Should the eco-minded shopper say farewell to CDs?

My husband and I are at a crossroads in our marriage: Do we continue to buy CDs or do we do just go with the download? We’ve totally embraced the digital age—iTunes, iPods and iPhones are always within arm’s reach. Docks, players and car adapters—plus those quaint little things called headphones—allow us to listen to our digital music anywhere.

But are we ready to completely abandon the physical medium?

Have you embraced your TV’s power-saving features?

It seems like every TV manufacturer is trying to sell us on its products’ energy efficiency, mostly by touting the TVs’ power-saving features.

Be warned, though: Not all power-saving modes are created equal, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the different options to know exactly what you’re getting.

Going Pro

There’s a new top pick in Epson’s already-crowded 3LCD projector line.

The Pro Cinema 7500UB utilizes the company’s most advanced imaging technologies and has its most thorough assortment of features, yet it carries a price tag of just $4,199.

Where are we in the great “producer responsibility” debate?

When we last tackled the issue of recycling we discussed how most everyone in the consumer electronics field agrees there is a serious problem with e-waste. But who is responsible for the cost of recycling? Is it the manufacturer, the retailer, the consumer or the government?

A year later, the debate still rages and, from a legal perspective, is heating up.

A new step-up DLP model.

After a few quiet trade shows, Optoma has re-emerged with two new 1080p DLP projectors and a new strategy, to target specific products at specific channels. The custom-oriented line, distributed exclusively through AVAD, features three projectors, including the new entry-level HD2200 and the new top-shelf HD8600. (In the middle is the HD8200 that flew under the radar at CES.)

Beyond Media Center.

One of the more exciting CEDIA demos I saw involved a product that doesn’t exist…yet. Pioneer gave us a glimpse at its new network entertainment platform, dubbed ETAP or Project ET.

ETAP unites your major entertainment and automation systems into one box, with one high-def user interface and a ZigBee-based remote (plus iPhone control). First and foremost, it’s an A/V server (the demo sample had a 1TB hard drive), upon which you can store your digital music, photo, and movie files.

Toshiba’s first LED-based LCDs have arrived.

Toshiba is demoing its new SV670 Series, highlighting the black-level improvements of the LED design in a head-to-head comparison with its own traditional CCFL LCD, from last year's line.

SIM2 is showcasing the newest addition to its C3X line of DLP projectors: the C3X Lumis. This new, top-of-the-line model boasts SIM2’s signature styling and a very compact form for a three-chip DLP. The company is also demoing its new Mico 50 LED-based single-chip model.