MAKING LIFE MORE FUN Home Sweet Digital Home: Easy Ways To Enhance Your Home Entertainment System by Chris Dobrec

(NAPSI)-Upgrading your home-entertainment system with a wireless home network can be a simple, cost-effective and worthwhile makeover. If it's something you've considered, you're not alone. According to Michael Wolf of ABI Research, "Today's consumers are creating, sharing and watching more digital media now than ever before. In just one year, the number of people watching online video has doubled to 64 percent of online consumers. People are beginning to watch online media in dynamic ways--on their phone, TV and in various locations such as public spaces." Home Is Where The TV Is ABI Research believes that close to 50 percent of U.S. households have more than one personal computer, over 80 percent have more than one TV and 52 percent have a home network. Imagine the next time that you're entertaining friends at home and want to show them your vacation photos. A home network lets you view the digital photo album saved on your PC in the home office on the TV screen in your living room--no one has to huddle around an album anymore. There are probably nights when your kids want to watch different shows--but at the same time. Using a home network, you can play the show that is saved on the DVR on the home computer instead, and without interrupting what is being watched on the TV. With the rise of viewing TV programs online, it's not always the best experience watching TV on your PC; however, with devices such as media players or media center extenders connected to your home router, you can stream the shows from your PC or from the Internet straight to your television. Cut The Cord--Go Wireless It's easy to achieve this home upgrade simply by setting up a wireless home network. All you need is a modem, which you can get from your Internet supplier, and a router and digital media adapter, available today from brands such as Linksys at retailers including Best Buy, Circuit City and Amazon. Setup wizards such as Linksys EasyLink Advisor (LELA) can guide nontechnical people and help you add TVs, gaming consoles, PCs and even mobile phones to the network. By using a Wireless-N home router, consumers can enjoy a high-quality digital experience. To take the first step, visit a retailer or www.linksys.com to learn about the new ways you can enjoy movies, photos and other digital content throughout your home. Chris Dobrec is the senior director of Corporate Strategy and Business Development for Cisco's Linksys Division.

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