The future of the Internet is merging rapidly with consumer electronics and home entertainment.  Big guns are out and it's difficult to see what will transpire in the next year.  With the switch to High Definition (HD) mandated in 2009, flat screen TV buyers need good advice.  Square Deal Neil's is a good place to go to get that advice.  (See our Internet & Technology advertisers)

What's Clear?

You are in good hands with the local supplier Bruce Telecom as they are moving quickly to install fiber optic cable that will merge phone, television and Internet, whatever the format.  In fact delivering TV and movies over fiber optic links will help you more than you think.

 What is Less Clear?

We are involved as users in battles over format with titans of industry on one side or the other.  The announcement on January 7th, 2008 that Warner Brothers would release their movies only on Blu-ray has sent shock waves through the industry.  On one side we have Microsoft and Toshiba backing HD-TV format, while Blu-ray is backed by Sony. 

The Warner Brother's choice of Blu-ray, if it sticks, is a major blow. to Toshiba-Microsoft.  Are the standard's wars over?  Who knows? Microsoft is a powerful foe.

I remember well when we used to have to port our applications to so many computers.  It was a nightmare and those that concentrated on the PC  won the battle.  Far from eliminating competition, Microsoft and Intel helped start thousands of small and large business ventures.  Apple is still very nice, but because of their loss of the standard's war, expensive peripherals and  costly software, they are a 3% player in the computer wars.

With Blu-ray, I don't think Microsoft will lose in either case as they can switch quicker than one might think. Toshiba might be the bigger loser because of all the hardware content.

Standards are good and once settled this will bring the price down of  TVs  and DVD recorders, which will display exclusively on flat screen HD from now on for sure.

Right now we can move our PC laptop image in a living room to a large screen TV and back, but we have to be a guru and one with deep pockets.  In the near future, everyone will do it as a matter of course.   Watch the kids and follow their lead.

Education and news are Internet delivered now and old formats just hang on like the print media which is in trouble.  Apple is fine.  They have music.  They are the music de facto standard

Please consult Bruce Telecom and Square Deal Neils on the latest. You'd be surprised to see HD TV wireless at Bruce Telecome.  Consult your kids for what's possible.

Our advice:  The Network is the Computer.  Think network when buying computers, TVs, DVD players and gaming devices.