[Ghetto Hardware] What I have done is repurposed a Xbox controller w/ built in LCD as a second display and controller for the Media Center PC in my bedroom. This allows me to change songs, pause, change volume etc.. without leaving the bathroom. I use it while reading a book in the bathtub. I would not recommend it for DVD or TV viewing as the screen is very small. I suppose it would suffice for TV programs where the image is not that important like a news program.

First: This is a pretty cool hack. The Hip Screen pad has a built in (albeit small) LCD screen, which would make a pretty neat remote ‘control’.

Second: There’s some good information here on using XBox controllers with a PC. The ThrustMaster Wireless Gamepad that I bought a few weeks back really stinks - for the life of me; I can’t get the thing to calibrate. I think I might go ahead and attempt to hack apart a wireless XBox controller to get it up and going with the PC.