Building a simple HTPC

I am starting a new project on building a HTPC using a old computer that I already own. I actually don’t watch a lot of television, but my fiancee does. I am hoping to learn something new building a HTPC from scratch instead of buying a TIVO.

The HTPC will have the following requirements

• Output standard television video and audio
• Accepts DVD, and CD media.
• Play DVD, VCD, and CD.
• Record television programs.
• Archive VCR tapes
• Display the weather.
• Play video files: AVI, Mpeg, and WMV.
• Play audio files: mp3, rm, and asf.
• Have some provision for backup
• Remote controlled

I am going to use the software MythTV.

• MythTV can be installed on a really low powered machine.
• The architecture allow a split between the front and the back end. Ultimately, I like to be able to setup a “home” server that will be use to store tax return, audio, video, and telephone services, etc.
• MythTV is a fairly mature product.
• MythTV is free.

The downside is that setting up MythTV is probably not trivial. Despite the gains Linux has made over the years, setting up a system using Windows is probably still easier.