Need advice on HTPC software

[flxnimprtmscl]

Here are the requirements.

1) Must be easy to use. My gf will be using this so software that isn't a PITA is most important.
2) I have Comcast cable and I want to be able to route that through the HTCP also.
3) Must be able to tie in with PowerDVD (or some other blu-ray capable software) to play movies of my blu-ray in my HTPC
4) Must be able to navigate and play all media content stored on my PC. DVD rips, Blu-Ray rips, music, etc.
5) Must be able to us a remote to control this all. I don't want to have to mess with a wireless keyboard/mouse anymore.

So, does anything like this exist? Like I said, simplicity of setup and ease of use are key.

 

[evident]

ok, do you have a set top box for comcase cable or will you just be hooking your cable straight to the tv tuner card?

vista media center is very easy to use. just gotta make sure you set it up right and it's pretty much good to go. You may need to install a codec pack like CCCP if you have "weird" formats like matroska or divx. there is an easy hack that gets media center to pick up all of those formats too. you can get the remote on newegg too.

I use vista mce and it does a great job picking up all my movies and stuff. I have an unwieldy music collection though so i have to deal with the problems of ID3 tagging.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

I have a set top box for the cable. Is there any way to keep the cable guide with Vista?

Also, how will Vista media center handle blu ray discs?

 

[Czar]

I first tried Media Portal http://www.team-mediaportal.com/
Looked very promising and easy to set up and configure, at first. Then came the crashes and lack of true flexibility. Very very promising but not quite ready to use for now.

Then I almost installed vista so I could use their MediaCenter but I know its very limited in customization and you are basicly stuck with what you get.

Finaly I found Meedios http://www.meedios.com/
Hell to set up correctly but it can do so much and you can configure just about everything! And ... it does not crash 😀
Plays high def content just like all other content.

I'm currently trying to configure Meedios so it automaticly goes to imdb, downloads covers, ratings, actors and everything basicly that IMDB has to offer and stores it localy. Having huge problems getting the covers correct but I will figure it out.

Also if you try out Meedios then just a warning, the documentation is non existant but their forums are full of all the information you need, just have to search alot.