Need Advice - HTPC Mainly for Displaying Photos

I've a collection of 10,000+ photos that I'm interested in displaying on the home TV (currently a 3 yr. old 1080i 32" Samsung CRT, but one day going to 1080p and bigger). DVI in is used, component in is available.

Display quality and ability to optimize presentation are paramount. I've little interest in streaming other sources (audio will be good, but movies, gaming, other stuff not in scope for this project.)

I've come to the preliminary conclusion that a HTPC is best for this. The Roku Photobridge is closest from a standalone device, but obviously not made any more.

Photos (and audio) are stored elsewhere.

1) Do I care about Windows Media Center (Vista or XP)?
2) Do I care about much other than really good graphics card with, perhaps, component out. Can I future proof a bit better depending on card choice?
3) I guess I care about remote control -- does that drive the choice in 1)? It'll be controlled with a Harmony remote, if that matters.
4) What else should I care about that I'm too dumb to ask?

While I can build a PC, I'd prefer to buy off the shelf from Dell, HP, .... if the premium isn't too much.

Suggestions on how to spend my money are welcomed!

Thanks in advance.

Rob

My mid-grade DVD player from Samsung displays the photos slowly, but it is a great thought.

My photos are large (lots of detail).

I agree, a HTPC may be overkill, but I really want to try to achieve onscreen what I can see on my PC monitor, or in prints I make.

Thanks, I'm going to look into other DVD players, it may be a fluke that my Samsung sucks at this.

Rob

Greg - it was my understanding that 1080p is 1920 x 1080. While that's not the full 2500 x 2500 of the pix, it's pretty damn close, and for public, "together" viewing of pictures, the best possible. Remember, Kodak stopped making slide projectors, which is the old way of getting the family round the screen for a group appreciation of my hard work kind of night.

So, the computer monitor looks darn good at 1600 x 1200, I'm hoping that if I get this right, 1920 x 1068 will be ok. I lose a bit, but not much, and again, not much choice, just trying to optimize.

Kneedragger -- If I'm able to disguise the fact that it is a game console, it might be the way to go (or a PS 3). Again, I'm thinking (and I may be wrong about this) that more control over the content than just time between slides is what I want, but I may be wrong there, too.

Thanks folks. Still plugging away at this conundrum.