Hey everyone, Jeremy Charette here!

[Jeremy Charette]

<img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/media/users/1990/jeremy.gif" /> Hey there folks! This is Jeremy Charette, the newest Contributing Editor in Training on the Digital Media Thoughts Team. I'll be helping post news and articles from around the world relating to Digital Media of all kinds. But before I jump into that assignment, I'd like to tell you a little about myself.<br /> <br />One of my first memories is that of my father and a friend sitting in our basement, hunched over one of the very first <a href="http://www.obsoletecomputermuseum.org/compaq/">Compaq luggable computers</a>, weighing a whopping 28 pounds, with a tiny <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_Graphics_Adapter">CGA </a>monitor. (Four colors! Woo hoo!) They blew several months worth of late nights trying to hack <a href="http://j.lahmy.tripod.com/aaow/subp01.htm">Sun Tzu’s Art of War </a>in the DOS command line. So began the influence of technology on my life.<br /><br />I was born on the cusp of the computer revolution, and as I’ve grown up, I’ve had the chance to see technology change the world around me in ways I never imagined. I feel incredibly fortunate to have lived through a major societal evolution, and I’ve immersed myself in it since I was old enough to push keys on a keyboard. From the first video game systems, to the first portable computers, to the first handheld PCs (yes, I had an <a href="http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/abouthp/histnfacts/museum/personalsystems/0025/">HP95LX</a>!); I’ve experienced it all.<!><br /><br />Today I’m an engineer involved in manufacturing. I just finished up a graduate degree at the <a href="http://www.rit.edu">Rochester Institute of Technology</a>, and after nine years of “higher education”, I have the unenviable task of finding a real job! I recently moved to <a href="http://www.southbrooklyn.net/">Brooklyn, NY</a>; after having lived in the <a href="http://www.visitrochester.com/">Rochester, NY </a>area since birth. I'm getting married in May of 2006, and I'm having a great time discovering a new city and a new life!<br /><br />I happened upon <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com">Pocket PC Thoughts </a>over four years ago when I got my first <a href="http://www.southbrooklyn.net/">Pocket PC</a>, a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004VWM5/qid=1121837619/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-6587110-9174417?v=glance&amp;s=pc">Casio EM-500</a>; and I’ve dropped into the forums over there from time to time to join in the discussion (you might know me as <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&amp;u=1497">Newsboy </a>in the other Thoughts Media forums). A few months ago I decided to step off the sidelines and into the action, and talked to <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/meetexperts/dunn.mspx">Jason Dunn </a>about how I might be able to help out.<br /><br />I love all things technology related. In the past few years I’ve gotten hooked on Digital Media of all kinds. When not working (or looking for it :wink:), you’ll find me sitting on the floor in my living room, controller in hand, playing <a href="http://www.xbox.com">Xbox </a>on my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00026WRFI/ref=pd_sxp_f/002-6587110-9174417?v=glance&amp;s=electronics">HDTV </a>in <a href="http://www.dolby.com/consumer/technology/tech_overview.html">5.1 Surround Sound</a>. About the only thing that tears me away (besides my beautiful fiancé!) is Analog Media. Books! Right now I’m reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0761537082/ref=pd_sxp_f/002-6587110-9174417?v=glance&amp;s=books"><i>Opening the XBOX</i> by Dean Takahashi</a>.<br /><br />I’m always researching audio &amp; video technology, looking for new ways to improve my gaming and home theater experience. Hopefully I can share some of my discoveries with the rest of you. Feel free to send me a private message or email; and as always, send us news or interesting stories via our <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/submit.php">news submission form</a>.

[Darius Wey]

Hi Jeremy,

Great to have you on board the Thoughts Media ship. I look forward to reading your digital media rants. Best of luck in your new position! :)

Darius

[Jeremy Charette]

Thanks Darius! Rest assured, I have plenty to talk about! :wink:

[mcsouth]

I look forward to reading your articles - based on how you described your setup at home, it sounds similar to the setup I'm hoping to do this fall - 42" LCD or plasma HDTV, 5.1 or 6.1 surround, and Xbox 360! Considering that my wife just spent several thousand on new furniture and fixtures for the living room, I managed to convince her that a flat panel TV mounted on the wall would complement all of her new stuff....and she's going along with it! Now I just have to figure out which technology, LCD or plasma, brand and model, etc, etc, etc......so any insights you can share will be appreciated!

Best of luck in your new assignment!

[Suhit Gupta]

Hey Jeremy,
Welcome to the team. :)

Suhit

[Steve1496]

Great to have a new editor! I look forward to reading your articles.

Best of luck,
Steve

[Jerry Raia]

Welcome sir! :)

[James Fee]

Welcome Jeremy! It is nice being able to post about the gadgets we love. 8)

[Mike Temporale]

Hey Jeremy, Congratulations!

Now, what does your shirt say? I can't make it out. :?

