Lightweight Surfer for the Media Rack?

There’s no “convergence device” that ties together all the elements of the new digital entertainment world, where DVDs, VHS tapes, cable/satellite TV and their associated digital video recorders reside. It would make sense for an A/V receiver to be the hub, acting as a massive switch to control inputs to your TV. The missing element, of course, is the ability to access sites like Hulu.com, the ad supported video streaming service from NBC and FOX.

The typical response is a HTPC, a PC for Home Theater, but that’s overkill when your media rack already has a cable or satellite box with a TiVO-like video recorder. “Media Extenders” are available now that use your home wireless network to connect to your computer for content stored there, but again, that seems to miss the point. At 2 am, I may want to log on to Hulu.com and see if there’s an old episode of a TV show I’d like to see. On my TV, not on the PC.

The CherryPal could be just the thing … a “cloud computer”, stripped down so it accesses content stored on the Internet rather than storing it locally. Running an embedded version of linux, probably Debian, it should allow web surfing. The problem is, it looks like it only has a VGA port. A better video processor on-board may compromise its 2 watt power draw (really, 2 watts!) and the low price, but including a HDMI or even a S-Video output and optical audio port would make this the perfect addition for browsing from the media room, and streaming content from Hulu.com, YouTube or any of the other sites with video content. Add $100 to the price, double the power consumption, and you still have the lightweight surfing client many of us are looking for.

The company is thinking these units will connect to their proprietary “cloud” for applications and storage, but that simply won’t work. But the “thin client meets power” idea will work if you tweak it slightly, and look at the burgeoning home theater market.