Top 10 'must have' home technology products

iWon News/Marketwatch ^ | February 11, 2007 | Amy Hoak

[2ndDivisionVet]

The most technologically savvy homeowners bask in crystal-clear television screens when they're home and can control the lights while they're out of town. Without moving an inch, they can decide what music is playing in each room and can monitor the well being of their aging mother in a different city.

So says Greg Hoshaw, owner of High Definition Systems in St. Charles, Ill., who presented the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association's top 10 "must have" technology trends for homes at the International Builders' Show here this week.

A home theater or media room. A home theater is a room dedicated solely to the viewing of movies and programs, designed with aspects such as sound quality in mind. A media room is incorporated in a home's living space and is more of a multipurpose room, where a homeowner can watch television, read a book or play a game. Home theaters can run anywhere from $15,000 to $150,000 and more depending on the components; one package displayed at the show from Lifeware included a media center, audio-video receiver, 200-disc DVD changer, 50-inch plasma television, six speakers, automated lighting control, remote and software for $31,000.

Home health-care products and installation. As the population ages, there's more demand for health-care products that take advantage of advances in technology. Patient-monitoring systems can allow a caregiver to check up on an elderly loved one from afar. Biometric monitoring devices can keep constant watch on a patient's vital signs.

Media Center Edition (MCE) computers. This audio/visual computer can help manage a home's various media sources, providing such features as surround-sound processing, as well as access to Internet radio and the one-touch recording of TV shows. A top-of-the-line Dell media center system fetches at least $5,500. Hewlett-Packard's HP z565 Digital Media Center starts at $3,000.

[goldstategop]

My dream list: 42" LCD TV, HTIB with surround, multimedia-centric PC or Apple TV.

[goldstategop]

My dream list: 42" LCD TV, HTIB with surround, multimedia-centric PC or Apple TV.

[goldstategop]

My dream list: 42" LCD TV, HTIB with surround, multimedia-centric PC or Apple TV.

[goldstategop]

My dream list: 42" LCD TV, HTIB with surround, multimedia-centric PC or Apple TV.

[goldstategop]

My dream list: 42" LCD TV, HTIB with surround, multimedia-centric PC or Apple TV.

[goldstategop]

My dream list: 42" LCD TV, HTIB with surround, multimedia-centric PC or Apple TV.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Lessee...

No TV.
Dial-up net connection.
10 years old computer.
Rotary phone.
No dishwasher.
Tube radios all over the place.
No I-Pod, PDA or any other new-wave 'lectric junk.

Guess I'm not their demographic, huh?

I even shave with a brush and straight edge razor.

[Right Wing Assault]

And if I don't have these, what is going to happen to me. I am worried! ;-)

[goldstategop]

Sorry for the multiple posts. The damn thing just wouldn't load!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[tet68]

What ya gonna do with THREE of them??

[Right Wing Assault]

I think you had better get 6 of each.

[Shimmer128]

My "must have" was staying home with the kids.

[Revolting cat!]

42'' x 6 is what?

[netmilsmom]

>>My "must have" was staying home with the kids.<<

EXACTLY!!
Spot on!

[Revolting cat!]

[sionnsar]

My dream list: 42" LCD TV, HTIB with surround, multimedia-centric PC or Apple TV.

My dream list: A remote that kills (permanently) any TV or other AV device within range -- whether it's in an airport, supermarket or any other such venue where I do not wish to be inflicted with their garbage.

[Triggerhippie]

LOL! (x6)

[Psycho_Bunny]

They already make those for TVs. Pocket PCs have been doing it for a couple years.

[WorkingClassFilth]

My dream list: A remote that kills (permanently) any TV or other AV device within range -- whether it's in an airport, supermarket or any other such venue where I do not wish to be inflicted with their garbage.

THAT is an electronic gadget I'd buy in a heartbeat!

[Larry Lucido]

Don't forget the "Handy Houswife Helper," the all in one kitchen utensil hawked on a live commercial by Ralph Kramden on the Honeymooners.

[Huck]

This article was gay. Shows what you get when you let a woman write an article on home electronics/technology.

[Shimmer128]

I'm almost afraid to ask......

