Small install, novice friendly OS needed.

[goldenfrog]

I’m looking to build a mini-ITX based system. All the system needs to do is play MP3’s from my media server over a wireless network. I’m looking for one with a small enough install that I can run it from a USB flash drive. I want something easy to setup, as I have never really tried anything but Windows. Something I can buy complete on a cd/dvd or EASILY download and create an install cd with.

 

[tacticus]

ubuntu seems to be the vogue these days

 

[digital_exhaust]

DSL

 

[pxc]

Yeah, if you have a supported WiFi card in the miniITX PC, Ubuntu should work. It might be easier to set up using bootable flash media with Mandriva 2007 or Knoppix instead.

 

[goldenfrog]

I'm thinking UBS flash so that I can easily remove it and upgrade the OS if I need to. I dont have any of the parts for this rig yet. I hope to buy known working parts for the OS I end up using.

Anyone know of software/sensor probe that can monitor humidity? I want to be able to display temp and humidity levels on the desktop.

 

[pxc]

It's probably easier to cannibalize something like this instead of trying to interface an external probe into the SMBUS. http://www.alibaba.com/catalog/10878696/Digital_Thermometer_And_Hygrometer_Clock.html

... unless you really need to monitor humidity/temperature over time.

 

[goldenfrog]

What I want for the temp/humidity sensor is something I can connect to the system and be able to check from another comp on the network.

 

[pxc]

Now that gets a lot more expensive. A "weather station" type data collection device that interfaces to a computer will cost a couple hundred dollars.

You can build the sensors yourself and interface it through a serial port, which you will then also need to write/get software and calibrate it. http://www.tutorials-blog.com/automation/Humidistat-with/ Depending on what your time is worth, this might even be the more expensive option.