Mimic a cable box possible?

[45mapper]

I need help cutting the cord!
I'm about ready to cut the cord and save some money. I have an Intel NUC, a laptop and 3 desktops to choose from. I have no idea how to do this in a sense of user friendliness for my wife and 6 year old (turn on the TV and change channel and volume from remote). Is there a way I can mimic the cable box on the computer I 'm thinking about having a programmed playlist (video files saved in hard drive) and using a remote to change channels and always on feature? So this is how it might look like. I need: the spare PC as a dedicated HTPC, connect a media drive for video source, a remote control compatible with PC ( IR or bluetooth), the PC is always on, so when the kids turn the TV the PC is playing whatever playlist is on. Now to make it more fun I would like to have the remote programmed so when they change the channel the PC switches the a playlist on file. Is this possible?

 

[vegettonox]

Try a computer remote and windows media center, you can setup media center library with all your video locations and they can browse them just like netflix or similar.

hauppauge makes good media center remotes and tv cards you can use if need be.