Media PC OS

Wossi · 4 Jan 2008 at 11:02

I'm just about to order the bits for my HTPC but have no idea which OS to use. It's a choice of Vista Home Premium (32 or 64?) XPMCE or a variation of Linux (although I've never really used Linux at all).

Which would be the best one to get?

Thanks.

uv · 4 Jan 2008 at 12:08

depends how much/if you want to pay

Mint Linux is meant to be really good for Multimedia stuffs, and I found PCLinuxOS to be rather good at plug'n'play media, but there may be better distros out there specifically designed for media-centre-ness.

A quick google pulls up LinuxMCE, which looks rather good.. may give it a go myself

neil_g · 4 Jan 2008 at 12:12

you can get a free media center to sit on top of windows if you want..

http://www.gbpvr.com/index.php

Butters · 4 Jan 2008 at 13:04

Media Portal but If i had to choose over MCE or Vista, it would have to be Vista not least for its full codec support and promsing future of HD content (which MCE can't handle).

Burnsy2023 · 4 Jan 2008 at 16:02

uvmain said:
depends how much/if you want to pay

This is big issue to consider. Personally, I like Vista HP, but you can quite happily run media portal on XP or any version of Vista. Saying that, I would avoid Linux unless you have time dedicated to learn how to make it run properly.

Burnsy

uv · 4 Jan 2008 at 16:34

Burnsy2023 said:
I would avoid Linux unless you have time dedicated to learn how to make it run properly.

If it's just a media center, then on standard hardware most more 'common' distros are extremely plug and play, until you start to fiddle.

With a MCE front end, and no other use for the machine, the user has no need to fiddle, and if he's got hardware that he didn't buy from a car boot/make himself, it'll just work first time.

It's really nothing to be frightened of.. saying that, I wouldn't promote linux for a main desktop OS unless you enjoy the fiddling