Configuring a well balanced home entertainment setup begins by defining a reasonable baseline for two basic criteria: 

• Usage
• Budget

New emerging usage models include the ability to view on-demand digital broadcasts over the internet as well as a well rounded streaming solution from personal media inventory.

There are 3 basic categories which help fulfill the home entertainment requirements.

Nettop / HTPC: Devices falling in this category come equipped with components resembling low to mid end computers in an extremely small portable form factor.  A good nettop configuration should support full HD 1080p video decoding, and have a fully functional operating system preloaded with media center software. This device should also have multiple i/o ports which supports connection to external devices. Essentially, this configuration mimics a computer connected to a large display.

Media Streamers: Functionally, these devices support storage and playback of media files. Depending on the manufacturer and their capabilities, these can range anywhere from $100 to $300. These are designed from an appliance perspective, hence the scope for modification and customization is fairly limited. They are equipped with applications that help deliver internet content.

Video Game Consoles: Consoles pack a lot of computing power required for gaming graphic computations, so naturally these devices make excellent companions to HDTVs. Devices come pre-equipped with a media center, which allows for media sharing. For ex: if audio/video/image files reside on a PC connected to your local home network, Windows Media Player supports streaming of this media to the console, thereby enabling on demand playback of your digital content on TV. However, there are some limitations to the formats supported. PlayStation3 supports Blu-ray and is a great option for “more-than-casual” gamers.

IN-SHORT: A Cheat Sheet

Y* – By Installing additional software like XBMC, BOXEE, etc

** identifies frequently used apps like Hulu Plus, Pandora, Youtube, Netflix, etc

Earlier this month, Intel announced their release of the Second Generation of Core iX processors, code named Sandy Bridge. There is a lot of excitement in the user community about this new processor because Intel has done significant architectural design changes to improve battery life and performance which translates into a more sophisticated user experience. Some key highlights of this release:

1.       Integrated Graphics Processor (IGP) HD 3000 – There have always been complaints about Intel’s video solutions and for good reason. They were slow, underpowered and almost always incapable of doing anything more than basic display. However that’s all about to change.  With the HD3000, Intel is giving direct competition to the entry-level discrete graphics from Nvidia and AMD-ATI. The IGP is capable of HD video processing and rendering most games with low detail at playable resolutions. So, if you are an occasional gamer then the need for discrete graphics has been made void.

2.       Higher Single Core / Dual Core Turbo – When Core iX processors were first released in 2010, Intel introduced a new feature called Turbo Boost. Basically what this means is that if a processor is marked for a base operation frequency of 2.0 Ghz and if the workload increases (Ex: user starts an application which is graphic intensive), then based on an advanced algorithm, the processor will scale its frequency to increase performance in either single threaded or multi-threaded applications.  This is beneficial because when you are surfing the internet, writing a document or chatting online the processor doesn’t need to be working full throttle. By operating at a lower frequency, the processor conserves battery and allows longer mobility. With the new generation of core processors, Intel has increased the head room available to the processor. So when the need arises, rest assured that the engine under the hood can rise to the challenge.

3.       Lower TDP and Power Draw – TDP stands for Thermal Design Power, and without going into too much detail, what this means is that the processor is more energy efficient than its predecessors. It uses less power which also implies that it runs cooler. This can be attributed to a couple of things, but key factors are improved manufacturing process and better integration within the components on the chip. From a mobility perspective, it will allow you to be away from the wall for a longer period of time.

4.       WiDi 2.0 – Wireless Display Technology from Intel was released back in 2010 and it was plagued with issues such as lag, synchronization, and only offering 720p.  The technology has now matured and WiDi 2.0 is now expected to support full 1080p HD. However, early reviews have shown that some issues still persist which might deter adoption. On a plus, Intel is developing a service called ‘Insider’ which will enable studios and distributors to securely deliver HD content.

Laptops with Sandy Bridge debuted at CES 2011, in Vegas, to much excitement. I anticipate that they should be available for retail around early to mid February. There are currently a lot of deals on laptops with 2010 processors. Unless you are urgently in need of a laptop, my recommendation is to hold on to the cash and wait for the next gen tech to arrive. Intel Quad Core i7-2xxx processor with Nvidia Optimus GT 525M should be the ideal laptop for 2011.

If charts and numbers are your thing, head over to anandtech.com where they have details on architecture and benchmark comparisons to the 2010 versions.

1. Apple iPhone®

You may think that phones are just for calling and texting. We’re in the 21^st century now, so people are on-the-go most of their time. We all need to check our e-mail frequently, connect with our friends, and browse the web for some essential information. The iPhone, by all means, is not just a regular cellular device. It’s far beyond the phone industry. It is a micro-computer that puts everything in a touch of your finger.

Not only is the iPhone perfect for fun, it’s also excellent for business. Save all of your meetings, notes, draft emails, advanced contact info on one and only phone. And when you come back home, sync it with your computer.

That has been just a few things you can do with an iPhone. If you feel like your BlackBerry is not enough, join millions of happy people on Earth and buy an iPhone. You will get more and more impressed each day.

2. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3®

You may think that it’s just a camera. It’s not. Who wouldn’t want a camera with a 3.5” LCD Touch-Screen Display? Your pictures will show up in an astonishing quality. This slim little thing has 10.1 Megapixels which let you take photos that will impress even a professional photographer. You can crop your images and still come out with a high resolution photo. This is probably the most important thing of all, this camera has Wi-Fi! Yep, that’s right, a built-in Wi-Fi 802.11b/g connectivity that lets you connect your Sony Cyber-shot from any accessible wireless hotspot and upload your photos and videos in just seconds. The new DSC-G3 comes with a built-in 4GB memory and can expand to a lot more when you insert a Memory Stick Duo™. You probably think that it’s just a little usual camera, well think again! The astounding technology in this thing will leave you open-mouthed for days. Check out the full list at Sony.com.

3. Logitech Squeezebox Boom®

I bet you haven’t seen anything like this before. It’s a great WiFi radio that will blow you away with the sound quality. Don’t misinterpret the small looks, it will sound astounding. You can connect it to your Windows, Mac, or Linux via your WiFi network and listen to your songs. You can also connect it PC-free and listen to Last.fm, Pandora, Sirius XM, and many other great online music services. If you don’t like cords and cables, you should definitely get it. It will reach your ear as far as your WiFi goes. It’s a great portable boombox. Set it up outside while you relax by the pool and enjoy your favorite tracks. At around $270, it’s a brilliant way to sound awesome.

“Demo of the first Apple Macintosh by Steve Jobs, January 1984, in front of 3000 people.”