I'm about to build my first HTPC. I'm using the following components:

# Apex MI-008 case
# Zotac GF9300 mini-ITX motherboard
# Intel E5300 Dual-core CPU
# 4GB OCZ RAM

This will primarily be streaming from my little WHS server; I'll use it to watch Hulu and Netflix if those ever get working reliably from within XBMC. I will probably end up using the wireless networking component of the motherboard due to some odd cable layouts in my apartment.

I've settled on using XBMC (over Boxee or Windows Media Center) and I must say that the 'Live' install seems pretty attractive. I like the fact that I won't need a hard drive in the system and I like that it's all pre-configured to boot up straight to XBMC; the girlfriend-factor is strong in this build, and after the initial setup it needs to Just Work all the time.

I'm figuring that I can just run everything off of a 4GB USB flash drive.

I'm relatively new to Linux and I'd rather not have to dig around too much in order to get things set up, although I realize that some will be required. How easy is it to find network shares, manage the various screen resolutions and audio settings on an XBMC Live system? Do I need to do all of that via the command line? I have a few other computers on the network, so will it be easy to get remote access to the system to configure it?

There seems to be plenty of info about XBMC Live out there, but precious few actual sites that give the overall user experience. Can anyone provide a bit of insight?

Thanks!

I don't use XBMC Live (I install XBMC from sources), but this forum will help answer any questions you have about it: http://www.xbmc.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=52

I just built a similar system to what you are describing except I used the ZOTAC ION/Atom combo. unfortunately I have been having lots of problems getting XBMC live to work correctly....

wrong video refresh rates
fast audio playback
no GUI sounds...
every 3-5 reboots, the whole thing just craps out and I need to start from scratch....
VDPAU is not working at all for me. I cannot play any BD rips I have....

unfortunately I am having far better luck under windows 7 but the interface is still not XBMC>....

There is still a fair amount of hacking involved. I cannot duplicate the success that others claim despite using unix and variations everyday at work for 20+ years and having been hacking with XBMC since it was XBMC and I personally own and use 11 xboxes... YMMV....

hopefully the fall release will package all the update hacks and drivers and make this easier. The actual process of creating the USB drive is simple and fast but thats when the real fun starts....

Sean

I would NOT use Live version as it is way too old, instead I would (and do) use the SVN version XBMC on a Minimal Jaunty installation. Does VDPAU even function properly under 9.04 Live?

Live will either work perfectly out of the box, or it won't. If it doesn't, then getting it to work is an absolute nightmare. Save yourself the hassle and go with a full Ubuntu installation, then install XBMC following these instructions (http://ubuntumanual.org/posts/176/install-or-upgrade-to-all-new-xbmc-9-04-in-ubuntu-jaunty).

but those instructions are quite incomplete if you are using ION. There are updated drivers, asoundrc hacks, and xorg.conf hacks to name a few you are going to need to apply after that... overall its a PITA at the moment....

That is the route I will go once I find some time to get back to hacking the ION rig...

Sean