HTPC

[boomhower]

I have given up on servers and am looking at building a very very cheap HTPC. It will be used for sabnzb and playing said files in 1080P. Sound isn't a huge deal as I don't have a fancy home theater, just a cheap Sony soundbar that isn't even hooked up at the moment.

Is there a version of Linux that is simple enough for Linux dummies that suites this task? I know exactly jack about Linux and don't want to invest a ton of time into learning it, but my budget will be a lot happier without spending a $100 on Windows. I will be using an E-350 based mobo and will be willing to base the decision on which on according to the OS needs if need be. I would really like to use the ASUS E35M1-I DELUXE since everything is built in but will the BT and wifi work? I don't need much software as sabnzb and VLC both work on Linux. I just want to be able to install it and go. Ideally I'd like to be able to use a BT keyboard with a trackpad or ball built in, will this be an issue?(or an iPhone/iPad) My needs aren't great but I'm going the HTPC route because I'm tired of fighting with software issues. I was worried about Netflix but there does appear to be a Linux version of Silverlight, does it work?

Thoughts, ideas, or recommendations?

edit
HDMI has to work as well. No blueray though so HDCP isn't an issue.

 

[deanx0r]

Keep your files and sabnzb on a dedicated low power server. It'll make management much easier and you won't have to worry about expandability on your htpc.

Traditional front end softwares for HTPC are XBMC, Plex or Boxee, and are usually installed on ION2 atom platforms or Mac Minis. You should youtube those programs to get a demo of what they can do for you.

Boxee also has a commercial box out there, and is probably the more polished experience, but the hardware isn't the best. ION2 platforms don't offer the smoothest experiences either (in menus).

AppleTV2 with XBMC or Plex is not a bad deal either for only $99 w/ the remote control, but you are limited to 720p resolution. I used a Boxee Box and an ION2 htpc, but my personal favourite would be a Mac Mini based htpc if I can justify the expense.

 

[boomhower]

Thanks. I'm not really worried about expandability as I don't collect video, just watch and delete. I may or may not use it to store my music but my collection is <10GB's. A 500GB HD would be more than enough. I've went the server route but can't find anything I like and am tired of wasting money on it. I love WHS but since they changed to Vail I don't care for it nearly as much. I bought a QNAP and that experience was absolutely horrible and don't care to spend another $200 to try Synology. I would love to go the mac mini route as I am transitioning to the Apple ecosystem but I don't have $600 to invest in this project, hence why I am looking at linux to start with. The older ones don't look to have the juice for 1080P. I'm saving for the DP on a house so I'm trying to keep costs to an absolute minimum. I'll buy Windows if I have too but damn I just don't want to send anymore money to Redmond. If it wasn't for my love of sab I wouldn't even be screwing with this.

 

[CSMR]

I have given up on servers and am looking at building a very very cheap HTPC. It will be used for sabnzb and playing said files in 1080P. Sound isn't a huge deal as I don't have a fancy home theater, just a cheap Sony soundbar that isn't even hooked up at the moment.

Is there a version of Linux that is simple enough for Linux dummies that suites this task? I know exactly jack about Linux and don't want to invest a ton of time into learning it, but my budget will be a lot happier without spending a $100 on Windows.

If you hadn't given up on servers, it might be worthwhile to learn linux. Linux is a good and popular OS for servers.
On any client you set up yourself, including HTPC, get a version of Windows. Even if you succeed in doing the required learning for linux, you may not even be able to do essential things like hardware accelerated video on a linux HTPC box.

I don't need much software as sabnzb and VLC both work on Linux.

This is not HTPC software. HTPCs are remote-controlled. Check out XBMC which has some linux support I think, or I would recommend mediaportal (otherwise XBMC or WMC) for windows.

I just want to be able to install it and go.

HTPCs are typically hard to set up. Come back in a few years and HTPCs will be easy. Or use WMC, easy but the functionality is more limited.

My needs aren't great but I'm going the HTPC route because I'm tired of fighting with software issues.

Compared to standard home theatre systems, or dedicated network media players, or anything dedicated, HTPCs have a lot of software issues. For some reason you are comparing to servers which makes little sense to me. TBH I think you need to learn what these terms mean (server, HTPC).

 

[boomhower]

If you hadn't given up on servers, it might be worthwhile to learn linux. Linux is a good and popular OS for servers.
On any client you set up yourself, including HTPC, get a version of Windows. Even if you succeed in doing the required learning for linux, you may not even be able to do essential things like hardware accelerated video on a linux HTPC box.

This is not HTPC software. HTPCs are remote-controlled. Check out XBMC which has some linux support I think, or I would recommend mediaportal (otherwise XBMC or WMC) for windows.

HTPCs are typically hard to set up. Come back in a few years and HTPCs will be easy. Or use WMC, easy but the functionality is more limited.

Compared to standard home theatre systems, or dedicated network media players, or anything dedicated, HTPCs have a lot of software issues. For some reason you are comparing to servers which makes little sense to me. TBH I think you need to learn what these terms mean (server, HTPC).

I say HTPC because that's what it will be, just a very simple one. It's just going to do the simple things I listed. Yes, a traditional one will be hooked to cable or have a cable card and do PVR/DVR duties, have a fancy front end, among other things. I desire something similar just very simple in a nature.

When I had a server it performed the same function. I ran sab but then streamed to a WD Live TV box. Different means to the same end. I did have it set up as an iTunes server and it also did back ups of me and my wife's notebooks but those functions aren't necessary but were used since they were there. That's why I made the comparison.


Sent from my iPhone 4S using Tapatalk

 

[Matt1970]

If HTPCs are typically hard to set up. Come back in a few years and HTPCs will be easy. Or use WMC, easy but the functionality is more limited.

Compared to standard home theatre systems, or dedicated network media players, or anything dedicated, HTPCs have a lot of software issues. For some reason you are comparing to servers which makes little sense to me. TBH I think you need to learn what these terms mean (server, HTPC).

I use a Windows machine for my HTPC. Even an old XP machine will work. A $30 Video card will do 1080p video with no problem. $50 on a bigger hard drive if you need and you are good to go. The K-lite Codec pack will have the codecs for any type of video you can trow at it.

 

[todpod]

I had a Ubuntu box setup to play videos, not real powerful either only 256meg of ram and ran vlc. If you keep it simple ubuntu will work without to much hassle. Video card is the key but you don't need anything superpowerful

 

[VirtualLarry]

I really suggest Windows 7 for a HTPC. You can thank me later. Stuff like MPC-HC's 1080P MKV hardware-accelerated decoding support was very hit or miss under XP, mostly miss. I am using a 780G chipset and a semi-fast (2.3Ghz) dual-core. It would skip and stutter playing 1080P MKV HD-DVD rips of Planet Earth. Under Win7, it plays perfectly smooth, and takes advantage of hardware acceleration for that and Flash online video.

I don't have a lot of Linux experience, but if something doesn't even work right in XP, expecting it to work in Linux is probably madness.