There's no support for Netflix, Amazon Video, etc. That works adequately for SD resolutions but not for HD (depending on frame rate, complexity, etc).

The Raspberry Pi doesn't have a hardware h.265/HEVC decoder so it has to use the CPU for decompressing it. Is this just old school ? not cost effective any longer if you have to do 'IT' from scratch ? OR, are there better alternatives that I am not familiar with, considering I haven't thought about the setup in many years.? I've got the HTPC case that looks good next to my Amp/Receiver, the remote setup.and the comfort in a platform that works, as well as a great place to re-purpose desktop leftovers.

To the average onlooker, it might seem that I have a difficult time using a single front end, but I simply enjoy options. I am planning a hardware upgrade, as the current setup struggles a bit with 1080p H.265, but other than THAT, I am going to keep everything the same.

I currently use a Win7 setup, that boots directly to MCE without ever needing the desktop and having immediate remote control support/functionality, which I use as a springboard or launchpad to eventually get me to OpenPlex Home Theater, Kodi, Netflix etc, using the same Microsoft MCE remote/receiver setup that I have used since WinXP MCE. I think I may be stuck in a bit of a time capsule, as I plan to build yet another x86 rig for HTPC duties. With the RasPi platform and tiny Streaming/Media Boxes, powered by Linux/Android etc with glorified Cell phone/tablet hardware being so CHEAP (affordable) and readily available for the past couple years, are people still building x86 HTPCs ?

Linux media center pc 2019