Nice... Need another favor.. Last you mentioned haven't tested AOTG and Unifi PlayTV on it. Could you please do so and report if their latest versions work.. Thanks. I've got a buddy who wants something decent and cheap.. This seems sufficient.. Especially as he's got no interest in extra audio equipment beyond awful TV's speakers.. So the absence of passthrough is negligible.

Edit: Also how cool does it feel after say a day's usage and or standby for a couple?

Oh I can tell the difference.. Sure go ahead cuz value for money is truly in the eye of the beholder. Buying a 43" or heck even 100" 8K TV and sitting just an arm's length away as per a monitor, is anyone with the means' prerogative. Still doesn't make it a great idea. Cuz most know (well except those beholders) that it's a bad idea.  .. I'm not simply dissing on HTPCs, I know some are really good. Just that one has to go wayyyy big to get similar performance as a lowly Android box like the Shield or as per your analogy...OLED..and still have to suffer the consequences of using an OLED TV. Such consequences for many is definitely not worth it. For instance, some HTPC's motherboards alone cost at least $100-200, a GeForce GTX 1050 4GB video card alone is an additional almost $200. Then one has one might have to cough up even more cash for some decent RAM, SSD or at least 7200 RPM internal hard disks...all these cost hundred of dollars and I still haven't tossed in the price of a decent processor and let's not forget the high-end TV and AVR-speakers equipment to enjoy all these .. Convert to MYR...

For some I understand the final figure may not be staggering..So yeah, for the beholder... Please go ahead.. The beauty is truly for your eyes only. 

I think both works well... Anyway I'll be away for 2 weeks on Monday onwards, I courier to you to test la, let me know if it's better this way

Thanks...

Use 43" as monitor doesn't mean sitting at arms length lah... suddenly curve ball... hahaha...

But yeah dedicated HTPC it's expensive shit...nobody is disagreeing...

HTPC running good renderer can beat the oppo...

A simple analogy would be like comparing OLED vs VA/IPS...whilst cheaper boxes are like TN

They all can display the pictures... just that some has more oomph than others... but I always advice if you can't tell the difference then it doesn't matter...

And value for money is in the eye of the beholder... 
FYI... I send my android box hdmi signal to my oppo for further processing... the oppo is so much better ... and tbh I probably won't build a dedicated HTPC, but if I'm building one for general use I might as well make sure it does home theater too... I'm also considering a 43" 4K TV as my monitor... so what the hell... just do it (HTPC) ... hahaha

43 inch 4k don't have much diff.. You only barely notice when your tv hit 50 inch above

43 inch 4k don't have much diff.. You only barely notice when your tv hit 50 inch above

40" for monitor... it not the size matter anymore
the most important factor for 4k... it able to double ur workspace.

so what is oppo? fruit box??

What mean double workspace?
Just to share my experience, my job do relate on TV I have seen alot high end and low end TV daily..
These HD full HD 2k 4k all can consider over exaggerated..
I couldn't denied that there is different, but not as what normal people expect..
For ordinary people, if you put side by side 2k and 4k with 40 inch TV they can't differentiate, it depend on colour they meets their taste.
You can notice the diff when the size of the screen is big maybe over 50 inch..
Just my 2cent

What mean double workspace?
Just to share my experience, my job do relate on TV I have seen alot high end and low end TV daily..
These HD full HD 2k 4k all can consider over exaggerated..
I couldn't denied that there is different, but not as what normal people expect..
For ordinary people, if you put side by side 2k and 4k with 40 inch TV they can't differentiate, it depend on colour that meets their taste.
You can notice the diff when the size of the screen is big maybe over 50 inch..
Just my 2cent

If have budget then just go for 4k.. If no actually 2k is very clear already on 40inch display

I do agree on this. 4K is not very noticeable unless it is size 60" and above.

But lucky release of HDR. HDR wise do make big differences on visual.

Those saying 4K for monitor give big working space is kind of not in reality usage, even in 43" you still hardly seen the wording in Windows, you need to upscale to at least 125% or better 150% for a proper not eye stretching view, but in 150% scale already make the work space not much different as in 1440p resolution.

Yes... I face 32" to 75" TV daily... 55" I can notice diff easily.. While 40 or below need some skills..

Need some skills. Haha!

But if put in bedroom, I think 43 to 49" is enough.

Hall I prefer 60" to 65".

By the way here is TV Box thread not TV. I think should stop here discussion on TV. Haha!

OK ok.. Paiseh.. Waiting my android budget box to arrive.. Seller said 7 to 15 day... From China.. Seems quite fast... But already after raya..
Those iptv all is subsribtion? Or got free? Want setup one for my parent... They not so tech generation.. Kodi I can setup but iptv I not sure... Donno iptv will more user friendly for them or not..

Hometown using steamy 4mbps will it sufficient? Box I bought is x96mini

OK ok.. Paiseh.. Waiting my android budget box to arrive.. Seller said 7 to 15 day... From China.. Seems quite fast... But already after raya..
Those iptv all is subsribtion? Or got free? Want setup one for my parent... They not so tech generation.. Kodi I can setup but iptv I not sure... Donno iptv will more user friendly for them or not..

Hometown using steamy 4mbps will it sufficient? Box I bought is x96mini

based on bitrate... a 1080p stream required 1.4mbps to 3.4mbps.

i guess 4mbps is minimum if u share the internet...
---

tipys for ur parents, (chinese only guide)
1. if u parent only read chinese, change the language!

2. if ur tv box support voice remote, change the speech recognition to china mandrain... (i banana, so i tested on cantonese oni)
- very important for voice search
- use phone for voice recognition hv higher success rate

3. youtube hv alot free china tv series and varity show... minimum 720p
- 10years cannot finish watch

OK ok.. Paiseh.. Waiting my android budget box to arrive.. Seller said 7 to 15 day... From China.. Seems quite fast... But already after raya..
Those iptv all is subsribtion? Or got free? Want setup one for my parent... They not so tech generation.. Kodi I can setup but iptv I not sure... Donno iptv will more user friendly for them or not..

Hometown using steamy 4mbps will it sufficient? Box I bought is x96mini

Isn;t kodi is too complicated for old folks. 

steamyx 4mbps more or less maybe sufficient. But due to its not a fiber broadband, guess better to test it first.

user friendly, guess depend on the UI design and how well your parents able to absorb or not.

based on bitrate... a 1080p stream required 1.4mbps to 3.4mbps.

i guess 4mbps is minimum if u share the internet...
---

tipys for ur parents, (chinese only guide)
1. if u parent only read chinese, change the language!

2. if ur tv box support voice remote, change the speech recognition to china mandrain... (i banana, so i tested on cantonese oni)
- very important for voice search
- use phone for voice recognition hv higher success rate

3. youtube hv alot free china tv series and varity show... minimum 720p
- 10years cannot finish watch

Thinking other player for old fox.. Or maybe need to teach..

Last time I use my pc play 1080 keep buffer with kodi.. Dont know why.. X96mini no voice recognision..
My parent is banana.. We speak cantonese but can't read..
YouTube apa link plz pm haha

As what i know majority of the channel / movies link from the addon are located on US continent. Due to distance, routing, and no CDN to Asian, that is all suffer from buffering issues.