Some 30 million households will have some kind of connected entertainment network by 2010, but when it comes to the display panel and viewing media, choice will the critical and home work essential.
Among two competing high density-digital video or versatile disc (HD-DVD) formats one could go the way of the short lived 8-Track audio and Betamax video tape formats, now dinosaurs in audio visual entertainment.
And new technology in flat-panel TVs may have yet unseen bugs that could add repair costs to the expense of big screen home viewing.
"Networks in the Home: Connected Consumer Electronics", a new report from Parks Associates defines a connected entertainment network is a network composed of either a PC connected to at least one consumer electronic (CE) device or multiple interconnected CE devices such as a whole-house digital video recorder (DVR) system.
Forecasting a 30-million home march to such systems, the report says connected home entertainment is the leading edge of all connectivity in the home, but needs cross-industry collaboration, to realize the full potential in home entertainment.
"Consumer electronics (CE) manufacturers are still searching for the Rosetta stone of the connected entertainment market," said Harry Wang, research analyst at Parks Associates.
One major point of contention is in high definition DVD formats.
Consumer Reports says of two emerging formats, HD DVD and Blu-ray, most movie studios are supporting only one. HD DVD, introduced by Toshiba, is supported by movie studios including Universal and HBO. Sony's Blu-ray is backed by Disney and others.
The consumer rater of goods and services found in initial tests that HD DVD delivered sharper, more detailed images than regular DVD, with Blu-ray promising similar improvements. Both formats are also designed to offer greater interactivity than regular DVDs.
Consumer Reports has advised consumers that format wars typically leave one opponent standing, as in the VHS vs. Betamax videotape-format fight, the 8-Track vs. cassette audio rumble and the LaserDisc vs. DVD winner-take-all duke out. In all cases, consumers who invested in one format were left with obsolete technology.
Even if both survive, most movies will be available only on one format or the other. So far only Warner Bros. and Paramount say they will offer titles in both. That could mean you'll initially have to buy both technologies -- at $500 for each player, plus $25 per movie title -- if you are a movie fanatic, Consumer Reports says.
And don't forget early glitches in virtually all new technology, especially today's computer/digital technology-based equipment. Consumer Reports found in initial tests, the new high definition DVD players took longer to load discs and skip chapters than regular DVD players. Also, digital connections were "finicky," the magazine reported.
Then too, added features typically come later in second, third and later generations of the same technology.
"Both formats promise Internet access and video-game-style interaction with movie characters. However, most of the first high-definition discs have only the same extras as their standard-definition siblings," Consumer Reports said.
Finally, expect the short supply for both versions of the technology and limited availability of movies to keep prices high initially.
There's more from Consumer Reports on the viewing end of home entertainment systems.
The magazine, which, has long pooh-poohed extended warranties on home technology for a variety of reasons, says certain new-technology monitors may be best purchased with the additional cost of an extended warranty.
Preliminary Consumer Report findings show a fairly high rate of repair in the first year for microdisplay rear-projection TVs. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and flat-panel TVs revealed no spike in repairs the first year, but the magazine says it's too early to tell what will happen in later years as the technology advances.
To learn more about the new age of connected entertainment technology for your home, visit Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) Consumer Resource Guides; TWICE.com (This Week In Consumer Electronics); and the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association, along with Consumer Reports electronics and computers section.
