htpc reading / links

[psuedomeat]

Like many of you I'm looking to build a htpc. I'd like to use it as a media server (mp3's, pics, and videos), mp3 player, dvd authoring, an hd tuner, and hd dvr.  So far I'm some of the tech is overwhelming

Comments

[notbob]

i would start looking at software and work from there. the PVR platform you choose will have a pretty significant effect on the hardware you'll want to deploy to support it. obviously, picking something like Myth will require Linux. but there are less obvious requirements (Media Center has certain hardware restrictions, BeyondTV and Sage can support more than two tuners, etc.) that'll effect what hardware you buy

[psuedomeat]

that sounds like a great idea. I'm going to create a requirements matrix, and determine which software works best within those requirements, and my skill level. I've been having a really hard time getting a grasp on the concept since it's so huge in scope.
AO