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Here are some links to some sites that teach you how to build a Linux PVR:

http://www.mythtv.org/
http://anandtech.com/linux/showdoc.aspx?i=2190
http://www.linuxprofessionalsolutions.com/pavlicek /tv.html
http://ozzzy.dhis.org/poorpvr-gtk.html
http://www.bluelightning.org/ebox/status.html
http://www.cadsoft.de/people/kls/vdr/

This distribution could prove very useful in recording videos such as these.

I'm trying to build one using the Shuttle ST62K, as it has an external fanless PSU and a very quiet internal fan, thus making it almost perfect for a PVR. However the Linux support isn't as great with it as its ATI chipset is very new. I'm currently in the early stages of trying to get it sorted out.

Samba + ACL howto. I set it up recently, it's quite easy. Once the 2.6 kernel gets here it'll be even easier.

I know there are ACL filesystems for Linux, but from what I've seen they're pretty basic.

ACLs are very simple, even with NTFS. Already as they are it's very easy to make a complete mess out of them, and if it's your first time you're almost guaranteed to.

made by a friend of mine ;)

I've just started putting together the hardware yesterday. It's very do-able, and there are a few people that are actually doing a great job at setting up nice GUIs. (MythTv). I plan on basing it off of Linux, but if I can't find the neccessary parts/drivers/software, I'll end up using Windoze 98. I'm actually building the thing in a customized case that will go pretty well with my entertainment system, and I'll have it networked with my other computers for head-head action... It's not just a glorified Tivo. It's another computer on my network, who's primary function will be to replace my DVD player, VCR, CD Player, while adding a MP3 player & another spot for gaming.

It's very possible & many people are doing it.
(Media.Box, ebox, FreeplayTV, etc...)

Just a side note... This is not a replacement for Tivo or any other recorder.
It's alot more expensive & a lot harder...
This is a project for people like those that read /.

-MasMan

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."
-Albert Einstein

While the various larger distributions are geared towards multimedia functionality to different degrees, it obviously depends exactly what you want out of your box and how much you want to play with the guts (hardware and software). Many people would be happy with a DVD/VCD/mp3 player rather than a full-blown PVR, and I'm not sure how much freedom you'll get in this area with Media Center Pc's - I doubt this version of XP is designed around being able to rip, mix and burn ;) This is where some of the other Linux projects come in (some focussed on the embedded market only though). Maybe distribution in the classical sense was not the best of description for me to use, although projects like Flamethrower Linux are aiming for that - RedHat and Debian are working on multimedia based distributions, altho they are aimed more at the multimedia worker rather than player.

Projects like Dave/Dina, homeDVR, OpenPVR, MythTV and FreeVo aim at homebrew boxes somewhat akin to the Media Center idea and there are a myriad of sources for building boxes that do as much if not more than the Media Center. Flexibility is always good IMHO, and if you can start with a box that may just do DVD, DivX, CD's, mp3's and ogg, but expand it into a classic gaming machine running MAME et al as well as serving up content to the rest of your flat/house/hovel then that is "a good thing". More info at ding, eboxy.

Remember that Linux is used for commercial PVR's (and the Moxi Media Center) too and while there are companies that do these things commercially, that's normally a sign of open versions being around somewhere, especially if you like to get your hands dirty :) If you don't, then it won't be long before you new (or old) console will be able to fulfill many of these functions, again, they already can to a degree, if you don't mind hacking away a bit.

It looks like nothing more than a very small form factor PC with a "special" version of Windows on it. Nothing that a decent geek with a barebones small form factor PC and a customized Linux couldn't do... See also:

Freevo-http://freevo.sourceforge.net/
MythTV-http://www.mythtv.org/

Discuss amongst yourselves.

I am a troll, yessir yessir I am a troll. Three bags full and all the jazz.

Dude, you have to remember: Tivos are not available in some countries, eg. New Zealand, where I live. This is one reason why I'm building such a system for myself. (The hack factor is somewhat compelling as well, though).