I have a couple of Reolink cameras that come with excellent software for Windows, but flakey software for Mac, which I have. I was thinking of getting a cheap (around $150) dedicated Windows machine to run the cameras and record footage on an external hdd or SD card.
Would this be ok: CHUWI Hi8 Pro Dual OS Tablet? or a Windows Intel stick I could plug into a monitor?
How about a Raspberry Pi?
Why would he buy a computer aimed at school children?
Why not use a NAS, specifically one from Synology? I believe they have Reolink support. Install Plex and it can double up as a media server.
This is exactly what I use, its excellent. It was cheap to buy, backs up my mac like a time machine, is easy to use, and the surveillance software is second to none. I also use it as a file server.
What setup do you have?
I just bought a Synology 215J, then put in a 3TB hdd. 1tb is for surveillance, 1tb is a network hdd/media server, 1tb is time machine. I had to buy 2 licenses for my cameras (I have 4 and it came with 2 free licenses) but it works perfectly. Love it. Easy to use, never fails.
Also have a spare bay for expansion.
if it is IP camera, can get a NVR for around $60 + a hard disk
For 24 hour operation you need a HP Microserver OR Intel nuc
Wintel Stick or Chuvi is not resillient enough for that kind of stuff, apparently.
Microserver (no OS) will set you back $200 for a Pentium version
see https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/243408
NUC is around $170~220 for a barebones unit
http://www.mwave.com.au/barebone-systems/barebone-desktops
Depending on how much footage you want to archive, the Microserver can have a lot more storage than a NUC, but you'll put up with a bigger elect. bill and more noise.