[vizman]

To answer your questions:

I will be getting an Xbox 360 along with the rest of the purchases. This being the case should I get a HTPC case and use that to run through to the TV from my Hifi rack? or should I use the extender functionality that the 360 possesses and get a less "attractive" case and put the HTPC outta the way. Bearing in mind that I will be displaying things through S-Video to a SD Widescreen CRT.

Your Xbox 360 should be ok for watching TV/playing back recorded TV but it does have other limitations as to playing other sorts of media. Best to look in the 360 forums on here for more info. Looking at your system specs, you might be better playing back all of your media from a local HTPC rather than remotely.

I will be running a wireless connection from between my main PC (where my DSL connection sits) and the living room where the hifi gear is. My thoughts here are to get a wireless bridge to put in the Living room, and use a 10/1000 switch that I have spare to plug in both the Xbox 360 and the HTPC. This will give a 100Mbit link between both of these units, and sharing a 54Mbit? link back to the Main PC and to the Internet. Am open to suggestions here if anyone can think of other options.

What you've suggested sounds ok. I've found running a wireless connection is fine for mp3's and xvids but struggled playing other media. If you can wire it then do it.

Any suggestions on a remote? I was thinking of either a Logitech Xbox 360 remote or a Harmony 880 unit. I will really only be running my HTPC, Xbox360, a H/K Receiver and the TV off it, so there isn't a lot of complexity there I don't think. I just want something that is simple to use for the wife and kids, but also is flexible in terms of what it can do.

The Harmony 880 remote is fantastic for controlling all of your AV equipment but I found it a bit cumbersome controlling MCE. I haven't used the Logitech Xbox 360 remote to comment but the good ol' Microsoft MCE Remote works a treat and has the WAF as well. You can program the MS MCE Remote to control the volume on your HK Amp.

Greg