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Also: http://misterhouse.sourceforge.net/, http://www.diyalarmforum.com/ and maybe even http://linuxmce.com/. Please reply to this thread if you have other relevant links.

try linuxmce

I'm a techie and I would love to switch to Ubuntu.

So far my major issue on making the switch is a media server. I have Dlink DSM-520s and they connect into my computer to play my media files. I tried Linuxmce and like normal from Linux installations ran into driver issues. I've avoided Mythtv because of all the horror stories I've heard with installs.

Still I'd love to make the switch to Ubuntu...but if I can't easily make the switch, how is Joe average computer guy going to make it?

look at the linux media centre edition page (http://linuxmce.com/) for a great example of how this can work. the wiimote has the required number of buttons (3+) and the accelerometer to be all that is needed to control it.

I suggest buying some low-range computer 'terminals' with high-end sound/graphics cards to act as media distributers (aka cable box, whatever format disc player, etc.) and picking up a high end machine to act as a media server (with good or crappy sound/graphics depending on if the server is a terminal too).

I haven't tried it myself yet, but LinuxMCE looked really promising in the videos I watched. After a little investigation, I found that it can be a little huffy about which hardware works seamlessly, but that's not an issue if you have their hardware compatibility list in your hand while buying your components. The demo video I saw on YouTube really looked interesting (I -THINK- that's the video I watched before).

You'd need to (easily) install deCSS yourself, as it doesn't come bundled for legal reasons. Not knowing the state of HD-format decryption, I can't tell you which (if either) format you'll be able to RIP to your new home entertainment nexus, but once you have the content on the computer (by hook or by crook citizen :-D) you now have high-def distribution to every screen you bought a terminal for. They even toss in a bunch of other neat packages, like integrated home-automation (lights dim when you start the movie), home security features (watch your webcam from your cellphone, and talk trash to the person in your house), a cornucopia of control/interface devices...

Heh, I sound like I'm selling the damn thing, but it's free. And remember my caveat, I've not used it myself, I was highly WOWed by the demo video though.

The PS3 needs help developing native X drivers that work on the Cell's SPEs. Linux currently runs on the PS3 Cell's PPC core, but that doesn't even have the accelerated graphics that cheap PCs have on their videocards (the PS3 RSX is locked out to Linux). The SPEs are so much more powerful, and designed for exactly the pixel pushing that X needs. Once they're running instead of sitting there, the PS3 will be by far the best $600 HD terminal out there. Especially with home theater/automation systems on it like LinuxMCE. But it needs help across that basic milestone.

Unfortunately Media Center doesn't have any QAM support. Thats the part of the switchover that scares me - not being able to use my DVR.

http://www.mythtv.org/
http://www.linuxmce.com/

See http://linuxmce.com/. Disclaimer: I've never used any of these. I am however thinking of building a media center box and noticed the LinuxMCE freshmeat announcement a few days back.

Linux MCW is where's at? It does more than most other distributions and it has the testing and quality assurance of a commercial company behind it while being a full GPL product.

Download the high-definition demo video from their page and be amazed.

http://linuxmce.com/

That is what LinuxMCE does. First you install Ubuntu, then you run a program that installs and configures a whole suite of programs including MythTV.

The demo video on their site is impressive.

AlienWare markets to the rich enthusiast community who enjoy gaming, but who aren't geeky enough to build their own rigs. Perhaps the same holds true for the home theater PC market. The knowledgable, geeky crowd can build their own LinuxMCE box on the cheap with MythTV. The crowd that doesn't feel comfortable with such things wants to just buy it and have it work. If CableCard requires extensive knowledge, then perhaps they've placed themselves outside of any real niche market.

While it's not as easy to set up as they make it appear (don't get me wrong, it's not actually that hard either - it's just not quite plug and play), Linux MCE makes Windows MCE look like Windows 3.1. I don't even have a proper capture card (thank you bit torrent until I can afford one!), but I haven't stopped playing with it all week. Home movies, music, ripping my dvd collection, organizing it, games - awesome. sgt_jake

Huh?
When I read the article is was very clearly talking about MythTV compared to Vista MCE. I don't think he tried Linux MCE at all.

Linux MCE is a very different animal and MythTV only forms a small part of it. http://linuxmce.com/ It's an amazing piece of software.

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http://www.linuxlaptops.eu/

check out Linux MCE... far more powerful and sits nicely over existing linux distros. See the nice review here

Anyone tried LinuxMCE it looks like it might bee a cool way to go http://linuxmce.com/

From the LinuxMCE Wiki:

http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Encrypted_DVD's

"The LinuxMCE that ships out of the box has a DVD player and DVD storage built-in, however it only works with DVD's that are not copy-protected with the CSS system. Admittedly this means most commercial DVD's will not work. You can insert a non-CSS encrypted DVD, play it, watch it, hit the 'copy' button to copy it to the server, and then watch it from the server without the physical disk.

If you determine that is legal in your area to do the same thing with encrypted DVD's, there are widely available software add-ons that bypass the CSS copy protection so that encrypted DVD's work just the same as non-encrypted DVD's. You can search the internet for "LinuxMCE libdvdcss" and find links to them, including instructions for Add Software?

Just guessing, but it might have something to do with this:

http://www.linuxmce.com/