I've been using MC for a while on my PC and I'm looking to move to the next step of being able to access my media from my TV. I'm looking for suggestions on how to best do this.
The primary scenario for me is to be able to access my videos (including various reencoded movies as well as raw DVD copies, i.e., VOB files). My main incentive for doing this is so that my kids can easily access our DVDs and play what they want without having to do the DVD-disc-juggle, which tends to cause misplaced and scratched discs.
So, I know as a minimum I need a way for an interface to be shown on the TV and I need a remote control to control it. I'm thinking there are 3 main options for me:
1. Use my existing PC and have the video/audio connected to my TV. The biggest problem with this is that I don't have any extra video-out connectors to connect to the TV.
2. Get a HTPC and connect it to my TV directly. I believe this should do everything I need, but I'm not sure of the best usage option. Is just running MC in Theater mode the recommended solution?
3. Get some other type of hardware device that support accessing my media from either my share directly or through MC. I know these devices exist, but I don't know my about them. My biggest concern is that these devices seem to have limited file format support and low upgradeability.
So, what are other people using? What's recommended? What are the gotchas I should be aware of? And, if anyone can speak to it, will MC 12 change the picture at all?
Oh, I should also mention that I do want to support 5.1 sound and HD output (although I don't have any HD input yet). Also, it'd be nice, but not critical, to be able to record TV as well.