Media Player For An 85 Year Old Arthritis Sufferer

[OnOff]

Looking for a media player for my old Dad. 85 years old with severe arthritis, curved fingers etc etc so has difficulty with fiddly remotes. He does have a laptop tbh and gets on OK with that but likes watching things like The Big Bang Theory (for Penny I'm guessing) on the main TV.

I thought of the Sumvision Cyclone MKV player but the remote is one of those thin, not much more than a credit card job:

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/home/product/52372/SumVision-Cyclone-Micro-2--HD-Media-Player-USB2-0?source=googleps&gclid=CNbPi5DJrr0CFdShtAod-3oAPA

Again Sumvision and I was thinking the Primus which has a half decent remote:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CYCLONE-PRIMUS-v2-HD-1080P-HDMI-MKV-MULTI-MEDIA-PLAYER-FOR-ALL-YOUR-MOVIES-TV-/221387577305?_trksid=p2054897.l4276

I assuming I could get one sans HDD and it would work fine just with the stuff on a USB stick.

Oh, and I want it cheap too! A Pi running XBMC or Android box would I think be too complicated for him.

Cheers

 

[steptoe]

so you want to stream onto the TV with very basic controls?

a long HDMI lead plugged into the laptop?

I can understand the Penny theory, I had a big bang watching her too,  :|

 

[OnOff]

so you want to stream onto the TV with very basic controls?

a long HDMI lead plugged into the laptop?

I can understand the Penny theory, I had a big bang watching her too,  :|

He's pretty doddery is the problem so quite likely to trip over such a lead. He just wouldn't get on with it I don't think - all the pressing Fn / F4 etc to switch between laptop and TV. Plus the TV is connected to the induction loop system 'cos he's profoundly deaf too!

TBH it's a toss up for me between Sheldon's sister Missy, his assistant Alex, Priya possibly and after s07e18 Sheldon's MUM! :lol:

 

[steptoe]

why dont you buy him a smart TV,? 

I have an old PC plugged into the TV as a media centre, with a bluetooth keyboard,

even though the TV is a smart one, it simply makes it easier [for me at least] to use the PC for downloaded films and stuff.

 

[pickleye]

I've got the sumo vision cyclone 2? I think, anyway, the remote is absolute carp. Blister button and poor range.

 

[OnOff]

I've got the sumo vision cyclone 2? I think, anyway, the remote is absolute carp. Blister button and poor range.

I've the Sumvision Cyclone MKV HD Media Station and it's excellent. Stand alone unit that doesn't take an HDD. I have though upgraded the firmware. Comes with a proper sized remote too. Can't fault it tbh. Full HD, HDMI out, x2 USB ports and network port. Came with a USB Wi-fi dongle too.

They do the Cyclone Micro 2+ Plus HD but I think the remote is one of those super thin jobbies.

 

[Marvo]

....He does have a laptop tbh and gets on OK with that but likes watching things like The Big Bang Theory (for Penny I'm guessing) on the main TV.

If he's quite handy with the laptop can't you just use that as storage and player and set up the TV as a remote monitor only.