Well put.

Convergence is the future. However, it does not have to be contained in one device. If fact, it would be cool is televisions did not have tuners in them. Then there would be no difference between monitors and televisions. Then high definition tuner boxes with hard drives would be more available. Then everyone would be familiar with home theater computers, and many would have them.

The success of the personal computer owes a lot to the standardization of parts, such as motherboards and hard drives. The more things are like pure commodities, the less money fat cats get. Dumb monitors are better than smart televisions. Let's hear it for the set top box!

Everyone take a deep breath. Maybe another one. So you have to put a computer chip inside a TV and sell it for 10,000? why not just use the cpu and the TV you already have. Try that fancy DVI or VGA output your cpu already has and maybe a wireless keyboard and mouse you've already read about in the past forums. You save 10 grand and i'm a poor college student who needs $! so take that money you were gonna save and Invest it in me! tell yourself its just as good as getting that tv and we'll both be set.

Only problem with convergence is the cost of entry is all up front and there are no places for inremental improvments. It is why the PC will never completly die and also why convergence at that level is doomed. I am not buying a whole new TV because there is an update to wireless technology or a new codec. I will however update one component at a time.
The problem is exactly what was face by dvd/TV combo units.

How is this different from Windows Media Center or the 10 billion Linux media center programs? Other than you can upgrade WMC and use the hardware you want instead of being locked into hardware that will be out of date in a few years.

Now, if I could figure out how to get my wireless to appear on my bigscreen TV, I'd be VERY happy...

i just yesterday closed deal on two tosh.regza after reading these words of wisdom about the computer links to the set and so on i feel pretty good about it........don't i ? i think i do anyway.

I can definitely see this in the future. We do so much on computers nowadays that in my opinion, the whole home theater computer system should become a standard concept, but more cohesive than today's typical HTPC set ups and more in depth than just a TV that browses the internet and plays internet video.

Personally, I've invested far more money into internet video over the past few years than I probably should have. But it really is a concept. I've always hated having to conform to a schedule for my leisure time, and whenever I get involved in watching a TV show, I end up missing an episode here, not able to watch an episode there, eventually, I've missed so much that I just can't get back into the show. Buying/renting seasons on DVD (hell, even VHS back in the day) has always been strange annoyance as well. But simply logging into Amazon Unbox or iTunes (*shudder*) and being able to watch an episode whenever you want, and one at a time is a great ability to have.

It was a concept that sounded good about DVRs as well, but there's also the hassle of setting up and scheduling the recordings, and even then, you only had limited space for the content you record.

But the problem now is that so much of our daily leisure is based around a computer, that it's starting to make having big, flashy TV's almost obsolete. Your TV should be able to offer the same flexibility that internet video offers. At the same time, the point in owning a great TV is becoming marginally obsolete.

Essentially, the HTPC concept should become a standard. But the Box should include things such as Cable tuners and HD receivers, not the TV. The TV SHOULD basically serve the purpose of the universal monitor. The BOX should contain the necessary components to classify it as a PC. But it should also contain a high amount of storage for Media. You should be able to rip your DVDs and HD DVDs and store them directly in the BOX as well as storage for Internet Video. I would love for there to be an actual partnership between cable and internet providers to create specially tailored packages designed specifically for the internet video HTPC setups, but that opens the door for monopolies and price gouging.

Basically, this would bring the family back to the Living Room instead of secluded in their individual rooms, glued to their computer monitors.

Having all the components in one box, including connectivity to hook up home game consoles to the Box as well, would be amazing. If you need to upgrade your storage, you can do it individual. Your memory is being stretched too thin? Buy a couple more gigs. Video processor's not up to par anymore or something twice as good as what you got now comes out in 6 months? Buy the new graphics card separately. OVerall system running a little slow? Buy a faster processor. Of course, eventually, you would be required to buy a whole new system, just as it is with PCs now, when, for instance, the processor socket type becomes obsolete and whatnot. But for the most part, you'd have the ability to maintain up to date technology in your system for close to a decade with incremental upgrades.

The only problem: What to do about the Mouse and Keyboard problem? There's been some great HTPC mouse/keyboard solutions in the past few years, but in the end, it always remains feeling a bit clunky.

Ok, here's a random question. What laptops in the $1500 range, or hell what laptops at all are using the CELL proccesor? Maybe I've missed something, but I dont think that chip was designed for mainstream use.

