Best Apple TV that isn't an Apple TV?

I'm looking to buy a networked storage / media player for my new "relaxing corner" in the office, but the fact that I'm an Intel Apple refugee leads me to look for alternatives to the much-hyped ATV since I'm finally Apple-free for everything right now - computers, players, etc. I don't even use iTunes but rather j.River Media Center.

I could just put an XBox in there but I doubt I'll be playing anything - I'd want to watch video podcasts and movies in the main, as well as having it stream through some tunes. I would if possible also like to put all the office-located music and videos into this machine, so a 500+Gb storage capacity is desirable but not absolutely necessary since I could link it to a NAS or anothre PC. I'm not really considering a PC as I'd like this machine to be fairly hands-off. I'd like an IR remote of course. The other thing is that as befitting a relaxing corner machine, it must be quiet - fanless is ideal and a large, quiet fan is next best.

Currently the screen that's going in there is a Sony KDL-46X2000U and the audio will be limited to Stereo (don't need 5.1) for this purpose, with a pair of powered Genelec 8050A's handling that. So the unit will be wired to the TV and also to the 8050's, plus a wired Ethernet link to the Internet and other PC's in the office.

What else could I consider?

[jagtar]

original xbox modded does the job

Gaaahhh...

I shoulda watched the latest episode, no?

I'm going to check the Mvix out. Thanks Wil!

[axisds]

Not to sound repetitive or anything but a $50 original xbox and 5 min. of your time and you will have everything the Mvix is plus more and a WAY better interface to boot. If you want more info just PM me. I still don't know why Wil doesn't use XBMC.

the original XBOX wont do HD very well

nor will it do h264 at high bit rates

actually anything over 960x544 at 1.5 mbps or 1280x720 at 500kbps



so what could be used that can do HD stuff