(2012-08-13, 10:06)LastCoder Wrote: Hi,
since I like to have
1) a real desktop in background [maintaining and other non HTPC tasks that are easier to manage with a desktop] (so OpenElec is out)
2) but a small and clean system at all [speed] and
3) it has to be based on a well known distro that is convenience food [support]
I did it that way:
Ubuntu 12.04 Server (LTS) ['cause for its longterm support and it's -2- free of desktop crap -. Lubuntu/Xubuntu/Kubuntu - all suck, are much more bloated than necessary]
+
-3- apt-get install lxde [lxde rockz - lightning fast]
+
pulse-eight eden xbmc repo [latest PVR ppa]
That's it - boots up in less than 20 secs but is still a full featured and long supported desktop, less than 100 MB RAM, less than 1 GB of space ..
Um, hey LastCoder, didn't you just roll your own lubuntu?
I'm confused; On one hand
1) you want a desktop,
-2- then you don't, and
-3- then you do...
you chose to use the
"server" distro because "it's free of desktop crap" and then you built your own Lubuntu by adding LXDE and all of it's dependencies.
I'm just trying to make sense of all that, but it totally escapes me since XBMCbuntu uses an even further watered down version of Lubuntu w/ Openbox than what you built.
http://lubuntu.net/ Wrote:Lubuntu is a fast and lightweight operating system developed by a community of Free and Open Source enthusiasts. The core of the system is based on Linux and Ubuntu . Lubuntu uses the minimal desktop LXDE, and a selection of light applications. We focus on speed and energy-efficiency. Because of this, Lubuntu has very low hardware requirements.
Furthermore;
what you get for a DE in Lubuntu / XBMCbuntu / LXDE really leaves you wanting for Gnome2 / Nautilus / Gnome Terminal features that are missing.
The file manger PCManFM can't connect to other machines / server, and how the heck do you empty the trash? ... Go: Trash Can ... then highlight everything and choose 'Delete' --AGAIN --!!
Then try to work with UXTerm or XTerm in comparison to Gnome Terminal. For one thing you can't cut, copy, or paste without a 3-button mouse in those watered down terminals.
Now try to work with more than the one hard drive you installed XBMCbuntu onto and you'll find that you'll have to edit the fstab file and chown the damn things.
No, there isn't any support for dealing with extra drives at all. There are barely any customization options available and the whole desktop experience while trying to customize your XBMC box is just a frustrating wash out which leaves you wanting to scrap the whole project and start over from scratch rolling your own on top of something really stable and useful like Lucid.
As far as the need for a lightweight DE... Please, with today's hardware, I'd rather be able to have the tools I'm accustomed to using and get things done without fighting with inferior and missing tools. Plus I like to surf, run games, and educational programs for my young daughter.
Much like Windows XP was the best thing that Microsoft ever did, I feel that Lucid was the best thing that Ubuntu ever did, and from there everything went down hill and is seemingly in a perpetual alpha state, constantly breaking and tweaking.
So, if anyone is here reading this looking for the best way to setup your media center (with DE), I suggest installing Ubuntu Lucid or Mint 13 Maya, stripping away what you don't need -OR- in a similar manner to LastCoder, install Lucid Server (base with OpenSSH), then the 'Gnome' DE and then install XBMC standalone.
Trust Me, if you want the ability to really tweak, customize, deal with the complexities of multiple hard drives and possibly RAID you will want a REAL DE system with Real GUI tools under the hood of XBMC.
Otherwise you'd better be real familiar and cozy with the CLI.
NOTE: If going the server first route and then you install a DE, you will want to disable or remove the Network-Manager that the DE installs.
Hey, a HTPC is not supposed to be portable, it defeats the purpose of being a
Home Theater PC. SO... Set your Static IP & Gateway and forget about it.
You want portability? Then you are looking for a Media Player, not a Media CENTER.
But, you could drag around a laptop with XBMC on it and share the media from the main Center over your network.
TIP: Put all of your media on drive(s) other than what you install the OS and XBMC on.
Good Luck.
.. but reinventing the wheel is always fun 
