an iPhone with a removable battery!

You can essentially do what you're describing with an iPod touch/iPhone, except Sonos' solution is even better:

http://www.sonos.com/whattobuy/controllers/iphone/default.aspx

Apparently, you don't know anything at all about Sonos...

http://www.sonos.com/whattobuy/zoneplayers/

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/13/sonos-zoneplayer-s5-all-in-one-wireless-speaker-lowers-cost-of-entry/

or

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/10/apples-remote-control-application-for-itunes-and-apple-tv/

with

http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/07/airport-express-and-airtunes/

Tim and Eric! Spagett!

awesome hack... i feel an iphone would have been even better, considering its notoriety for not having a physical keyboard

Personally, I'd be more likely to buy a Slim if it came from a company called Sorny...

and I'd play it on my Panaphonics plasma... with the Magnetbox speakers

if you're an ass...

did you even read the post?

GadgetGeek, Level 5, you really wouldn't know unless you've owned one for a while. It doesn't matter how well you know the system, a Harmony remote can make it very easy to control. To completely dismiss it because it's too expensive or to "easy" is ignorant.

Of course, when I say this, I'm referring to the Harmony One (~$150). $400 is expensive, but if you really need it, you probably have a lot more invested in your other gear.