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Get a SiliconDust HDHomeRun Prime CableCard tuner for $169.99

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Windows Media Center is a better DVR than TiVo. It has a vastly superior program guide, a much prettier Netflix interface, and a total lack of monthly fees.

The key ingredient to a successful WMC setup is a CableCard tuner. These were few and far between until a couple months ago, but now you have several good options.

Like this one: Newegg has the SiliconDust HDHomeRun Prime HDHR3-CC CableCard tuner for $169.99, plus $6.98 for shipping. The list price is $249, and most online outfits sell it for around $229.

The HDHR3-CC offers three digital tuners that can pull down HD and premium channels alike. (Sorry, no on-demand or pay-per-view, though.) All you need is a CableCard from your cable company. The one I'm renting from Comcast costs me all of $1.50 per month; I think I was paying $13 to $14 for a DVR box.

What's unique about this particular tuner is that it plugs into your home network router, meaning you can share its tuners with multiple Windows 7-powered PCs: one in the den, one in the bedroom, and so on. (Ideally, however, you'll want a wired Ethernet connection between those PCs and your router.)

There's even a companion iPad app, though it's pricey at $17.99 and not very good.

My only real complaint is that you can't plug the HDHR3-CC into a single PC if you prefer that kind of configuration. But for multi-PC households, the HDHR3-CC is a steal at $169.99. Grab one while it's on sale!… Read more

Get a Zvox 325 single-cabinet surround-sound system for $219.99

My unofficial goal this week is to post only items that won't sell out. Yesterday's $25 American Express credit, for example.

Today, let's talk actual products. If you're willing to brave the crowds this Friday, you might come away with something like a 42-inch HDTV for $199.99 or a 24-inch HDTV for $79.99--both of which are among the "doorbusters" at Best Buy. (I take back what I said about this year's Black Friday; there are some deals to be had!)

Of course, as I've mentioned many times before, the speakers … Read more

How to get text message reminders for your favorite TV shows

Missing the newest episode of your favorite TV show is the worst.

Sure, the latest episode of "Top Chef" is bound to rerun, but by the time it airs, the entire Interwebs has already torn it apart, revealing who was eliminated, which dishes looked delicious, and how hot (or not) Padma looked that day. (Let's be honest: she's never the latter.)

There's really nothing like catching the latest episode the first time it airs, and tweeting (or Facebook-posting) immediately after in excitement with the rest of America.

But with so many TV shows to keep … Read more

How to stream online movies and music to your TV

Watching a Netflix or YouTube video on a computer screen can feel a little crowded, especially in a huddle of friends.

To fix that problem, many televisions are now adding these services to the TV interface, creating what are now considered "smart TVs." Services like Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, and YouTube are readily available on those TVs for streaming media to the big screen.

But if you don't own a streaming-ready TV, you have dozens of options to emulate the experience. Popular devices like Roku, Boxee, and the Apple TV have cropped up, each offering a different way … Read more

HDTV doorbuster deals to avoid

Every year, retailers tempt consumers with too-good-to-be-true deals designed to tempt them into the stores and buy...something else.

Chances are, these deals are too good to be true. Before you head out to join the mad rush, here are some so-called "deals" to avoid.… Read more

Why doesn't my TV say 120Hz/240Hz?

CNET reader Steven U. asks:

I bought a 240 Hz LED LCD, and if I press the "Info" button, all I ever see is 1080p/60. Does this mean I'm only getting 60 Hz? Is there something wrong with my TV? Do I need a special HDMI cable? Your question is a pretty common one, actually.… Read more

Six 5.1 speaker systems under $500 (roundup)

Sound bars and home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) systems can sound "good enough," but if you want a home theater experience that's actually exciting, you need a bona fide 5.1 speaker system. And they're less expensive than you might think.

We've rounded up six 5.1 speaker systems that cost less than $500. You can find 5.1 packages for less than that, but around $500 is the sweet spot where sound quality starts to get pretty good. And we've also thrown in an ultrabudget option that comes in at just $84 and holds its own against the pricier competition.

One quick note before we get to the speakers. Unlike an all-in-one system like a sound bar or HTIB system, the speaker packages require a separate AV receiver. Check out CNET's list of best AV receivers for recommendations.

Best overall budget speaker system

The Energy Take Classic 5.1 ($400 street price) is our Editors' Choice and the hands-down best overall speaker system we tested in this price range.… Read more

Why all HDMI cables are the same, part 2

A few months ago, I wrote the provocatively titled "Why all HDMI cables are the same."

There was a ruckus. Which I expected.

But the post also generated some great questions. Which I hadn't. So let's take a look at some of the more common and persisting questions from my article, and flush some more of the myths surrounding the decidedly-not-magic HDMI down the drain.… Read more

Get an Epson Home Cinema 6100 1080p projector for $699

Today's deal is a little weird. Awesome, but weird.

Fry's has the Epson PowerLite Home Cinema 6100 1080p projector for $699, plus $10.44 for shipping. It's new, not refurbished, making this the best deal I can recall seeing for a 1080p projector.

What's the weird part? The Fry's site says it's "available for preorder," so there's no way to know when you'll actually get it. Hmmm.

Update: It now shows in stock!

Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained cheaply, right? Having just reviewed a similar projector priced at $1,500, … Read more