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So why aren't more companies selling boxes with preloaded MythTV?

No content controls. CableCard won't sell to anyone that cannot lock-down their systems (probably due to pressure from the content providers), so they're only available to closed-source systems, like TiVO, MediaCenter, etc... systems. As a result, MythTV can only record unencrypted broadcasts (Cable or OTA) either analog or digital.

A lot of members of the general public (that is, not the hardcore geek demographic overrepresented on Slashdot) don't want to have to buy a dedicated PC and spend hours learning how to secure it and set up MythTV.

It doesn't *have* to be a dedicated PC or even one PC - the front (display) / back (record/database) ends can be split. And you can have multiple frontends using a single backend. Split front/back ends don't even have to be the same OS,

Download and install MythBuntu or simply run "apt-get mythtv" (on Debian/-based or equivalent on RedHat, etc...). The setup is menu-driven. If your system is behind a NAT firewall there's no need for extra security, but it's all just Linux (or FreeBSD). Scheduling can be obtained from Schedules Direct for $25/year and MythTV knows all about them.

Capture/tuner cards can be bought from Amazon or where ever. I have 2 Hauppauge 250 (internal) cards in my system. MythTV even supports USB and Firewire devices - and can even use your cable decoder, if it supports USB/Firewire (which, I believe HD units are required to by law - in the US anyway).

Seriously, it took me 10 minutes to setup MythTV in 2007, from a base Ubuntu install - it's even easier now.

Coral Cache:

http://www.goodgearguide.com.au.nyud.net/article/351651/12_most_interesting_unusual_useful_linux_distros/

List of the distros:

• Damn Vulnerable Linux
• Tinfoil Hat Linux
• CAINE (Computer Aided INvestigative Environment)
• CAELinux
• Ubuntu Christian Edition
• live.linuX-gamers.net
• Parted Magic
• Musix GNU+Linux
• Zeroshell Linux
• Mythbuntu
• Damn Small Linux
• Tiny Core Linux

steveha

Yes, I have heard of MythTV... however I didn't know that it supports CableCARD. Wait - it doesn't, that was an April fool's joke.*

That means that if you're on a cable system that is anything like mine, MythTV + Digital tuner will get you... all your basic cable in analog, and then your local networks in ClearQAM. I expect my DVR to be able to receive all of the channels I pay for.

* (That seriously wasn't actually meant to be facetious. I actually read the mailing list post jokingly announcing CableCARD support and believed it for a moment. Seriously, I'm not a dick.)

make a simple to install package of Myth. A package that has/downloads all the prerequisites of the correct version, does most of the config with minimal user input and can be installed onto a vanilla Linux install (just pick a major distro or two like Red Hat or Ubuntu and ignore the whiners who keep complaining about $OBSCURE_DISTRO as this product is not for them).

I've looked at mythbuntu but haven't had the time (read: been arsed) to install it yet but the install looks straightforward but beyond the capabilities of the average user. Knopmyth is out there as well but have heard a few text based config issues with it.

Mythbuntu. MythTV done Easy.

Build a MythTV box, install boxee as well and move out of the dark ages brother!

http://www.mythbuntu.org/
http://www.boxee.tv/

Recommended tuner for mythbuntu:
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hvr2250.html

Recommended sound card:
http://www.turtlebeach.com/products/riviera/home.aspx

I can't wait until XBMC supports full hardware decoding and HDMI Audio out.

Or you could go with MythTV which supports VDPAU acceleration in the SVN version. Mythbuntu would be a good place to get it.

A few quick points:

Disclaimer: your mileage, needs and interests may vary.

1) I liked MythTV on Ubuntu which I most recently installed using Mythbuntu. The Xbmc derivatives look nice, but never so compelling I actually used one (because I was already using something I liked).
2) If you plan to use it, consider not fscking with it. Having a TV on the fritz because you tweak the software constantly can sometimes be pretty annoying (maybe mostly to the *other* people).
3) Consider 2 disks. Maybe it's just me, but after a few reinstals/etc I occasionally get sloppy and screw up my partitioning.
4) Keep a hobby PC to play around (if you like to) with and let the HTPC just work TM.
5) If you have a (non-geek) wife, consider not going the home-build route and using a Xbox or something like (which, after 4 or so years is what I use, exclusively) the D-Link DSM-750 (along with a DNLA server like the cross-platform Twonky) this way you end up with a slim, attractive, wireless (803.11n), fanless, HD streaming media device that will allow you to plug your previously computer-bound content (Ogg and MKV included) directly into your HDTV (without having hassle with it).

Of all the solutions I've used this has worked the best for me. But like I said, your ymmv (and I'd be curious to hear about it).

I think this is already possible. I believe that on http://www.mythbuntu.org/existing-ubuntu all I pushed was "Install Mythbuntu" and it opened up the package manager with a big install button. I pushed it, inserted my password, and let it run.

