The Connected Circuit

Now that I have my own place, it is time for me to trick it out media-wise. My goal here is to create the perfect media setup in my place. I’ve thought long and hard and here are the rundown of my preliminary specifications:

• 42″ Plasma or LCD HDTV
• Slingcatcher w/a 1 TB HDD
• Either a Sonos setup or a Slim Squeezebox Boom
• Either a Bluray Player, Upconverting DVD player or HD DVD Player to replace the Panasonic one that broke.

Having my own apartment = having my own network. So with all this in mind, I chose this setup because it seems to be one of the easiest to setup and fits what I want to do perfectly, which is streaming from multiple computers and devices to just one particularly type.

My original choice for a TV is the Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ85U, which I can get for an ironic $1080, but I am still looking since I hear, from all my first-hand accounts, that LCDs are def the way to go and the Panny plasma isn’t as good as I had originally thought. I’m going with the Slingcatcher because of its support for just about every single format available as well as its ability to stream internet content. It isn’t out just yet, so there aren’t any reviews of it yet, but it is out for pre-order for $300. I’m leaning towards the Squeezebox Boom because of its support for a plethora of internet radio services, Rhapsody and media resources and its alarm clock so I can wake up to my favorite tunes. This too will cost $300. So the total cost will be roughly $1680. But I’ve still not decided yet. With the Fall update of the Xbox 360 dashboard software and the ability to be easily software modded, it might save me on the cost of a Slingcatcher since it can also be extended as a Media Extender and has support for DivX/Xvid files and of course DVDs. I’d just need to purchase the absurdly expensive $80 or $40 on eBay, 20 GB hard drive and mod it with my own or get the $140, 120 GB drive, which would save me $60 or I’ve

Other configurations would be buying an Apple TV and modding it with aTV or Boxee, so $230+$50 for the aTV. For those who don’t know, aTV is the software mod for Apple TV that unlocks its use for different media products. Boxee is this cool social network media hub, it is in alpha testing right now, I signed up for it, so let’s hope I get one. I’m also taking into consideration cost and easy and nice UI, since I would not be the only person that would be using all of these devices. The TV would be a definite ~$1000, so my other cost reductions would be for everything else. If I get HDDHacker to work with my 360 I wouldn’t need to purchase a $40 hard drive and use my own with this nice software hack and install Windows Media Player 11 on my computer and just share all the content.

This is also keeping in mind what I have currently, an Xbox 360 w/Rock Band and hopefully Rock Band 2 and of course a Wii and good old PS3. Overall I’m looking to speak around $1500+ for this setup. If anyone has any suggestions for me, let me know.

--written by Peter To--