Internet and Live tv combined? Limited space

[easyas12]

I have a spot under the upper kitchen cabinets next to the sink which I would like to put a screen for infotainment...
It would be a great spot for ...
       television for watching tv while doing dishes.
       internet access (email, streaming media, etc)
About a 19" screen is maximum size.
A tablet would be great but it's not really possible (is it?) to watch live tv...
A tv would be fine but it pretty well eliminates internet access (all the "smart tv's" are BIG)
A computer with touch screen or virtual keyboard?
Give me some thoughts on what you think might be a good solution!

 

[JimS]

You could do a mythtv front end with a PC. Tuner would be in the backend - a PC somewhere else. You could then get TV or internet, both through ethernet. All free and under linux. Maybe a wireless keyboard in addition to the remote.

 

[pete_c]

I have a combo TV/VGA 4:3 monitor right now on a pivot vesa mount in the corner of the kitchen. This one is an Audiovox with large side mounted speakers which sound good. First gen was a Samsung combo (which I still utilize for this or that testing) but the speakers really sound bad on it.

The kitchen area where the LCD is mounted under the kitchen cabinet is really set up for a touch screen. I recently purchased a similiar sized Tantung touchscreen (you would need an external TV tuner to utilize it in TV mode). I did build a small Atom based PC for the Kitchen setup (8" X8" X2").

Thinking about it now I could mount the PC behind the TV using the same VESA Mount bracket maybe. I didn't want the PC though in the kitchen so I used rapid run cables to the basement for the computer. The PC is small but I didn't want it such that it would be in the way of anything.

The speakers (major WAF thing) on the Tantung TS are decent sounding so it would work to (new endeavor).

Just yesterday recieved a refurshed Logitech Revue. It also has a nice small footprint so you could utilize something like that if you wanted to.

I have a second wall mounted LCD in the kitchen which is a 19" wide screen that would also work (except it has no touch screen). Footprint is compact. Sound is good on that one too. (Toshiba?)

 

[electron]

If SageTV was still in business, I would recommend a tablet running Windows XP and SageTV. SageTV could cover all your media needs (I have it in the kitchen myself with a 19" LCD, and a 12" in-wall PC which also can run SageTV), and you could run other software for e-mail. Maybe you could duplicate this setup using MythTV, as long as you don't mind Linux.

 

[Frunple]

Google TV is the way to go. I have the Logitech Revue, the new update is worth it but still not ideal, but if you can wait there are some new tv/googletv combo's coming out by LG and Vizio soon.

 

[pete_c]

Funny, cuz I had a friend looking for a new LCD TV just a few months back. I told him to not to listen to the salesperson hype the 3D or WebTV features included on many new sets because it would be a waste of money. Today I would still make the same recommendation.

So the inclusion of googletv in an LG or VIzio LCD TV wouldn't personally attract me to those LCD TV's.

 

[Frunple]

Funny, cuz I had a friend looking for a new LCD TV just a few months back. I told him to not to listen to the salesperson hype the 3D or WebTV features included on many new sets because it would be a waste of money. Today I would still make the same recommendation.

So the inclusion of googletv in an LG or VIzio LCD TV wouldn't personally attract me to those LCD TV's.

But it wasn't meant for you.

 

[easyas12]

What about "slingbox" and an small atom powered pc?  Or I guess a tablet would work?

 

[Ranger Digital]

Directv streams to iPad now if they ahve DirecTV.