Hi, first time caller long time listener:

I'm putting together an HTPC, and have the following remote control questions:

1. Which remote, if any, will allow me to use DVD Decrypter & DVD Shrink to archive my movies?

2. Will any remote allow me to do a very small amount of typing, just enough to label folders and files? Or do I absolutely have to have a keyboard to do this?

3. Will the ATI remote be somehow especially compatible with my ATI Radeon 9600 SE card?

Thanks in advance.
Dave

There's no real way to control those two programs directly, so you will most likely have to use Girder (http://www.promixis.com/) in order to do so. You are lucky though, the new 4.0 version is so much easier to use than the older 3.3 version. As for the remote, at that point, it's pretty much up to you.

I am not sure of a remote that would allow you to do typing. Some PVR applications will place a keyboard on the screen for you, so you just use the arrow keys and enter keys to type, but you would probably have to consider a pocket PC or a Pronto to do this function, otherwise.

No, the ATI remote adds no functionality to your video card.

Keep a wireless keyboard and mouse handy for apps like this and skip using anything like Girder or a remote.