Which Linux HTPC Distro I can buy Instead of Windows Media Center Edition

[Wayne R]

I ride my first attempt at a HTPC. I3 has an Intel 550, PRO-M P7H55 Asus motherboard, 4GB of DDR3 RAM PC800 (cheap), and a LiteOn Bluray drive. It is in a mATX case with 300W power supply included. I am currently running Win7 Pro on trial this configuration with WMC. My question is whether anyone would recommend a Linux distro that you can use instead of buying a license to another copy of Win7? I know a little (very little) about testing Linux dual boot with Ubuntu, but my sister knows nothing about the operating system. We will use the Netflix system, DVD, Bluray, Pandora, and a slight web surfing. No games, so I will utilize the resident graphics. It would be good to have a system that can load a media center in the beginning, they have Wi-Fi remote control capabilities (both have Android based smart phones), and work well with Windows as I have a team in the same home network ml desktops and laptops.

[Badrunath]

I am currently using Windows (head hung in shame), but when I build a new office of the current system will live on a Linux computer running XBMC. You mentioned Android phones; I have a Nexus a HTC I use as a remote control for XBMC. Have an official client written by the developers of XBMC, and I think there are others in the Android Market which will connect to the web interface of XBMC. It’s worked completely for me, and has a utility that can be a linear or remote control to navigate through the library on the phone and press the Play button. Even if the film stops the phone rings.

[MahaGuru]

I'll look into XMBC. If it works with all distros I have my laptop back to dual boot with Ubuntu and play around with it. Netflix is not a turning point, but a sort of online streaming media is a necessity. Plus could be Hulu or Netflix-like service. I have a sister 12 years old and I do not like the idea of buying all those cartoons you see on DVD. One to avoid (rather than learning how to run a virtual machine, the teaching of my friend - I appreciate your honesty) would capture episodes Netflix Win7 on my machine, encoding to a Linux format, then running a network drive the HDPC? Any idea about the complexity of this would be?

[GeforceUser]

If you dual-boot Linux system have today, there is no benefit to XBMC personal allocation - is actually Ubuntu hacked with parts to it is slighter, and that starts by default with the program XBMC - anything is possible with any existing system Linux. XBMC has a very good plug-in system that allows additional functions in the base system, maybe there is one that allows the transmission of an acceptable source?

[Bull50]

I have read on sites and try XBMC Live version on my computer here at work. If it looks like it will work I will install next to the operating system on my HTPC when I get home. I'll try to Netflix and Hulu on it and report the results. I will as well seem into MythTV to notice if there is a benefit with respect to the Android remote feature. I am presently utilizing remote Unified, an application that lets the mouse, keyboard, and media remote control options through the Wi-Fi network.

[Blazej]

I was back and ran research by downloading Chrome ISO-based Linux operating system. I cannot find a topic where somebody has setup Chrome OS in a HTPC, so I doubt that this is an option. I know that will be utilized mainly for surfing, but there are applications that permit for things like Netflix and Hulu? I think the same based Linux kernel would have the same problems? They offer the ability to run all the storage media or a network stream? I would not lose too much time, so I thought I would ask you, at the risk of being sacrificed for my ignorance, before installing and testing the game.