So I just installed XBMC Live on a spare dedicated PC that I just got my hands on. I chose to install the OS that came with XBMC, rather than installing it on top of a custom ubuntu OS. I didn't want a "computer," but instead I wanted TV in a room that doesn't have a cable box. This is the first time I've ever played with XBMC, and I have to admit that I'm lost. I think it's because everything on the Internet talks about editing files/configs/etc, but the XBMC Live version doesn't appear to have any of that--the program IS the OS, so I don't know how to do much!
I don't plan on ripping movies for this. I only want to get TV channels streaming to it... Comedy Central or Discovery, for example. I'm reading on the Internet that it's possible to stream live channels ([url=http://code.google.com/p/xbmc-strm-collection/]here, for example[/url]) on XBMC, but again, it all seems to involve downloading/unzipping/copying stuff which I don't think I can do. Does anybody have any experience with XBMC Live, or at least any general XBMC knowledge at all that may be able to help me get some TV channel streaming going?
I realize some stations may be too modest to allow for full streaming, and I recognize that maybe I'm just missing the point with this whole HTPC concept. If someone could point me to how to do any channel (Fox, CBS, ABC, NBC, etc) in XBMC Live, and any resources you might be aware of to identify other stations for streaming, I'd love to hear what you know so I can make a decision on how to use this technology myself!