What is the best OS for a HTPC?

[Fr3ak]

Hi, I am going to set a HTPC up and I dont know what OS I should use for it.
I will be using a Abit NF7-S rev2, with a 1700+@2.3ghz, 1024MB Ram (or just 512MB if that is enough), a Radeon 9500 or Gf2 with video in/out, a Hauppauge Nova-S and most likely a dvd drive. And a hdd of course.

I want to use it to watch and record TV using the Hauppauge TV card. There are many VDR linux based OS out, but I want to use ot for more than just TV.
I also want it to play MP3, DVDs and other movies and HDTV DVDs. Unfortunately I never installed Linux. I know how to use it, but I never really looked into it ;(
I dont really want to use any MS OS for certain reasons. One of them is that I dont want to buy a OS if I can get a nice Linux distro running which is free. I like free stuff :)

I want to fit everything in an old amp, so that the case doesnt look that ugly. I guess that I will be adding 1 or 2 fans which I want to control using a speedfan like application.
I also want to use soundstorm onboard sound. Are there any good drivers out or do I have to use a soundcard?
Furthermore I will add a lcd display to the front of the case and I also need an app to make it running.

Thats everything I can think of atm. Any help would be appreciated :)
In short what I need:
OS that
- supports all my components
- has drivers for soundstorm and video (vid in too)
- plays everything (mplayer maybe?)
- boots fast
- has a vdr app to watch TV and record it, timeshifting would be nice too
- also supports usb LCDs
- has a speedfan like app

[WesM63]

I just use normal Xp Pro and SageTV. Works wonders!
Some people say BeyondTV is great as well, i've never tried it.

Other than that I'm not to sure on any other os's that do everything.

[Ugly n Grey]

WesM63's recs are good ones, as far as OS I have both WINMCE and Gentoo running in different houses and I like both. I have to say, it's a lot easier to find and make oddball codecs work under Windows. But the Linux box requires zippo maintenance...as always it's a trade off.

[Fr3ak]

But WinXp will be hard to control using a 4 row lcd.. I wasnt going to hook a monitor up to it :/
I have everything running with Win XP atm, which is ok, but I am not going to buy another license :/ Maybe WinMCE would be the right thing, but can you buy it without a pc? Havent found it anywhere yet.

A compromise would be to use VDR as the TV app, because it boots fast and can be easily controled with only 4 buttons and use WinMCE/WinXP for the rest of my needs or Linux. Have to read into it first I guess, no idea if mplayer can play hdtv.

Hm I just had some thought and I can hook a monitor up to it using a kvm switch.

[einCe]

i saw a copy at bestbuy a while ago