Diary of a Network Geek

The trials and tribulations of a Certified Novell Engineer who's been stranded in Houston, Texas.

4/7/2006

Mini-ITX PVR

Filed under: Fun,Fun Work,Linux,The Network Geek at Home — Posted by the Network Geek during the Hour of the Tiger which is terribly early in the morning or 5:19 am for you boring, normal people.
The moon is Waning Gibbous

Okay, what does that alphabet soup mean?
In short, it’s a tiny, OpenSource, Do-It-Yourself Tivo. The Mini-ITX standard defines a super-small motherboard and system. In this case, they took a pretty standard mini system and converted it by adding a larger harddrive and a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) card. The system runs Ubuntu Linux and MythTV, which are both available free from the Internet.
Really, this is a very cool thing and it looks easy enough that most slightly experienced users could manage it. Go to the article on XYZ Computing and see for yourself. Mainly, you have to get a small computer, upgrade or add the harddrive, upgrade or add the special video card, and install the operating system and one, very special, program. You know, I might just do this myself! Based on the prices of the equipment, it wouldn’t be that expensive at all!

And, besides, it’s a great way to spend Friday afternoon, fantasizing about the wonders of technology.

9 Comments

  1. askljdfh;alskjfd;laksjf;olsf

    Comment by wendi — 4/7/2006 @ 12:46 pm

  2. Trying to tell me something, Wendi? 😉
    Hey, sometimes, I just Geek out. What can I tell you? It’s who I am!

    Comment by the Network Geek — 4/7/2006 @ 1:01 pm

  3. Ummmm… ok. Does it record tv shows? Cause I like tv….

    Comment by dasi — 4/7/2006 @ 2:14 pm

  4. A-Yup! It sure does!
    You know, one of these days, I’ll have the time, space and resources to actually do some of these fun, little projects I babble about. *sigh* Someday…. 😉

    Comment by the Network Geek — 4/7/2006 @ 2:17 pm

  5. You and TheMan would get along famously! You know that, right?

    Comment by Deirdre — 4/7/2006 @ 7:34 pm

  6. I’m totally like Wendi tonight…
    glurgble sdboywe bhwnes !!!
    Bonwers poienjt klserxt soaidr hnrtwse jor!!
    Iosw ?
    SDBLSDJF SBHOIDUTEW LKWERN XOCIBU!!!!

    Comment by Blondie — 4/8/2006 @ 1:07 am

  7. I am with Wendi. English please.

    Comment by Thomas — 4/8/2006 @ 1:44 am

  8. I’m glad you think so, D. Nice to know that someone else out there thinks this stuff is cool.
    Blondie and Thomas, well, sometimes, the Geek in me just takes over. What can I say? I think it’s one of my more endearing traits. And that’s the story I’m stickin’ with! 😉

    Comment by the Network Geek — 4/8/2006 @ 11:25 am

  9. What the hell are you talking about. I swear I read this 8 times and was no closer to understanding – even went to the links…. but I’m back of the pack dumb.

    Comment by Matt — 4/9/2006 @ 11:29 am

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