[Psycho_Bunny]

My monitor's only 32 inches.....but just off the left side of this picture is a 42-in plasma.

:)

[Calpernia]

>>>>Home theaters can run anywhere from $15,000 to $150,000 and more depending on the components

Uh huh.

So my 19 inch doesn't qualify as a theatre then ;)

[goldstategop]

You'd like a remote that can get your nagging wife to shut up so you can watch the TV in peace. ;-)

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[ElkGroveDan]

Worms with waterproof GPS tracking devices.

[SquirrelKing]

Multi-screen display! Cool!

Much better than your current arrangement:

=D

[LukeL]

I know what you mean I am finally using a cell phone this year and only because my university has taken out phones in the dorm rooms. It is sort of weird seeing 80% of people walking around with Ipods if I didn't know any better I would swear they all had giant hearing aids.

[Always Right]

50-inch plasma television

If you have a dedicated room, skip th plasma and go for a projector.

[DNME]

My wife just LOVES her Scooba floor-scrubbing robot by iRobot. We've got a Rooma for vacuuming the carpets but it doesn't do nearly as good a job as ole Scooby!

[Always Right]

I know what you mean I am finally using a cell phone this year and only because my university has taken out phones in the dorm rooms. It is sort of weird seeing 80% of people walking around with Ipods if I didn't know any better I would swear they all had giant hearing aids.

well they all probably do go 'huh?' when you start talking to them.

[fso301]

1.) Indoor electricity
2.) Indoor plumbing
3.) Electric refridgerator
4.) Electric freezer
5.) Exterior air piped in for the woodstove
6.) Air conditioning in Summer
7.) Electric lights in all rooms
8.) Radio
9.) Television
10.) Telephone

[geopyg]

Was over at a friend's house that has a home theater. Pretty nice if you're into movies. Had big woofer speakers built into the floor that would shake you with the music and car crashes. Every room had a pc and a large flat screen tv (I counted 8 of each for a family of 4).

Not for me, but am happy for him. Of course I thought his distress about Global Warming was a bit hypocritical.

[Calpernia]

I've never even been in a home that has one. ;)

[bmwcyle]

61" Seven inch deep DLP hangs on the wall.

[Malesherbes]

May you be fortunate enough to get six of them.

[Inyo-Mono]

Lol! Same here:

No TV at all (Cancelled sat dish, area too rural and remote for broadcast TV).

Rotary phone.

No dishwasher (except me, my wife & daughter.)

Tube radios.

No I-Pod or anything close, (just 45s & 33s on the turntable).

I use a razor and brush too.

[Central Scrutiniser]

Looks like a 8" Meade there at the edge of the photo, or a Celestron?

I'll be getting a 8.25 or a 9.5 Meade soon....

[wita]

So does all that indicate NO DEBT? That would be a good thing. Can't say I appreciate TV. The internet/freerepublic has much more to offer. Same with books. The businesses I and my wife are in, absolutely require broadband internet and an up to date computer to be effective and competitive.

[2111USMC]

"My monitor's only 32 inches.....but just off the left side of this picture is a 42-in plasma."

Got a vision problem huh?

[1rudeboy]

I'd put a new mouse at the top of your list.

[Calpernia]

My husband has a floor scrubbing robot too. It is nicknamed Calpernia. ;)

[Hilltop]

I happen to enjoy the memory of black and white televevsion, and so I have a vintage, b/w set in my den.


The days of b/w film were and always be, the halycion of the big screen.

[Always Right]

I have 3 screens over 55". A 55" RPTV and 61" LCD and a 100" screen with projector.

[bmwcyle]

I never go to the movies anymore. My Vandersteen speakers are better than I have heard in any theater.

[EDINVA]

making a list and checkin it twice? or more ...

right now all I want is my broadband back. system crashed last week and am waiting on earthlink's sending a new modem. Forgot how sloooooooooooooow dialup is!

[1066AD]

You forgot the cell phone zapper/jammer.

[Old Professer]

I'd settle for a washing machine that would last five years.

[Always Right]

I never go to the movies anymore. My Vandersteen speakers are better than I have heard in any theater.

It's pretty easy to beat most theater sound, but your setup should smoke them. I got good speakers but not as crisp and clean as Vandersteens.