Home Theater

Real-world LCD vs. Plasma Comparison Shopping

By Jason Bovberg

I recently helped a friend shop for a new flatpanel monitor for his living room. We spent many hours online and at various consumer-electronics stores, trying to determine which would better serve him—LCD or plasma. We got all kinds of opinions and tested all sorts of source material, and we ended up with a decision that we’re both happy with, considering my friend’s needs. That decision was plasma, and it turned out to be a surprisingly personal decision. ...

What Happened to the Music?

By Jason Bovberg

We're still in the midst of the iPod revolution, so it's difficult to calculate the magnitude of its power and reach. Suffice it to say, the CD is reeling (but, so far, surviving) under an onslaught of legal and illegal downloads. ...

Blu-ray Is Worth Fighting For

By Jason Bovberg

I’ve watched the next-generation DVD format war unfold with great interest. The conflict—which amounted to a couple years of hostile sniping and maneuvering—had many of us on the edge of our seats. From the lowly tape-based VHS format, through the unwieldy laser disc, through the promising but limited DVD, we had been inching ever closer to that Holy Grail: absolutely film-like resolution and presentation of movies in the home. Both Blu-ray and HD DVD promised to achieve that goal. ...