Finding a video solution that makes me happy

This is the first post in a series where I'm trying to find a video solution that makes me happy.

I'm picky. I'm not impossible, but picky. Having looked all over for a good solution for handling my music I settled for the Squeezebox and I must say I'm very satisfied. There are a few performance issues with the server; if I haven't been using the remote for a while it sometimes takes a long time before the Squeezebox reacts to input. Other than that its excellent.

Having the music part taken care of I now need to find a solution for my TV and movies. Did I mention I'm picky? But not impossible. My top priorities are to:

• Record Swedish DVB-T freeview channels in SD with 5.1 sound, including show series programming
  
• Watch DivX/Xvid in up to 720p resolution
• Watch DVD:s
• 5.1 sound output over optical or coaxial to my surround system
  
• HDMI output for video and sound to my TV
  
• Have a really nice looking and easy to use GUI
• Have a rock solid, quiet system with as low power consumption as possible
• No wired network (i.e. if a network is needed it has to be wireless)
  

I would also like to (but these are not absolutes):

• Pause Live-TV
• Dual tuners to record two programs simultaneously
  
• Watch and record Swedish DVB-T freeview channels in HD (only test transmissions in Stockholm at the moment, unclear whether or not this will become a reality and when)
• Watch HD-DVD and/or Blu-ray once the format war is settled
• Have a nice looking physical box

I do not necessarily need:

• A gaming platform
• A VFD
• To watch encoded TV channels
  
• To surf the Internet on my TV
• One box for everything - multiple boxes is fine if not ideal
  

Btw, my TV is a Samsung 42" plasma which is not suited as a computer monitor but excellent as a TV.

In the coming posts we'll take a look at possible solutions listing pros and cons. I'm pretty sure I'll end up with a Home Theater PC (HTPC), but then again I might not. Stay tuned.