Because most streaming services don't support 4k HDR on Linux. And if I'm spending thousands of dollars for my TV to play 4k HDR content, I want to be able to watch it.
I get running a Linux media server, don't get me wrong. But a dedicated windows machine for my TV seems like a waste of time and money when my TV can already do whatever that box would. It buys me very little.
The larger point though is that what you’re describing is not mass market viable. If the streaming services wanted they could shut off HTPC access overnight and they probably wouldn’t even lose a rounding error in terms of users. In a future world where every streaming service has their own stick with its own ads and own DRM I can absolutely imagine them doing that to force everyone over.
With your Ubuntu install, was it hard to get it to go above 720p? I see people in this thread saying that's the max.
Like am I taking crazy pills. I got fed up with the madness of all the streaming sticks, and putting in my password with a crappy remote and ended up dropping $300 on an old desktop from a discount computer store. Spent an hour throwing Ubuntu on it, and now bam, works like a charm.
I put the youtube, PBS Kids, and Disney+ (which we later removed) icons on the side so the kids can use it easy.
I can stream Hulu if I had an account, I can watch my Disney+, I can watch youtube, I can watch Netflix if I wanted to. Plus I can play steam games on it, set a fun screensaver. Loads of things.
The best part is I no longer have to try and put in a 12 character password with mixed case, numbers and symbols over a freaking TV remote.