Building A Media Center, Need Advice On An Os/program

Barbarossa_5

Achievement Hunter
This year for Christmas I came upon the idea of converting my old desktop into a media center for my parents. I was thinking of using a Linux distribution so it'd work faster than Windows, but the issue I'm having is trying to find something that supports everything I want, namely that I need something that can use the TV tuner card I have installed as well as general DVD and file playback.

So if someone has any experience with this, I'd be most appreciative for some help.
 
In all honesty, I'd roll Windows 7. The Media Center stuff that's built into Tue OS is quite good, and can manage everything. Plus, you can get yourself Big Picture through Steam as well.

There's also an Android app called Unified Remote that can control EVERYTHING on your pc, so you wouldn't even need any new bullshit remote controls.

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I've built a setup with myth tv, and it passes the mom acceptance test, and works really well. What tuner do you have?

MythTV does all the things you mention, and more, my box is a full-fledged pvr, dvd player/recorder, and media archive/player.
 
I've been trying to sort that out, too. I spent last night putting up an Ubuntu server with MythTV. Jeez, I already hate Unity (the Ubuntu desktop) already. Also on the list to look at for me: xbmc (open-source media extender) and also Yatse for remote control via iPhone/Android.
 
I've had a lot of problems with ready-to-go versions like Mythbuntu or Mythdora.

I rolled my own with OpenSuSE/XFCE and it's a lot stabler than the other ones, and there wasn't much difficulty in configuration setup.

Also- Mythtv has an android remote app called 'MythMote' which integrates well with it.
 
As a note, the remote thing is sorta essential, as none of use posses a mobile device above flip phone level, but the tuner card comes with a remote interface so hopefully it won't be a huge issue.

@Vintage it's Hauppage, don't remember the exact model though.
 
Hauppauge are very well supported under Linux, so you should be all set (same goes for the remotes, IIRC). They've actively got/had someone on their driver team developing linux drivers for the cards.

Mine is a PVR150 that had a remote as well, it works a treat with MythTV. The only time I even need a keyboard is if something is horribly broken.

Once you know the model, post it here and we can sort out the compatibility.
 

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