1. Do some research on hardware
2. DO NOT USE ATi cards.
   Some people have gotten them to work but support for ATi on Linux is lacking. Before anyone complains about the huge cost of getting a new card, you can get a cheap nVidia (FX5 or higher) for as little as $30.
3. Try it out using a Live CD
   Don't wipe out your system just yet wondering if it will work. Use a live CD and see if it work at all. If it doesn't, you can eject the disc and reboot without any harm to your system. Currently, MythDora, Mythbuntu, and KnoppMyth are the top versions
4. Understand what you want, what you need.
   For basic DVR functionality installing one the previous versions mentioned above is easy enough for most people. To get all the features, you might have to invest in some hardware. To get a networked system, you're going have to know more about Linux. For digital OTA HD TV, you need a digital OTA tuner and a video card with at least DVI out. If you are staying on analog cable and TV, you can get it running on very cheap hardware. Right now using a digital cable tuner is not fully supported as these boxes don't always have API documentation.

You should look into the Live CD versions to test out if you want to proceed. Many people are happy enough with them. KnoppMyth, MythDora, Mythbuntu.

Try Mythbuntu. I've installed it on three systems now and it's very easy to get working. I have never had to actually touch MySQL, let alone manually create a database, and the only time I've had to look in the MythTV docs was when I wanted to reconfigure a few buttons on my remote.

You can do this pretty cheap if you need to. Here is my setup. ATX computer case and power supply - I have a spendy lian li but that only gets you style points and little functionality gain over any other case. Gforce 7600gs - This is a relatively cheap card that will be able to decode 1080p hd content if you need it to. AMD X2 3800+ - Two cores is nice here so that you can run more than one cpu intensive process without getting choppiness while watching TV. I have 4GB of memory in the machine. I would recommend at least 2GB because optimally you want any HD content to be well buffered into memory. Swapping to disk will destroy your experience. A motherboard that does what you need it to do. You can get the cheapest motherboard possible and it should meet your needs. AV-710 sound card. This card will cost around 20 US dollars and it sounds just as good as an expensive creative card. It has 7.1 analog jacks and an SPDIF Optical out (if you have a receiver). HD-5500 HD tuner card - works out of the box. The only negative to this card is that the IR receiver that comes with it is somewhat of a hack to get working. I have it working if anyone has questions about that. 80GB hard drive or larger to allow for those really large HD tv feeds. A 1hr program takes up about 7GB space. mice, keyboards, displays are all things that don't really matter in the scheme of things. Mythbuntu linux works out of the box for me. I consider myself a Unix expert but I would trust my father to be able to install Mythbuntu, and all he knows how to do on a computer is turn it on and get to Solitaire. :-) Finally HE/C ACC TERK | HDTVS HDTV ANTENNA is the antenna I use. Parts list: HE/C ACC TERK | HDTVS HDTV ANTENNA $89.99 DVD_BURN NEC|7170A-01 $31.99 SND CARD CHAINTECH|CT-AV710 7.1 $21.99 Gigabyte 7600GS $85.07 CPU AMD|A64 X2 3800+ 65W AM2 $66.75 ABIT AN52 NFORCE520 AM2 $69.99 MEM 1Gx4|CORSAIR $129.98 PSU KINGWIN|ABT-350MM 350W $23.99 80GB Sata 2 hard drive ~$45 Mythbuntu http://mythbuntu.org/ $(cost of internet service+time involved with downloading it) These prices are pretty old. I'd guess that the same computer today could be put together for a few hundred less.

What I really like best is I can use my Power pack (yes I'm a silver member) or I can use Mandriva-mini and, once I"ve set up the repositories, I can type "sudo urpmi mythtv-backend" and it all goes and works.

"sudo apt-get install mythtv" or if you want to dedicate the machine for mythtv stuff only.. you can use the packages mythbuntu-desktop / mythbuntu-diskless-client / mythbuntu-diskless-server / mythbuntu-diskless-server-standalone / mythbuntu-live depending on what you need.

Or if you prefer, download the specific Mythbuntu ISO images (it uses the ubuntu repositories for everything, it's just a different 'default setup' ISO).

I used to be a silver member in Mandrivaclub (two years back I think) - but I got a bit fedup having to pay for access to repositories that provide DKMS versions of proprietary nvidia drivers and such and I didn't like the 3rd party repositories for that stuff because they were messy. I stopped my subscription when I just got fedup of the whole thing and did my own packages. Then just started using Kubuntu instead of Mandriva on my desktops because installing those things was just a simple apt-get install command or using the graphical adept manager.

The next version of http://www.mythbuntu.org/ is set to include .21. Mythbuntu is on the same release schedule as Ubuntu, so expect it around April 24th. I've been using Mythbuntu since its first alpha and it's fantastic. MUCH more user-friendly than even KnoppMyth.

For Ubuntu and MythBuntu packages for MythTV .20.2 has been released into the repositories for older releases.

http://www.mythbuntu.org/node/30

The packages are available for Feisty, Edgy and Gutsy (plus all their derivates).