[Jeremy Charette]

That's one of my favorite shirts, from ThinkGeek.com (http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts/frustrations/388b/):

"No, I will not fix your computer." :lol:

[Jeremy Charette]

I look forward to reading your articles - based on how you described your setup at home, it sounds similar to the setup I'm hoping to do this fall - 42" LCD or plasma HDTV, 5.1 or 6.1 surround, and Xbox 360! Considering that my wife just spent several thousand on new furniture and fixtures for the living room, I managed to convince her that a flat panel TV mounted on the wall would complement all of her new stuff....and she's going along with it! Now I just have to figure out which technology, LCD or plasma, brand and model, etc, etc, etc......so any insights you can share will be appreciated!

Best of luck in your new assignment!

Funny you mention the wife and furniture...my fiancee and I had a discussion last month about getting a new corner TV stand for the 27" Panasonic. It's a tube set, and weighs over 100 lbs., so it's not small by an stretch of the imagination. I said "let's get that $99 stand from IKEA", to which she replied "Ok, then later we can something nicer. Here, look I found a bunch online." She Froogled "Corner TV Stand" and came up with a bunch of custom made solid cherry and mahogany stands that started at, brace yourself, $1300.

Let's see:

Hiding a huge CRT television: $1300
Buying a new (and bigger) LCD flat panel TV to hang on the wall: $800-1300

Hmmm. Guess who won that debate? :wink:

Anyway, my current setup is as follows:

Panasonic 27" HDTV, 4:3 aspect ratio
Sony Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Receiver
Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble IV Home Theater System (4" cube speakers)
Cambridge Soundworks 8" Powered Subwoofer
Pioneer/Time-Warner HDTV Cable Box
Panasonic DMR-ES10S DVD Recorder
Samsung Progressive-Scan DVD Player
Halo Special Edition XBOX
Ancient :lol: Sony VCR

Monster Cable interconnects between every device

I got into home theater a few years ago after I graduated from undergrad, and had a few bucks from my first "real" job. Spent around $1500 on the Sony/Cambridge Soundworks setup, and it sounded incredible. I forgot one thing though, I'm deaf in one ear. So it was all in mono! I might as well have just had one kick-ass speaker! :lol: Earlier this year I upgraded to HDTV and got a DVD Recorder. Or should I say...several DVD Recorders! The quality of DVD/DVR devices on the market today is suspect at best, imho. Remind me to tell you about the funny story from Wal-Mart someday.

The current XBOX looks incredible on HDTV. And yes, there are HDTV games out there from the current XBOX (720p and 1080i!). My only gripe is that the TV only has one HD Component input.

As far as flat-panel TVs, I'd go with an LCD panel. The prices are about 1/2 to 1/3 that of a comparable Plasma display, they use far less energy, they're lighter (easier to mount), and the quality is almost indistinguishable from a Plasma panel at the high end. Samsung, LG, and Sharp make the best LCD TVs imho. For the price of an EDTV (480p) Plasma display, you can get a true HDTV (1080i) LCD display for thousands less. Just don't get a cheap LCD TV, the viewing angles and contrast are typically horrible.

Something else to consider is how to switch HD Component Video inputs. If you don't have a receiver that can handle HD Component Video, and your TV doesn't have more than 1 or 2 inputs, you'll need to get a switching device to change components. I need to get one myself, as I currently have 4 progressive scan or HD devices, and only one input on my TV. Pelican Accessories makes several low-cost models that work well according to reviews. Only downside: they aren't controllable by remote. For that you'll need a receiver with multiple HD Component inputs.

And don't forget about sound! Good speakers can make or break a home theater system. When you get to this level of sophistocation, the weak links become really weak. A low quality DVD player will still look terrible, even with expensive cables and a high end HDTV. If you have to, spend a little less money on the rest of the components of your system if it means having more money to replace a low-end component. Try to shoot for a "balanced" home theater system.

As time goes on I'll try to get some articles up on building a home theater system. I've learned a lot over the past 5 years, hopefully I can condense some of what I know and pass it on to the rest of you.

[OSUKid7]

Welcome to one heck-of-a-team, Jeremy. :-D Everything I've read from those on the Thoughts Media teams has been great, and I'm sure you'll be no different. :)

Considering that my wife just spent several thousand on new furniture and fixtures for the living room, I managed to convince her that a flat panel TV mounted on the wall would complement all of her new stuff....and she's going along with it!
ahhh...I can only hope some day I'm as lucky as you to have such a tech-understanding wife. ;) :D

[Jeremy Charette]

With enough money, anything is possible. :wink:

[Janak Parekh]

Welcome to the family, Jeremy. :) (A belated welcome at that; I've been buried in the PPCT side of things as of late.) I'm sure you'll be a great addition to the team. 8)

--janak

[Kris Kumar]

Hi Jeremy,

Welcome to the team. (A super belated welcome, unlike Janak, I was buried at home. :-)) Congrats in advance for the wedding. And all the best for the settling down in the new city.

So we have another Contributing Editor from Rochester, NY area (well now your are in Brooklyn :-(). Looks like Rochester, NY is contributing lot of Contributing Editors to the Thoughts Media team. 8)

Kris