I am working on a new home theater PC (HTPC).  I am using Mythbuntu as the installation, and I am going to play around and see how well it works as a multi-capture device and a media server.  I can have front-end and back-end servers, and from all that I have read, it looks very promising.  It will not, however, capture HD via component video, as the Blackmagic Series of cards are not supported.  I can put an HDTV tuner in it, however, and that will capture HD.  The faster the CPU, the more simultaneous streams that can be captured.

I will update more as I tweak the installation, and get things working smoothly.

Meanwhile, I have a few old computers here.  Pentium III’s.  If someone reading needs a free computer, please send me an e-mail to steve(dot)deryck(at)abattoir(dot)net.  We are doing nothing with them, and will eventually dispose of them.  I would like to see them go to a good home.