media center is great, but hardly can play most of the files.
I looked for alternative to so that I play my files, found Dvix is great. but each time need to open the file once at a time using the mouse.
I looked at this lined where insted of having Media Center, you have something called DvixOS. It lanches the dvix operating system allow you to have someting semilar like Media Center, but with Dvix codec.
i haven't used the DivixOS but i've used different frontends for PVR/DVR and a tuner card..
SageTV is a really nice frontend... it lets you do more than just watch tv too, there's awesome plugins and skins and addons.. but you do have to buy it since it is only a free 30day demo i think..
there are a few other commercial type PVR/DVR frontends... i've prob have tried almost every decent one made.. PowerCinema, BeyondTV, SageTV, Windows MCE2005, InterVideo HomeTheater, MyTheater...
there are also other free/open source soluitions too like MediaPortal...
however, my personal fave for overall usuage so far is XP Media Center 2005.. it works great w/my remote control and front VFD display i have..
but perhaps from the sounds of it.. you might be looking for a complete os makeover/hack/change... hmm.. perhaps the use of DesktopX and good ole Win98 and a custom UI design might be your taste.. but that would be a bit more work... i did this for my pc i used in my car..
