I’m just running Linux with an always on top Kodi on an N100 mini-PC.
Works fine with a wireless remote for the purpose of being a TV Box that I just have on my living room and use in the same way as I would a commercial TV box.
Granted, I also use that as a homeserver (its seriously overpowered to just be a TV Box) but that side of things I manage remotely via SSH.
You don’t really need access to the full desktop to run Linux apps if you just want a TV Box.
I’m just running Linux with an always on top Kodi on an N100 mini-PC.
Works fine with a wireless remote for the purpose of being a TV Box that I just have on my living room and use in the same way as I would a commercial TV box.
Granted, I also use that as a homeserver (its seriously overpowered to just be a TV Box) but that side of things I manage remotely via SSH.
You don’t really need access to the full desktop to run Linux apps if you just want a TV Box.