ve been using a Ryzen 5000-based mini PC for about two years now. It’s running:

    Debian for stability

    Flex Launcher for the 10ft TV UI

    Flex Launcher has shortcuts for Plex HTPC, Netflix in a full screen Chrome page, etc.

    An AirMouse Remote with a keyboard on the back and basic controls up front. It has 5 programmable IR buttons that I have bound to TV Power, TV Input, TV Select, and Sound Bar Vol-/+

    My kids also use it for Steam and Retro gaming, so I have it launch ES-DE and Steam Big Picture Mode from Flex Launcher.

    Other than the occasional tweaking, it has needed very little and been rock solid for about 2 years now. I have a cheap Android TV set top box still attached for when Grandma goes to use the TV. I can switch inputs and hand them the Google TV remote, but my wife, my kids, and I use the HTPC almost exclusively.