My Head Is Exploding Trying To Figure Out My Home IT/AV System Options

[jyl]

This is a little bit of a rant. Just a mini-rant. Call it a runt.

2 years ago, I made some upgrades to the home IT/AV environment. Bought our first flat-panel TV, a Wii, set up Time Capsule w/ a 1TB drive, put bigger hard drives and more RAM in both the Macs. A bit later I put a 1 TB drive in the TiVo and plugged in a laser AIO printer. Well, thought I, that'll do us for awhile.

Now here we are, and our IT/AV is starting to get kind of creaky. The iMac got left behind with Tiger, the iBook is having some display problems, the wife/kids are tired of just mono laser printing, Santa brought some BluRay DVDs that we can't watch, the TV I bought has proven to be somewhat crappy, Netflix has streaming movies that I can't watch on our TV, wifey wants a DSLR which probably means our storage will be overrun, oh and my son would like to have audio when playing Wii (not enough analog audio inputs on the crap AV receiver).

So I have started thinking about the next upgrade cycle. I am kind of daunted by all the options and decisions. I've talked to my co-workers who show me their schematics and flowcharts, it just confuses me.

How about some advice and thoughts? There are some serious geeks here after all. I'll list my "needs" and "wants" and "preferences". I'm going to combine IT and AV in one list since the two seem to be converging. Anyone want to throw out a suggested equipment list and architecture?

Needs, wants, and preferences:
- HD TV with very good image quality, especially w/ dark moody scenes (where my current cheap-o SD LCD TV sucks)
- Able to play BluRay DVD, from all regions (region-free or region 0)
- 3D capable (I have no idea if I really want this, but am trying to future-proof)
- Able to use Netflix' streaming movie feature (Roku?)
- One remote instead of 7 (or 8, I lose count)
- DVR that can record HD and multiple channels at once (I like TiVo but would consider alternatives)
- Ability to play back the DVR'd programs on either the main/family room TV or the (yet-to-be installed) study and basement/workout room TVs
- 802.11N, but also able to work with 11G without slowing down the 11N (so, two separate wireless networks?)
- Able to run Mac OS X Leopard, I'd like to stay w/ Apple as the main family OS, but have no problem w/ the occasional Windows machines, e.g my daughter's HP netbook
- I'm likely staying w/ Comcast, as FiOS isn't coming to our neighborhood and we use Comcast for voice/data/cable, but I'd consider satellite
- Backup storage, starting at 2TB and expandable, located somewhere protected from theft/fire (a fire-resistant safe in the garage?)
- Print photos, but without bankrupting me in ink cost (which is why I chose the mono laser), I guess I could just add a photo inkjet as secondary printer

Gosh that seems like a long list. I know I should just take a hiatus from PPOT and go live on AVS Forum for a few months to learn all this stuff, but everytime I go there I get a headache. Guess I'm just getting old and falling behind the times . . .

[masraum]

Wow, nice list of needs and wants, sounds expensive. I can't really offer much.

Samsung makes a great LCD TV.

BluRay is no problem, but I'm not sure how easy the region-free part is going to be to find.

I think that by the time you get a modern TV and BluRay player, you'll have the ability to accept streaming Netflix. I think that's pretty common.

Logitech makes some really great Universal remotes. I think they run $100-200. Something like that'll be you best bet, I think.

I'm curious about the DVR myself.

[cashflyer]

Blu Ray mods have been out a while now.

If you're not a DIY guy, just order one.
Region Free BLu-Ray dvd player| Region Free BluRay disc player | Region Free BluRay Panasonic Sony Denon

Since you are with Comcast, you may want to read about a tru2way setbox.
tru2way

[masraum]

Wow, I'm shocked that this was all the response you got.

[Stanley]

A PS3 might be a good option too since it plays blue ray and netflix.

[jyl]

Maybe lots of heads exploded.

