Monday, April 28, 2008

The Next Big Thing

Nowadays, many people go “out to the movies” in their own media rooms. The new must-have accessory? Entertainment systems from companies like Kaleidescape (kaleidescape.com), Fusion (fusionrd.com), and Axonix (axonix.com). These free you from the bother of cataloging and storing cases by allowing you to upload your entire DVD and CD collections onto a single server. The system may even dim the lights, draw the curtains, and display a customized on-screen introduction.

It’s incredible fun to play with these easy-to-operate machines. And they stream independently, so anyone can make his or her own selection, from in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, or elsewhere.

These systems are expensive now, but my bet is that they are the flat screens and cell phones of tomorrow. Eventually, we’ll all have one.