Off the top of my head
would something based on a RasberryPi, with a small touchscreen, running XBMC or similar and a large HDD not fit the bill, and be fairly compact?
(localboy purveyor of pisspoor puns, Thu 16 May 2013, 8:28, 2 replies, latest was 12 years ago)

It would, but the base-spec Pi isn't powerful enough to run XBMC, I've tried.
You'd need the more powerful one and then you're into proper money.
( Kroney, Thu 16 May 2013, 8:29, Reply)

I have my Pi running rasbmc on my TV, took about 20mins to set up.
Problem may be that it likes to download bug fixes a lot. so you'd have to either park it in wifi range or take it out and bring it in the house every night.
(PsychoChomp, Thu 16 May 2013, 8:30, Reply)

Well, if you install to the enclosed HDD
I guess you'd only need to un-mount the drive and bring that in to update on PC.
( Kroney, Thu 16 May 2013, 8:31, Reply)

you could get Nakers to help
and hardwire it straight to the PC at all times
( hartley hare Just some prick who thinks it doesn't apply to him, Thu 16 May 2013, 8:33, Reply)

Sure, if I'm happy only driving around in a 30 metre radius.

( Kroney, Thu 16 May 2013, 8:33, Reply)

Yep, or if you've got another Pi in your house then you'd only need to pop out the SD card and get it updated.

(PsychoChomp, Thu 16 May 2013, 8:33, Reply)