[mythtv-users] Newbie... Help Requested

[jazzman at exdomain.org]

Hi all,

I'm a total newb when it comes to PVR stuff, but I'm a computer guy by 
trade and by hobby, so I thought a PVR was something I could use. I was 
wondering if I could ask a few questions and get a few thoughts on my 
proposed setup and whether or not it's feasible to do it.

I have a spare Gateway Essentials pc sitting around that would be ideal 
for this. It's a VERY small case (bookshelf, perhaps) that has an 800mhz 
P3 celeron, about 256mb (maybe more) of RAM, and a 40GB hard drive (drives 
are cheap though, so a new drive is easy enough if I need). It's got a 
built on Intel (8153 or something like that) video card and a generic 
sound card built on, along with 5 or 6 USB ports, a CDrom drive, and a 
floppy drive. I know for certain the hardware in the box is linux friendly 
because this machine used to be my mail server for a few years.

I plan on adding a Hauppage PVR 150 MCE Low Profile card (since the case
is not full size. It's basically the same card as the PVR 150 but it's low
profile (so it has a few less fancy connectors), and no IR port for remote
control interface and such. I know it's a Media Center Edition, but the
Hauppage guys told me it should be linux compatible and that the WIN in
the title (WinPVR) is just a name.  Since I saw MythTV is PVR150
compatible, and Hauppage says the PVR150lp is the same as the PVR150, I 
thought this card should be ok.

Then, I figured I could add a USB receiver/transmitter and buy a remote 
for it on ebay or something, install linux and MythTV (or Win and MythTV 
since I saw something about a windows version? Maybe I was mistaken), and 
basically make my own TIVO type device.

Does this hardware setup sound reasonable? Anything I should look out for? 
Any recommendations for the usb IR receiver/transmitter?

Thanks in advance! :)
Marc