[porsche4life]

Mine sure did... I looked at all that and said too rich for my blood... I was curious to see what setup you end up with though...

[jriera]

John, I will try to answer some/most of your questions in the next couple of days .. that probably will give you more things to think about ...

For now enjoy this other forum --> AVS Forum

[jyl]

Thanks. I have really fallen behind the knowledge curve.

[LWJ]

Yeah. My head exploded. There is a greyish ooze leaking out my right ear. I don't feel well...

All I know is my neighbor with a PhD in something electronic who builds super techno flat screen stuff told me to buy one of the three "S" TVs.

Sanyo, Sony, Samsung.

Ugg. Now my left ear is leaking as well.

Larry

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by masraum

Wow, I'm shocked that this was all the response you got.

There is a reason there are lots of home av companies out there that do this stuff for people. It gets complicated.

TV - Samsung. We have a Sony 52". Its good. But the Samsungs are just as good, and they have better software, and they're less money.

Netflix Streaming - Here is good article: Engadget's Netflix HD streaming shootout -- Engadget

Last thing, I don't know if it helps, but I will say the upside of our Sony TV is that we have TONS of inputs on the back. You could have multiple DVRs, computers, gaming systems, etc.

[HardDrive]

You didn't mention why you wanted to upgrade the wireless. What do you have now? Not to be a stick in the mud, but when it comes to pushing big chunks of data around, wired is still king. Is running data cable out of the question? You could pick up a used 100mb Cisco switch that would last a long time and give you much better throughput than wireless.

*sits back and waits for his head to asplode*

[masraum]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

You didn't mention why you wanted to upgrade the wireless. What do you have now? Not to be a stick in the mud, but when it comes to pushing big chunks of data around, wired is still king. Is running data cable out of the question? You could pick up a used 100mb Cisco switch that would last a long time and give you much better throughput than wireless.

*sits back and waits for his head to asplode*

Yep, wireless is convenient, but it's hard to beat cat 5 (or these days, 5e or 6) for speed and reliability.

[myamoto1]

Oppo Digital makes one of the best BluRay players. I'm sure someone has hacked it for region free play as well. I have one of the SD players an love it. (Un)Fortunately, we upgraded to BluRay and the Oppo now sits in the garage. Not only was it a great DVD player, but it was fantastic for audio as well (SACD).

Once you figure out what you think you want, spend some time on the AVS forums (post #8) and you'll get a ton of techie opinions that will help you decide between your options.

[Dottore]

subscribed

[jyl]

I have a newer 11N router and an older 11G router, both airports. The 11N is wired to the cable modem and is working in G mode. The 11G is upstairs, set up as a repeater to give me a strong signal on the second and third floors. The iMac is wired to the 11N router, the printer is plugged into the iMac. Everything else - iBook, netbook, work laptop, iPhones, airport express connected to living room speakers, WLAN adapter connected to TiVo, etc, runs off the WLAN in 11G mode. Running cable is not in the cards, it's an old house w/ lath.plaster walls and there are much higher priorities for spending $.

I cannot honestly say I "need" 11N mode - but if I go to a central storage that serves files to the various Macs and PCs, seems potentially useful.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jyl

I have a newer 11N router and an older 11G router, both airports. The 11N is wired to the cable modem and is working in G mode. The 11G is upstairs, set up as a repeater to give me a strong signal on the second and third floors. The iMac is wired to the 11N router, the printer is plugged into the iMac. Everything else - iBook, netbook, work laptop, iPhones, airport express connected to living room speakers, WLAN adapter connected to TiVo, etc, runs off the WLAN in 11G mode. Running cable is not in the cards, it's an old house w/ lath.plaster walls and there are much higher priorities for spending $.

I cannot honestly say I "need" 11N mode - but if I go to a central storage that serves files to the various Macs and PCs, seems potentially useful.

If you're upgrading, you may as well get the newest standard. And it sounds like cabling isn't an option, so yeah, you may as well get 11N.