TV-output in Linux
 

Which distro and which video card have the best support for TV output for video (acting as my fulltime monitor)? I don't have the option for a monitor -- its out of the question, unfortunately. I only have about $100 to play with.

Anybody? I know that somebody has an opinion.

Wait, are you saying you will be using this machine as a normal machine, only using TV instead of a monitor? Dont bother. A TV runs at some obscenely low resolution (like 400x300) so you cant really run anything on it. It works fine if you are using it in a tivo-like setup, but dont even bother if you want to use a TV to replace your monitor.

As for distro, it doesnt really matter I dont think. I just finished setting up MythTV (www.mythtv.org, a PVR program, like Tivo), and used a knoppix based install (knoppmyth, www.mysettopbox.tv) which is basically Debian. Having apt-get is nice. As for a card, I got an old ge-force with tv out on ebay for like $20, it works fine. IIRC, there is a program called nvtv that has a graphical config for the TV-out on a nvidia card. Personally, I would stick to nvidia cards in Linux, they tend to have better support. Poke around on the KnoppMyth and MythTV sites/forums/mailing lists for more info.

i just got linux today and mandrake seems to have tv support in the control panel.

Dude, you can get a 17" monitor for $100 these days.

Don't bother with some piddly ass TV card for your primary video output device.

Its a question of space. This is going to be a tivo like setup and there is nowhere to put a computer monitor amongst my entertainment center equipment. Ergo, monitor is out the question and I must use the TV as my fulltime display.

I'll take a look at Mandrake.