[Sussex] laptop as a media center

[linux at oneandoneis2.org]

When I was shopping for the components for a new MythTV box, several  
guides informed me that we'd need an NVIDIA graphics card with the  
proprietary drivers in order to get TV-out to work: Neither ATI nor  
open-source graphics drivers do the necessary under Linux yet.

This may have changed since, but probably hasn't. .

(As a side note, we got a new TV for Christmas which has VGA-IN and  
works with any PC at all, so if you've been looking for an excuse... ;o)

Quoting Paul Howard <paul at phoward.com>:

> Afternoon all
>
> I have a project I want to get set up but not sure if its viable or not.
>
> I have a Dell Inspiron 8200 laptop that has an S-video output. I have
> currently got XP on the laptop and it hooks up via an s-video to composite
> convertor (which you get with the laptop)
>
> I want to run this laptop as a media center so I can copy video files over
> the network to the laptop and then play them on my TV. The problem is that
> under XP to get the s-video out to work you need to install the ATI drivers.
> I also needa remote that will work with the laptop.
>
> Now, is there a linux distor like knopmyth or somesuch that will a) work on
> that laptop and let it use the s-video port and b) is there a USB IR remote
> that works under Linux?
>
> Or should I just forget it and get a copy of windows media center - which I
> REALLY dont want to have to do.
>
> any ideas?
>
> cheers
>
> -- 
> Paul Howard
>
> t: +44 (0)1293 738158
> m: +44 (0)7771 512312
>
> http://www.phoward.com