Recommend a Home Theater OS

[somabc]

Right I'm going to reinstall a HTPC that currently has Vista.

 

What OS/media player do you think I should install?

 

I'm considering -

 

Windows 7

Ubuntu with Boxee

Mythubuntu

Hackintosh with Boxee?

[Jamo]

Ive tried the other media centres and I have to say that the Windows 7 one with added My Movies plugin is my favourite. So easy to use and looks good!

[cromertech]

If i was going to redo mine it would be mythubuntu. I had it as a dual boot and was almost tempted to switch permanently. In fact I might just switch over when i get home

 

The graphical interface is probably on a par with vista's media centre and as i haven't seen windows 7 yet I wouldn't imagine it's a great departure. However with myth tv it's much more expandable to cater for any add-on you can think of.

[Jamo]

From Vistas, it now supports mutilple tuners and I belive analogue and digital tuners. Plus it supports blu ray out the box and other HD formats.

[tmcd35]

I've always, always wanted to build a MythTV system. The ultimate fantasy would be to incorporate that into a Linux-From-Scratch or NetBSD build. Unfortunately I've never found the funds for the necessary hardware

[somabc]

I really want something I can setup and leave non technical people to use without breaking it!

 

I am thinking of going the mythubuntu front end / back end route. I have a fairly heavy duty PC with a tuner in another room, it has an Antec P180 case so could take 6 SATA drives if I move the drives from the HTPC to there. Currently have 4 drives in this PC and 2 in the HTPC.

 

http://img.hexus.net/v2/cases/antec/P180/14.jpg

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Home_theater_PC_front_with_keyboard.jpg

 

 

Can you use a mythubuntu backend as a regular ubuntu desktop? Is it easy to boot the frontend fully configured without an HD?

 

Well it looks like that's my weekend sorted

Edited April 2, 2009 by somabc

[SYNACK]

Windows 7 is really good in this area, it also has nice features like auto library shareing with any Windows Media player equiped machines for effortless streaming of your recorded programs to other computers about the house if needs be. The UI is an upgrade from the Vista one and makes most menus seemless with video.

[FN-GM]

There is a linux one called LinuxMCE it looks really cool on the demo. google it and take a look