Category: Technology

Now that I have a 32″ LCD HDTV, Xbox 360, upconverting DVD player and DVR, I needed a way to connect all these devices to my television.

To accomplish this, as well as provide surround-sound to go along with my video, I purchased a Yamaha YHT-370.

I’m not an audiophile, so I wasn’t looking for an expensive solution. I also wanted to avoid picking out a large number of individual components, which lead me to a HTIB (Home Theater in a Box). The sound from the YHT-370 fills my room while providing three component inputs so that I can easily switch between them.

The unit does not have HDMI support, which is in-line with what is a mid-level HTIB system, but even as an entry-level unit it’s a good choice for me as I can always upgrade individual components later, such as the unpowered subwoofer that still provides plenty of bass.

If you found yourself in the same situation I was in recently, in which you have multiple internet-ready entertainment devices in your living room, I’d heartily recommend another recent purchase, the Buffalo Ethernet Converter.

This device will allow you to connect up to four ethernet-based devices, such as Xboxes, PS3s and Series 2 Tivos, to a single device which then connects to your wireless network. Purchasing a single wireless adapter for multiple devices is the cheapest route, especially when you can find the Buffalo Ethernet Converter for $69.99, while single-device products, such as the official Microsoft 360 run around $99.

The device works with all major wireless routers, regardless of brand, making this the easiest way to connect your living room to your wifi network at the lowest cost possible.

I admit it, I pretty much had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the brave new world of high definition television. I was happy with my 19″ SDTV, and frankly all the information the average consumer has to absorb to make even the most basic informed decisions was a little off-putting.

Last week, however, I decided to celebrate my birthday by upgrading to a larger television. After looking through my choices, I finally broke down and settled on one of the less expensive 32″ LCD HDTVs.

I like the television, while not as feature filled as others it does what it does well for the price. The problem is that this one purchase has placed me at the start of a chain of related purchases because of the upgraded technology.

HDTVs, for example, can actually make regular broadcast video look worse than SDTVs by their very nature of displaying a higher video definition. Any compression artifacts from digital broadcasts that are smoothed out due to the lower definition of an SDTV become crystal clear on the HDTV.

So that means I’m looking at an HD receiver to replace the regular one from DirecTV. Of course, it also means that I also need a HD DVR to record HD televion, such as the HD Tivo or DirecTV HD DVR. The former is still expensive, while the latter is on severe backorder.

And of course, now that I have an HDTV, any excuses not to get an XBox 360 due to not being able to see the performance difference on an SDTV have melted away.

When will the upgrades end?!