Media Center PC as DVR

[Grieve]

I'll have to have a look at Xbox...haven't really done anything with mine for years. Main question is whether my wife or kids can turn on the TV while I'm at work and easily play a recorded show, without screwing around with Xbox menus (or Xbox controllers!)? And do you need a newer Xbox to do all this stuff? Mine's from one of the first batches. Oh, and do you need to pay that monthly fee for Xbox live?