Weekly Site Roundup (12/20/04)

ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT
Top Affordable Home Theater Products Of 2004
It's that time of year where every electronics journalist picks the best products of the year. Check out my personal favorite, yet affordable, home theater products for 2004. In addition, if you would like to comment on my choices, or add your own, just post them on my Home Theater Forum.

HOME ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY NEWS HEADLINES
Panasonic Races to Meet Plasma Demand (PC World)
Comcast Adds HDTV Recorders To Service (The Sacramento Bee)
Player Problems and Warranty Issues Regarding DualDisc (Audio/Video Revolution)
Toshiba Signals DVD Format War (The Gaurdian)
The Rush To Consumer Electronics (MSNBC)
DLP™ Growth Supported by...Innovation and Breadth of Products (Widscreen Review)

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Samsung HLN617W DLP Projection Television
If you are looking for a large screen television for the coming Football Playoffs and Superbowl that doesn't take up a lot of space and Plasmas are just too expensive, then you might want to check out the Samsung HLN617W, which is a 61-inch rear projection TV based on DLP technology. Featuring everything you would expect in a quality HD-upgradable TV, such as both HD-Component and DVI inputs, Faroudja video processing, and 720p scaling, this very large sreen set has a very small footprint with a total depth of 19-inches.

FEATURED LINKS THIS WEEK
Infinity Speakers
Infinity's speaker lineup, including Powered Subwoofers and Outdoor Speakers.
Featured in the Loudspeakers F-J Category Page.

DVD Talk
DVD Info, Bargains, Movies, and News. Fun site to browse through, good buys on DVD software.
Featured in the DVD Hardware and Software Category Page.

FROM THE HOME THEATER FORUM
Plasma Monitor Needs External TV Tuner
From S:
I have a HD plasma monitor and am looking for an external TV tuner that offers high resolution output....the only ones I can find only offer vga or composite outputs....would like to find one with Component, DVI, or HDMI outputs. Any suggestions? thanks.
Join in on the discussion.

ELSEWHERE ON ABOUT.COM
Should I Buy An Extended Warranty?
You are ready to pull out your cash to pay for that latest electronics gadget, but don't open that wallet just yet. You need to consider whether to buy that extended warranty. For information on whether an extended warranty is really worth it, check out the article from Matthew Torres, About's Guide For Televisions.

FROM THE MAILBOX
From K: As a designer I can see all sorts of possibilities for the plasma television, I do not want to suggest an application to a client that is wrong. I see in various design publications the Plasma above a fireplace. I am worried about the television being harmed, if the heat is deflected with a stone mantle will this application be safe for the TV?
From Your Guide:
It probably depends on the actual design of the fireplace and whether the wall above the fireplace becomes too warm as the fireplace is in use - however, if it is safe to hang a painting or mirror above the mantel -- it would probably be fine for a Plasma TV.

For more specific resources on what you need to know before hanging a Plasma TV above the fireplace -- check out this great article posted by the Plasma TV Buying Guide:

http://www.plasmatvbuyingguide.com/plasmatvreviews/plasmatv-fireplace.html

FINAL WORDS

Submit your own product review to home theater! Just use the new handy form and your review and name will be posted on my site!

User Submission Form.

If you need more great info on home theater and audio, with an emphasis on the higher end, be sure to check out About.com's related partner sites:

Audio Video Interiors (The Connected Guide To The Digital Home).
Home Theater Magazine.
Stereophile Ultimate AV.
Stereophile Magazine.

Lastly, I would like your feedback on this Weekly Site Update Page. If you have any comments, either positve or negative, just let me know.

A Special Reminder: Although I update this site regularly, sometimes I miss broken links, this is especially a concern as old product listings expire and new ones have different link addresses. If you encounter any broken links in my articles or listings, just bring it to my attention so I can correct the address or delete it from the site if it has expired and can no longer be accessed.

For a look at earlier Home Theater Nooz and Vewz Weekly Updates, CLICK HERE

Feel free to email me at hometheater.guide@about.com
with your questions and/or comments.