What Sould I Do

[darthwouter]

Hello People,
I am about to get a hp computer with a 2.08 ghz processor
512 mb of ram
256 mb nvidia video card (vga)

I want to turn it into a media center.
I do not have tv i just want to make it able to play thing that i purchased or downloaded. What distro would be good to put on this comp?

[Sub101]

Personally I would think any Ubuntu would be appropriate here.

If you are not intending to use the station to watch TV only play purchases through say Amazon then I can't see any need for a more specific distro.

I'd wait for a few more opinions before you act though.

[Sef]

Ubuntu would be fine. Another 512 mb ram would be nice, but not necessary.

[kokkus]

Well, you won't come far with 512mb ram, but it's enough if you just wanna use your PC to write in office, surf the web and simple work things like that, but I would go for alot more ram if you wanna turn it into a media center PC.
For 512mb and less I would go for xubuntu.

For a good media center PC I would recommand at least 2gb ram.
At least if you wanna use it for gaming or / and graphical programming.
If you go for higher then 1gb, install Ubuntu.
And with Ubuntu Studio for the media part.

Good luck

[darthwouter]

Ubuntu would be fine. Another 512 mb ram would be nice, but not necessary.

yes but i want it so that its like a media center meaning when i turn it on it automatically goes into a screen that i can control remotely, play movie files on remote drives, listen to music and things like that

[kokkus]

yes but i want it so that its like a media center meaning when i turn it on it automatically goes into a screen that i can control remotely, play movie files on remote drives, listen to music and things like that

That's not special. You can do that with all PC's now our days.
But are you sure you can't get more ram?

[darthwouter]

That's not special. You can do that with all PC's now our days.
But are you sure you can't get more ram?

I can get more ram
i was just wondering if there was liek any media center app or something that i could run at login

[Sef]

i was just wondering if there was liek any media center app or something that i could run at login

So you want the app to start automatically once you login?

[darthwouter]

So you want the app to start automatically once you login?

exactly

[sleepingdragon]

I've recently done a similar thing for a friend. If you're looking to just play media files, then pick a minimal desktop package like Xubuntu or install Enlightenment (since you won't essentially see it whilst playing media files). From that, install XBMC and enjoy....