I am currently using Vista media center and before that was using MCE 2005. I've decided it is time to get off of the Microsoft train for several reasons. I don't feel like having a flame war or anything so we'll just say those reasons are my own. I've played with Linux here and there in the past (Ubuntu and Fedora) and didn't find it too daunting. I don't mind a learning curve since I learn very, very fast.

Any system will be primarily for HTPC use and light web browsing. I need some recommendations on where to start. I tried installing Myth from the ubuntu repositories on Dapper Dan, but could never get it to work. I've seen Mythbuntu and Mythdora and both look good. However, I'm not sure if those or a full distro would be best for me.

Basically, I need something that can:

Play Video in .vob (DVD playback), .mpg, .ts, .avi (xvid), and .mkv with support for 720p/1080p with DD/DTS sound

Play Audio in .mp3, flac, .wav, and .mpa

Browse the web (not sure if mythdora or mythbunut can do this or if they are "appliance" distros)

Occasionally use mencoder for x264 encoding


What would you guys suggest as my best OS option? I would like to use something that will let me use my Nvidia DualTV card, but can get a Hauppauge if necessary. However, I really like the MCE remote and would like to use it if at all possible. Thanks for your help.

If you are really set on a MCE-like front end, then you should use Mythbuntu as the base. It allows you to add the full Ubuntu desktop environment after you get Myth up and running. Myth can do everything you want with a set-top like interface, including browsing.

An alternative MCE-like front end is Freevo. Google to see if it's what you want.

In the years I used XP on a den LCD and in my basement theater, I never used a set-top like front end like MCE/Sage/Beyond/etc. I was never a believer in them.

I used straight XP Pro with the Classic theme with an IR keybaord.

That said, I plan to add a Myth box or two for easy cable TV recording for the wife (no WinTV 2000 like recording app for Linux), plus the Myth front end will probably be easier for her to navigate movies, music, pictures and TV recordings on my home fileserver.

But I wil keep a stock Gnome/Xfce desktop handy on the theater machines for other chores, like editing videos, authoring DVDs with menus, ripping discs with Fab Decrypter and other tasks.

You may want to consider LinuxMCE, also. It's based on kubuntu and mythtv, plus it has home automation & security features. I normally use Gentoo, but I'm setting up one now.

I'm curious what the advantage is to install mythbuntu over say kubuntu and adding mythTV? easier setup is my guess.

I'm curious what the advantage is to install mythbuntu over say kubuntu and adding mythTV? easier setup is my guess.

I don't know if adding Myth after installing x/k/ubuntu would give you the install wizards and Mythbuntu Control Center GUI that Mythbuntu gives you-

http://www.mythbuntu.org/

You should be able to add it to a normal Ubuntu install. First activate the universe and multiverse repositories.

I have to recommend a normal Ubuntu install and then put Mythbuntu packages on top of it. I found Mythbuntu distro proper to be missing too many useful things and disk is so cheap that the extra junk you wont need that you get with Ubuntu is a non issue.

I have to recommend a normal Ubuntu install and then put Mythbuntu packages on top of it. I found Mythbuntu distro proper to be missing too many useful things and disk is so cheap that the extra junk you wont need that you get with Ubuntu is a non issue.

Good call- I wasn't certain if you could add mythbuntu after a normal x/k/ubuntu install. I knew you could install the Myth packages.

I think I'll plan to use Xbuntu on my next install, then add Mytbuntu. I've been wanting to use Xfce to try to lighten up the GUI resource usage on lower spec machines vs Gnome and KDE.

You may want to consider LinuxMCE, also. It's based on kubuntu and mythtv, plus it has home automation & security features. I normally use Gentoo, but I'm setting up one now.

Disregard this if GL compositing interferes with your video playback. :(

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I've downloaded Mythdora, Mythbuntu, and LinuxMCE to try out. It's looking like I'll be going with LinuxMCE based on first impressions. The main reason for needing a front-end package is for the sanity of the other people in the house that will be using it. LinuxMCE seems to be the most user friendly and feature filled. I really like the use of alpha blending for the menus to keep them unobtrusive. Thanks again for all the advice.

That's what everyone thinks when they first see Linux MCE, but I think few people actually get it up and running effectively. I've been playing with it for awhile now, and although I love the concept, it's still very rough around the edges.

The most maddening thing is their website. A lot of the information in the Wiki is hopelessly out of date, although I have seen a recent effort to start cleaning it up. The forums can be a little hostile, so be sure to search thoroughly for info before posting, and keep your posts short and to the point, or you will get jumped on or ignored.

I keep plodding through with it trying to setup a solution, and am starting to make progress when I get free time, which hasn't been often the last few weeks. There are definitely times I consider just scrapping it and going with Mythbuntu, but I keep hanging in there because it has so much potential.

