Premise would be a good place to start. There are a couple of equip manufacturers that support control via a PDA application right out of the box, Imerge comes to mind. I'm pretty sure Revox's newest home theater processor does as well. As far as a video source, you can rip DVDs on just about any Linux box, or you can play the discs right from the tray. HDTV and NTSC tuner and capture cards are readilly available. Add an amplifier, the server could be the "gear". If you stick to hardware that is controllable via RS232, your job should be easier as well. My question is, why? It can't be that tough to run the cable, can it? Reliable Rf control is available directly from Crestron. If writing script is your bag, there is a Crestron users group on Yahoo. You only need to buy the hardware.

jcmitch