Top choice for home theater operating system.
Top choice for home theater operating system.
Hi, I have a used laptop from the i3 Gen 1 with 3GB RAM. I’d like to turn it into a smart TV experience using Kodi or Plex directly on the machine. I don’t want to install Windows 7 or another OS and run Plex on top. My TV only supports VGA and USB connections, and I don’t have network access. I need a lightweight system that boots up like an Android TV, can play local movies from a pendrive, and works with Prime Video via browser or apps. Since it’s for a family setting, I want something simple to set up without much hassle.
It seems there’s a lot of flexibility here. Some Linux distributions could work, though you’ll likely need to adjust things yourself. Kodi and Plex are top choices, but Plex doesn’t support desktop apps, making Kodi the stronger pick. Still, you’ll need an operating system. Also note that streaming services like Netflix won’t be available in Plex, and while you might manage to install Kodi manually, it would involve a lot of tweaking.
You could check out OSMC and LibreElec. These seem like the closest options you'll find regarding your goals.