I've finally got my HTPC to a Zen-like state; one remote, looks slick and is super-simple for anyone to use.  I'm not interested in using it as a computer, I never want to see a Windows desktop - I just want my media and news how and when I choose.

I've seen a few people post pics of their home setups, so here are a few pics (ignore the Sony HD recorder, I should really get around to getting that on TradeMe).

Here's the whole rig

And here are some pics to give you an idea of the interface

(the titles etc scroll, it isn't cutting them off)

It does everything you'd expect, play, rip, burn, download, full EPG (via satellite) and it's dead silent.

Here's a summary of what drives it:

DISPLAY: Dell 24" 2408WFP, connected via DVI

AMP: Sony DAV-DZ720, 5.1 setup, 1000W

OTHER: 5 way component AV switch

HARDWARE

Silverstone SST-LC16M Black case w 460W ZM460B-APS silent power supply

ASUS M2N-E SLI

AMD Dual Core 4600+ AM2 + Zalman CNPS7500-Cu LED heatsink/fan

2 GB DDR2 667 RAM in dual channel mode

1TB SATA2 HDD

Nvidia GeForce 8500GT (Factory overclocked/fanless)

Dual-layer 48x DVD burner with Lightscribe

2 x Hauppauge WinTV HVR4000 (Analogue + DVB-S/S2 + DVB-T), one for DVB-S one for DVB-T    **UPDATED**

Windows MCE remote + keyboard

MEDIA PORTAL

Windows Media Centre 2005

MediaPortal RC2     **UPDATED**

CODEC

Nvidia PureVideo

FFDshow

Haali Media Splitter

QTLite

RealAlternative

VSFilter

FLV Splitter

CoreAVC Pro <- needed for DVB-T    **UPDATED**

SYSTEM

DVD Decrypter

Daemon Tools

MPtray

MPFocus

MCE Standby Tool

DriveImage XML (for backups)

There's a ton of tweaking that has also occured, little things like making the MCE button launch MediaPortal and S3 standby/wake from the power button on my remote.  The only other things I think I may do, apart from getting a cabinet to put this all in, is add a second HVR4000 once DVB-T is sorted out.

Let me know what you think :)