Maybe you waded through my recent Top 5 TV�s, which actually was 9 of the damned things.
Well, to
reward you for that, I�ve got the perfect side dish: Top 5 home video gear to go with that new HDTV!
And yes, it�s actually 5 � no pesky ties!
Let�s go.
Warming things up at #5, Roku XDS streaming player.
You want to join the whole �screw you cable
company� movement�?
This is the best way to do it for a little money -- $100.
You�ll get Netflix,
Amazon, Pandora as well as MLB TV and Hulu Plus for a fee.
Not iTunes or YouTube support, though.
This thing won�t raise a vein on your forehead when setting it up.
And we like this XDS version for its
USB port for playing your own movies off a thumb drive.
#4 is the Slingbox Solo, our favorite placeshifting device.
Now, I think the Slingbox is something of a
niche device; You either don�t need one, or absolutely love it.
It takes whatever�s on at home and
streams it to just about computer, smartphone or other connected device that can run the sling
software.
It�s great if you have a pricey live sports package you waste a bunch of when you�re away
from the house.
You can get one of these guys for as little as $160.
Coming in at #3 is the Samsung BD-C6500 Blu-ray deck, our favorite straight up BD deck.
Even if you�re
just lukewarm on Blu-ray, like yours truly, this box gets you streaming services like Netflix, Vudu and
YouTube, 7.1 surround outputs and 1 gig of storage onboard and built-in Wi-Fi.
Plus Samsung is pushing
their own Apps platform so you�re just about guaranteed of an Apple-like array of apps you can load on
this box to make it a do-all home media terminal.
Get one of these for under $200 bucks and even if you
NEVER play a Blu-ray disc it�s a good idea.
At #2 we have the Harmony One do it all -- and make it easy � unified remote.
These guys sort of own
this space, and the model One is the sweet spot of their line.
You program tasks like �play DVD in 5.1
audio via HDMI input 2� or �watch live TV with audio on the soundbar and a 4:3 aspect ratio� with single
macros that are programmed via a web service.
You just press one button.
Yeah, kinda pricey at $250
list and maybe $170 street, but you tell me know expensive that is next time you�re screwing around
trying to get something to play right while your spouse stares at ceiling wondering why they married a
dork.
OK, before we hit the #1 present you should give your TV, look at how many TV�s we own these days:
Latest Nielsen numbers show just 17% of scraping by with one TV.
28% of us have two.
55% of us have
three�or MORE!
In fact the AVERAGE is now 3 per household.
�
OK, let�s reveal the #1 best piece of home video gear to hook up to at least one of those TV�s: It�s the
Sony PS3 Slim.
Just about the priciest thing on the list at $350, but still the best value.
Games, Blu-ray,
online streaming from its service as well as the others like Netflix.
And since Sony says the PS3 will get a
3D Blu-ray update later this year, you�ve got future proofing � but you will need a new 3D TV�and
that�s another Top 5.
Full details on all of these are at Matt Moskoviak�s list on CNET � keep an eye on it if you�re in the
market, this is a hot sector and new products pop up every few weeks.
Just go to CNET, click the Home
Video category, then Best Home Video products�or go to our Top 5 home at top5.cnet.com
