I have a Vista Media Center PC with a tuner card installed connected to a 50" Plasma and a PS3. There is a lot of debate out there about Xbox 360 as a media extender, etc, etc. I have been able to connect the PS3 across the network and play the audio and video files from the Media Center PC, through the PS3, so it could be located somewhere else in the house, not dedicated to the living room. But the Media Center has a much better interface for playing different media than the PS3. At this time I still need both devices to acomplish all the tasks I want on my entertainment setup. I can record TV programs on the PC and or download movies to it and play them, but the Vongo service I use doesn't have a HD option yet. PS3 now has Movie rental or purchase options and has a HD option. And of course the PS3 Blu-Ray upconvert player is a must with a High Def TV. Great looking games are definitely gravy.  Some of the functuality is duplicated in the two devices, but each one does something the other doesn't

 

I think I'll have to stay with multiple devices for awhile, as I believe the battle between Microsoft and Sony will wage on for years, we can only hope as comsumers we reap the rewards of great prices from the competition.

Just got back from the 3rd Annual Teaching with Technology Symposium:

 

Some very interesting things discussed for sure. Like most of my college instruction was flawed, now the science seems to be there to back up what I frustratingly stated years ago. You can't expect students to take notes all class long and listen to the lecture, it goes against what our brain allows. There are paths, like reading and learning or verbal and visual learning, they don't mix well together. View the transripts of the experts at the symposium.

 

A big emphasis was about how our world has changed so drastically, especially the digital age and how the educators are finally realizing they have to reach the students in more interactive ways. Looking at pictures of the classroom from the 1920's, it hasn't changed much since then.

 

It looks like the online classes will acheive this transition well before the brick and mortar classes will. How ironic that the online classes may become the better quality ones when they are being debated as not as good.

 

Some will fight the change and as history shows, will slowly retire and die as the change consumes us all.

 

I choose to ride the wave of progress to as positive a change as it can bring in my lifetime. Bring on the big waves, I"M READY!!!!

 

PS, I had the best technology at the symposium among the attendees, who's the man?