Not sure why you'd want to put up with that bugfest when Myth with the blootube-wide theme looks pretty damn good even if you are coming from MCE. Works pretty damn good too if you don't mind a few tweaks. Gets the all-important WAF for me.

The only thing I find lacking is not having a show running in a window while I browse the program guide (for scheduling future records, not for live TV). But that's not much of an issue as long as you can use MythWeb for that.

The issue that I have with Myth is that I can't seem to get it to behave with my directory structure for movies and music. I just want the damn thing to read what I have in an explorer type interface without trying to do anything fancy (eg. read the tags and organize).

Fact is I have music from the late 90's which are tagless and that just screws the whole thing up. I just could not come to terms with the application.

I now use Gnome, mplayer, and SMPlayer as the frontend to mplayer. This has everything working perfectly for me.

The issue that I have with Myth is that I can't seem to get it to behave with my directory structure for movies and music. I just want the damn thing to read what I have in an explorer type interface without trying to do anything fancy (eg. read the tags and organize).

Fact is I have music from the late 90's which are tagless and that just screws the whole thing up. I just could not come to terms with the application.

I now use Gnome, mplayer, and SMPlayer as the frontend to mplayer. This has everything working perfectly for me.

Thanks for making the point re: Myth and simple directory navigation for media file access.

This is one of my pet peeves with Myth, iTunes, and similar media (photo, music, video) organizing apps. Too often, they want to use their own database-like indexing systems and obfuscated file system structures, rather than the file/folder hierarchy of the native filesystem, i.e. simple NTFS, ext3 directory paths you've established. Yes, I recognize that they need to search all the files at least once and maintain an index file somewhere, but that file ought to be singular (plus backup) and use standard, easy to read/access conventions, like ASCII text. XML structures, etc.

But any media organizing and playing app ought to allow simple file access and folder navigation- see Geexbox or media players like SMplayer for set top and desktop environment examples- no "importation" needed, just simple file system navigation.

Thanks for making the point re: Myth and simple directory navigation for media file access.

This is one of my pet peeves with Myth, iTunes, and similar media (photo, music, video) organizing apps. Too often, they want to use their own database-like indexing systems and obfuscated file system structures, rather than the file/folder hierarchy of the native filesystem, i.e. simple NTFS, ext3 directory paths you've established. Yes, I recognize that they need to search all the files at least once and maintain an index file somewhere, but that file ought to be singular (plus backup) and use standard, easy to read/access conventions, like ASCII text. XML structures, etc.

But any media organizing and playing app ought to allow simple file access and folder navigation- see Geexbox or media players like SMplayer for set top and desktop environment examples- no "importation" needed, just simple file system navigation.

I had the same problem when copying mom's music over from XP, but if you go to Utilities / Setup --> Setup --> Media Settings --> Music Settings --> Player Settings, you can select "show entire music tree" which lets you navigate through the directory structure in the MythMusic player.

I have to recommend a normal Ubuntu install and then put Mythbuntu packages on top of it. I found Mythbuntu distro proper to be missing too many useful things and disk is so cheap that the extra junk you wont need that you get with Ubuntu is a non issue.
I somewhat second this. My most trouble free Myth install was not from a Myth distro but rather an Ubuntu install to ---> a MythTV package install after. I've never tried installing a mythtv distro on top of Ubuntu/Debian/Fedora.

Installing Ubuntu first and selecting the Myth packages via the package/update manager feature worked perfectly. The only extra effort was getting lirc to work with the built-in IR equip on my PVR-150 to control my Sat box.

All in all, very trouble free and I'm able to update the packages without fear of myth-ing something up!

It was just as easy to update the Mythbuntu install so that it resembles a Ubuntu install. But I agree, if it's a full desktop PC that you would like, then install the full version.

I did find Mythbuntu very easy to configure, especially the MCE remote that I am using. If remotes are more difficult to configure on a regular install, then this would be a good reason to start with Mythbuntu.

The issue that I have with Myth is that I can't seem to get it to behave with my directory structure for movies and music. I just want the damn thing to read what I have in an explorer type interface without trying to do anything fancy (eg. read the tags and organize).

Fact is I have music from the late 90's which are tagless and that just screws the whole thing up. I just could not come to terms with the application.

I now use Gnome, mplayer, and SMPlayer as the frontend to mplayer. This has everything working perfectly for me.
Well, in that case, you will like Freevo (I think). It uses your directory structure and does not try any fancy stuff such as database creation etc. It uses xml files to control everything.

Give it a shot.

Hope that helps.

Partha

Well, in that case, you will like Freevo (I think). It uses your directory structure and does not try any fancy stuff such as database creation etc. It uses xml files to control everything.

Give it a shot.

Hope that helps.

Partha

Oh! thanks for the heads up on this. I'll definitely take a look and see what I can do with it. Right now I'm just using the Gnome desktop and SMPlayer (frontend for mplayer).