[HTPC] Not using media center software?

[Stridulent]

Anyone ever considered not using media center software as the main interface for your HTPC? I was thinking about installing something extremely lightweight like Windows 2008 Server R2 (64-bit), hiding the task bar, building a custom wallpaper, and then using something like ObjectDock for the shortcuts to all the programs I would need within the HTPC.

These programs include:

PowerDVD 11 (open in cinema full screen mode)
MediaBrowser (directly opened through WMC)
TV (directly opened through WMC)
Emulator
Shutdown Options (Sleep, Hibernate, Restart, Shutdown)

Thoughts? I'd like to keep it simple and I could program my remote's home key to "show desktop."

I haven't been able to try it out yet personally as my computer parts are coming in, but it will have an i5-2500k using the iGPU so I don't think the ObjectDock will consume much in the way of resources.

Does anyone see any problems I might have with this setup? Software + Windows Server compatibility shouldn't be an issue.

[rob.sparrow]

I use the above programs, along with object dock and a few other programs to do the same thing. You have a better machine than I do and I use win7 but the principle is the same.

Object dock has not slowed my machine and works very well to launch my htpc stuff. I also included a YouTube link on mine.

if you can, buy object dock plus as I use the second drawer type dock to access my hard drives and network places when needed directly. Also wincustomize has some great icons to replace stock icons that you drag onto the dock.