Info about HTPCs

[Mikey1280]

Im not really sure if this is the right place but anyway... I am thinking about building a small htpc to use as a dvd player and hard drive recorder. Not really sure how it all works tbh, can htpcs be used with old tvs (CRTs with scart input)? How would I use an htpc to record programs from TV, how do I connect it to the TV? What OS should I run, do I need MCE?

Sorry for the noobish questions guys but I know nothing about HTPCs

 

[Mikey1280]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm still rather puzzled about how I use it. I have a sky box and old TV with scart inputs. Do I put the HTPC between the sky box and the TV, if so how? What do I need?