Getting the Most Out of Your Electronics - laptop, hdmi cable, hdtv, netflix and more

I am late to the HDTV party, but believe me when I say I made a serious entrance.  While many have taken the plunge and purchased some really nice HDTVs, maybe even purchased a Blue Ray player or an HD cable or satellite package, I've done nothing but buy an HDMI cable.  With this little piece of heaven, you can turn your television into a little electronics playground.

Our Setup

Here's a quick list of what we have and then I'll share with you what we can do with it and why it's hellacheap entertainment:

1. 37" LCD HDTV with HDMI inputs
2. HDMI cable
3. Computer speaker system with subwoofer
4. Laptop computer
5. Netflix subscription
6. Basic digital cable

What We Get from Our System

We get television programming from our cable provider that includes all of our local stations, all of the PBS channels in the region, On-Demand, and some others.  In other words, our version of cable sucks compared to most.  However, we also have a Netflix subscription so we can watch whatever they have - and that's a lot.  Not to mention that the HDMI allows us to hook into anything that our computer can download.

So here's a sampling of what we can put on the tube courtesy of the internet:

• Netflix
• Hulu
• YouTube
• ABC
• NBC
• CBS
• FOX
• WildTangent Games
• DVDs
• And the list goes on...
• And on...
• And on..

Anything you can view on your PC, we now have available on our television.  It might not seem like such a big deal, but let's count the cost compared to an HD package from a cable or satellite provider:

• Basic Digital Cable: $15/month
• Netflix Subscription:  $18/month
• Hulu, YouTube, ABC, etc.:  FREE

The total cost we pay each month is $33 compared to an HD package at nearly $100 per month.  The annual savings is $792 and we get a lot MORE than just cable.  With that $792, we could just as easily buy two new laptops each year or take a nice little weekend vacation or pay for our sons' college educations.

Of course, the value doesn't stop there.  We can also run household budget meetings through the television so it's easier for the entire family to see (by the way, if you're shielding your kids from money matters, stop it!).  Anything that you would want to see on a bigger screen or share with more than a pair, having a laptop and television that have HDMI ports is a major benefit.

Now, it's not perfect...yet.  That's why I'll be adding a wireless keyboard with mouse to the mix so that we can recline, watch the tube, and have a full blown web television experience.

By the way, a 37" HDTV can be had for around $350 and an HDMI cable is $40 on the low end.  If you buy them, you'll drop $390, but if you have even a classic cable package, you'll pay for this purchase within a year and after that...well...it's gravy.

Comments

[Michael Harr]

@George & Rob - I realized I'd been taken to the cleaners at the cash register. The Best Buy associate said, "These cables are really expensive for customers. As an employee, I get them for $8" For anyone familiar with the Jim Rome Show, that was a BOHICA moment.

[Rob]

quick comment, HMDI cables can be found for $3 or so...there really isnt much difference at all between brands, this is one instance when cheaper really is better.

[George]

An HDMI cable definitely shouldn't cost $40. It's a digital connection, so the "quality" of the cable is largely irrelevant. Monoprice is a well-regarded supplier of cables - the last batch of 6' HDMI cables I bought from there were about $7 each.

"Big Box" electronics retailers have huge markups on accessories like cables. They're far cheaper if ordered online (even after paying for shipping costs, the savings are 60-70% off of retail prices.

If you really want to get your money's worth out of your HDMI cable, look into free media center software like Mediaportal or Boxee or XBMC. Combine that with a basic media centre remote and USB IR receiver (about $30) and you'll have an awesome HTPC setup for very little cash, and no big monthly cable bill!