HTPC Dilemma

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Flopsy

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Behind my TV is a lovely little Acer Revo running Openelec for XBMC as a stand alone HTPC. It gets used a fair but but the kids are whining on about getting Steam so they can use GMmod.

So dilemma is either run Openelec off a USB and put something like Elementary or Mint on the Revo or run it as a standalone Linux box with XBMC as a program.

Problem/niggles are booting directly to Openelec/XBMC made easy enough for the kids to do without me having to get up and down every 5 minutes, controlling the Linux box with a keyboard/mouse (yet another thing lying around the front room) and having no real experience of STEAM or XBMC on Linux.

Has anyone got a similar setup or any advice on what else I could use to control the system such as wireless Xbox controller etc?

These things tend to spring up when Ive got a long weekend as the tinkering demons get restless
 
Have you looked at the Steam 'Big Picture' addon for XBMC (works under Linux + OSX/Win)?
Essentially it sticks a shortcut within XBMC that'll launch Steam in 'Big Picture' mode and when you exit Steam it throws you back to XBMC - works quite well. All you need to worry about then is a keyboard/mouse for Steam.
 
visibleman said:
Have you looked at the Steam 'Big Picture' addon for XBMC (works under Linux + OSX/Win)?
Essentially it sticks a shortcut within XBMC that'll launch Steam in 'Big Picture' mode and when you exit Steam it throws you back to XBMC - works quite well. All you need to worry about then is a keyboard/mouse for Steam.
Click to expand...

I didn't know about that but I'll definitely check it out, I need to do something with it as it's a bit of a waste leaving it just running openelec
 
Well installed Steam on Ubuntu and I have to say its hopeless. Ubuntu seems slower than XP and Steam cant launch any games. I only installed Ubuntu as its the only officially supported distro and to be honest its bought all the reasons I stopped using it years ago back. This is running on a revo with 4GB RAM and an AMD E450 CPU, should handle it fairly easy.
Looks like some distor hoppings needed
 
Oh dear, Mint is the latest casualty, overscan on the live USB so installed to HDD. Go to do the updates and its failing all the while, Linux really isnt doing me any favours at the mo. Im going with Win 7 for now to at least try and get a setup while I read up/decide whether Linux is the way to go (not a fanboi BTW as Im on the iMac at he mo)
 
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