SBGamesCone's Profile

I agree that the remote is more common, but much more visible than the stock sensor bar. Why not just dye/paint the opaque black sections of the sensor bar white to match the tv.

I run a pair of websites related to video games and game reviewers. We do generate a revenue stream so I deduct any and all video game purchases. I also do freelance software development so computers and networking equipment also get deducted.

I do spend more than 50% of the time using these things for business though.

Talk about shattering the mold from what the standard american living room looks like. My wife and I have different styles, with me leaning towards a more euro/modern flavor so even though these are vastly different from what I currently have I kind of like them.

Depending on your budget, there are a whole host of available HDMI switches. For HDMI only switching on the cheap, you can't go wrong with the offerings from Monoprice.com:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=101&cp_id=10110

They aren't pretty and most of them require push button input changing, but for $30-50, they'll get you 2-5 ports.

If you want style or advanced functionality, such as digital audio switching coupled with HDMI inputs, you'll want to turn your eyes to Zektor's HDMI5 ( http://www.zektor.com/hdmi5/index.html ). At $499, it's a steep price to pay, but looks great in your AV rack and will perform very well. Zektor's HDVI5 $399 ( http://www.zektor.com/hdvi5/index.html ) will work for HDMI sources, but requires an HDMI to DVI convertor for each input/output.

The Zektor units claim to be able to convert Toslink audio to Coax and vice versa for any number of inputs so you can mix and match your inputs, but choose with output you'd like to send to your sound system.

HDMI switching is coming down in price, but attached audio switching keeps the price of some nicer units well out of reach for most of us.

I personally think right now is a bad time to have to buy a new router. I'm not comfortable spending $150 on draft N technology, but spending $50 on a mere G device seems like a waste. I am in the same boat as you and I may end up going with a very inexpensive G device made by buffalo as a stop gap to making the move to N. The Buffalo device is the WHR-HP-G54 and is one of the highly recommended models that supports the DD-WRT firmware. (http://www.dd-wrt.com)

I can't speak to the print server aspect of your needs as my printer happened to have ethernet onboard.

@robyn

You will also want to consider the Vizio line of TVs. They have a 32" set that goes for $599 at Costco and a 37" that goes for $799.

I've had the previous 37" model as well as the current one and they are very solid TVs for the budget conscious person. This is coming from a crazy tech/audiophile.

For $34 a piece I think I'll just stick with the ugly plastic grommets. By the time I can justify the cost of that little guy I think I can afford a desk that has a more elegant solution than a simple hole in the top.