I have about given up on the "convert a laptop to digital picture frame" idea.  
Not because it isn't a good idea but because it is an expensive idea.

Mike gave me some 10 year old laptops, two of which actually work!  And I am 
very grateful to take them off his hands.  However, the screen capabilities 
are just not good enough to adequately show off digital pictures.  And I 
don't have the budget to buy an LCD or good enough old laptop to carry out 
that plan.

So, I am exploring other options.

My current thought is to use an older monitor that I have sitting around with 
an older but small computer.  Mount the monitor in the entertainment center 
with the computer.  Tada!  Picture frame and more!

The older computer would not be capable of video, ie. movies and tv.  But I'd 
like to:

- Have onscreen menus to show picture alblums and slide shows
- It could probably play music just fine, it has a sound card and could show 
visualizations on the screen.
- Having it's own monitor would not add another device to contend for the TV.
- It'd be nice to be able to burn CD's of pictures people want right in the 
computer.  It has a burner so that is possible.
- I want it to accept input from our TV's universal remote.
- It'd be nice if it showed TV listings too.

All of that sounds like MythTV without the movies and TV!  So, you MythTV guys 
out there, tell me:  Can I install Myth without using the PVR functionality?  
I don't care if the functionality for PVR is still there, I just wouldn't use 
it.  All ideas welcome.

Alan
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