Best non Windows Operating System for HTPC?

[deadshots]

So i'm building a HTPC, and would like to know if there are any better options as far as OS's. I mean the build will run windows 7 just fine, but if there's something better or equal that would be nice too. Save me some money buying another windows disk. Netflix, DVD's, downloaded movies, and music is all I really need it to do. Any suggestions?

 

[turkey3_scratch]

I like Ubuntu a lot. It's very efficient and reliable, less prone to crashing.

 

[Paul NZ]

Only free one would be linux

 

[deadshots]

I've heard linux doesn't do so well with netflix, which is mainly what my wife uses

 

[Paul NZ]

Well unless youre going to buy a mac, theres nothing else

 

[deadshots]

Any opinions on XBMC Linux?

 

[Oberon_Smite]

I've heard linux doesn't do so well with netflix, which is mainly what my wife uses

You should be good if you get all your codecs. You also should install google chrome, but replace the linux flash with chromes pepper flash, as it gets updates. Ubuntu is a great OS, and Canonical can make a UI look pretty. Try it on a live USB stick, and see if you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWUf45ZPAQM&spfreload=10%20Message%3A%20Unexpected%20end%20of%20input%20(url%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQWUf45ZPAQM)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DbMgeB3YUU&spfreload=10%20Message%3A%20Unexpected%20end%20of%20input%20(url%3A%20http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D_DbMgeB3YUU)

 

[rehed21]

In the past I have used a workaround to get Netflix to work on Linux. According to this article, there is now direct support through Chrome: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/10/netflix-support-comes-to-ubuntu/

For your needs, I would suggest a Linux distro. I like Zorin OS because it feels similar to Windows. There are a ton of others you can try out "live" on a USB stick to see if you like it and whether it supports your hardware.

 

[Oberon_Smite]

In the past I have used a workaround to get Netflix to work on Linux. According to this article, there is now direct support through Chrome: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/10/netflix-support-comes-to-ubuntu/

For your needs, I would suggest a Linux distro. I like Zorin OS because it feels similar to Windows. There are a ton of others you can try out "live" on a USB stick to see if you like it and whether it supports your hardware.

Zorin sounds nice. Any Nvidia support? Considering a dual boot with Ubuntu, Fedora, or Steam OS for my 970 or 960 build

 

[rehed21]

To the best of my knowledge all linux distros have generic support for both AMD and Nvidia (like Windows default drivers). I would imagine Nvidia offers linux drivers, but they are not as easy to install on Linux as compared to Windows since they require command line instructions to install.

 

[deadshots]

In the past I have used a workaround to get Netflix to work on Linux. According to this article, there is now direct support through Chrome: http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/10/netflix-support-comes-to-ubuntu/

For your needs, I would suggest a Linux distro. I like Zorin OS because it feels similar to Windows. There are a ton of others you can try out "live" on a USB stick to see if you like it and whether it supports your hardware.

Is Zorin any good for gaming compared to windows 7? I took a look at it and it looks really clean! If i were to put it on the rig in my specs as well as my htpc would i still be able to game?

 

[Paul NZ]

Maybe with wine if it works

 

[rehed21]

For gaming Windows is still the best OS. There are a limited amount of games which can run on Linux.