Linux Media Center

[pokemon]

I was looking at building a real cheap Linux media center, hopefully using Knoppmyth, which is the Knoppix distro with a MythTV. I was looking at turning my old Dell Optiplex: 1Ghz, 256MB RAM, 20GB HDD, into a Linux Media Center. I was going to get a Winfast PV2000TV Expert as I've have the RM, but I've heard the Expert is much better. I also wanted to plug in some extra storage via USB for my music and movies. I was hoping to get a remote working with MythTV for easy access. Does this seem to be plausible, or are their things I might have to change?

I was also thinking about getting the old xbox a make over with a modchip and doing something similar, but using XBMC hopefully so I can use the DVD playback remote.

 

[linux_0]

I was looking at building a real cheap Linux media center, hopefully using Knoppmyth, which is the Knoppix distro with a MythTV. I was looking at turning my old Dell Optiplex: 1Ghz, 256MB RAM, 20GB HDD, into a Linux Media Center. I was going to get a Winfast PV2000TV Expert as I've have the RM, but I've heard the Expert is much better. I also wanted to plug in some extra storage via USB for my music and movies. I was hoping to get a remote working with MythTV for easy access. Does this seem to be plausible, or are their things I might have to change?

I was also thinking about getting the old xbox a make over with a modchip and doing something similar, but using XBMC hopefully so I can use the DVD playback remote.

Yup, this is doable.

Just make sure your TV card ( s ) are compatible.

bt848/bt878-based TV cards work best.

http://www.hauppauge.com/ cards tend to work well too.

http://mythtv.org/modules.php?name=MythFeatures

http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO-3.html

http://www.mythtv.org/docs/mythtv-HOWTO-3.html#video_capture_device

Good Luck :-D