What will I loose selecting Linux?

[Person99]

Hi all,

Tried searching the forum and have not really a good answer to my question. The closest I could find is almost a year old:
http://archive.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=386080

Being that I have XP, Linux and OS X boxes in my house, I'm well aware of what I will gain by using Linux as my HTPC OS (one biggie--no rebooting!)

Since I'm a noob and most of the HTPC research I have been able to do leans toward Windows-based HTPCs, I'm trying to figure out what I would loose using Linux instead of Windows.

I'm coming from a world of DVD player to Lumagen scaler to CRT projector. I want to make sure I don't loose one bit of PQ. Additionally, I wanted to make sure I could get DVD playback that is Chroma bug and macroblocking free.

So good people, is this possible?

TIA,
Dave

[MikeSM]

The only real reason to run linux on your HTPC is to run a package like Mythtv. If you just want basic A/V playback and access, you're better off sticking with windows.

Thanks,
Mike

[Person99]

Sorry, forgot to list my uses. It will never be used for gaming and probably not music playback. It will be used for DVD playback, OTA HD, PVR (including timeshifting) and movie download/playback. When the time comes to be able to scale HD content and I have HD sat, then it will be used for that.

I thought that basically MythTV = SageTV = BeyondTV. In other words, it is not like one was overwhelmingly better than the others.

Thanks,
Dave

[wolrahnaes]

Whichever one you're most comfortable with. On the Windows side, for those uses I'd probably go with MCE 2005 and a ATI HDTV Wonder.

I'm a Linux guy, so obviously the Myth + Air2PC solution is the winner for me (in fact that exact set up is what I'm researching right now), but if you're more of a Windows point-and-click guy, just stick with Windows. It will make life easier on all of us, since you won't run in to as many problems, and we won't have to see as many help posts from you.

[Person99]

Originally posted by wolrahnaes
... but if you're more of a Windows point-and-click guy, just stick with Windows. It will make life easier on all of us, since you won't run in to as many problems, and we won't have to see as many help posts from you.

Well, I have Linux currently running and for 3 years almost exclusively did Linux development including kernel modules, so I'm pretty comfortable with Linux. I am new to the HTPC thing though so I can't guarantee I won't have questions or require help. Frankly, I find the point-and-click sometimes much more difficult because you never know where to find something, give me a . file anyday!

My concern is with functionality and PQ. For me, PQ is king. I know what can be done with TheaterTek and ffdshow filters, I just want to make sure that equivalent functionality exists on the Linux side so I can run Linux.

Thanks,
Dave

[wolrahnaes]

If you've dug in to the kernel, then that convinces me that you're ready to use a Myth setup. Leave Windows are the door. Just browse the posts here and do a bit of googling to make sure your hardware is well supported, and go for it.

[bac522]

Originally posted by MikeSM
The only real reason to run linux on your HTPC is to run a package like Mythtv. If you just want basic A/V playback and access, you're better off sticking with windows.

Thanks,
Mike

Sorry, but this is a silly statement unless you qauilify your reasons with an explanation.

[darkwire]

--post tvtime:method=
Greedy2Frame,enabled=1,
pulldown=vektor,
framerate_mode=full,
judder_correction=1,
use_progressive_frame_flag=1,
chroma_filter=1,
cheap_mode=0

That is the best general line to use with a the xine dvd player that I know of :), you can also play with -post denoise3d (3 args), --post unsharp (forgot how many args).

I think with ffdshow you do have more algorithms to choose from, and you even have some scaling algorithms.

[frego]

I'm using a RH Fedora 2 machine for my living room 32" TV using an N-vidia MX 440 video card with s-video out for the pic. I don't have a capture card in it and don't get much TV to speak of so I haven't pushed real hard to get Myth going. But I think Linux is just fine for a HTPC. I haven't lost anything from the Windows world. My only complaint is that M Player often puts a blue border around the video about 1/2" on screen. I think it's an Nvidia driver issue, but am not too sure.