I didn't realize how ahead of the game I was until I started telling people how I have ditched cable and gone strictly with the web for viewing. Everything I would watch on cable is on Hulu or some other site. I have my 47" LCD connected via HDMI straight to my desktop PC. Also My TV is a Philips that has the awesome feature of auto scaling the signal,is capable of decoding NTSC and PAL formats and has a USB interface to upload firmware upgrades so it stays current. price of PC and TV only a little over two thousand combined.

SyFy... "Imagine Imaginlessness"

I agree on the 3D- what a gimmick for TV. It's another story for gaming.

I disagree with the comment that we don't care whether web content is HD or not. I search out HD content and would watch a DVR recording over watching it on the web if it's not in HD on the web. (And there's not much in HD for free out there right now :( )

I've already given up on everything being built into the TV and gone the HTPC route. Ultimately it is cheaper, more flexible and offers far more functionality.

Now you can pick up a cute little nettop for $300 and VESA mount it to the back of your ancilliary TVs too.

My HTP was only $500 and has a quad core processor, 650gb storage + eSATA, 4gb ram, WIFI, win7, hybrid SLI dual graphics and a blu-ray player/dvd burner.
When the Ceton multi-cablecard tuners come out, I have the PCIe slot to throw that in too!.
To top that off, I have a Logitech Dinove Mini bluetooth keyboard which fits in my remote caddy and is awsome- handling mousing, remote functions, full web browsing and typing- has absolutely everything except the F# keys. The BT connection is a little buggy, but still the coolest little thing invented for couch potatoes since the remote.

If I want to upgrade any components I can. If they were built into the TV I'd have to replace that whole investment.

Also I have and will keep cable because I do enjoy having those extra channels available on the tube too, so cablecard tuners in the TV don't really work anymore because we also need one for a DVR anyway, so it's cheaper to keep the tuners together on the same cablecard in the HTPC at this point (Ceton's adapter).

My HTPC is the size of a tall cablebox and can sit horizonatlly or vertically, so fits in with all the other home theater components.

I'm never shelling out tons of mony for essentially a giant monitor again.

Agree with most of the article, except that 3D glasses are a deal breaker for advancing 3D tech. I personally see it as quite gimmicky and think it won't take off for those reasons, but have never really come across anyone who doesn't like 3D simply because of the glasses. Sure they suck, but they're not a deal breaker by a long shot. How hard is it to stick some glasses on your face? I do it everyday: not very hard.

There are many 3D TV sets which don't require glasses. We wrote about a few. Check it out.

Regarding media there will sure be convergence, however, I can't agree with ya.regarding the technology used to display it.

I pray that 3D never becomes the standard. I among others I know have difficulty viewing 3D images without nausea and headaches. While 3D technology has come a long way the end result for me is always going to be the same.

must have solid state drive, or flash, dont need to hear any more hard drive noise from my media centers. also needs to use android for system as it develops, it will be the best free kernel for the backbone.

most of the headache and nausea issues have been eliminated by new tech to move the cameras closer together (bringing the lenses to eye width. You can also, surely, turn off 3d and watch a movie or tv in 2d, so don't spoil it for the rest of us.

also, when did putting on a pair of glasses become the ultimate anguish that nobody is willing to endure. They're glasses, just put them on your face, it's not hard, it doesn't hurt.

speaking as a customer service tech who takes phone calls from tv and internet customers everyday they DO NOT KNOW HOW...common sense is like an organ transplant, some people reject it

I can download and watch TV shows in HD on my PS3 (this is a temp fix, as they're working on bringing Hulu to the PS3). I can watch shows streamed by Netflix in HD on my 360. The two combined, about $500. My 62" HDTV, $2200. That gives me a grand total of $2700.

So why in god's name would somebody spend $10,000 to shove the processor and wifi in the TV?

I am in my living room, my PC is in my office. I am lucky because they are separated by one wall. I used a svga a couple of usb extension cables, a wireless mouse, and a 2nd video card. All for under $600. But for $5k I will gladly fly to Japan and set this up in someones home.

Hold on folks...Cell Regza is a rip. Personal video systems (X Intel Gordon Campbell's startup) will release a $100 (maybe less) box next year that brings full web to all the big panels...also, Boxee will
intro a new Boxee Box that gives you the WEB too in December!

Can't wait to get hold of this!