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Zip Express Installation has scored another win for its home entertainment and networking installation business. The company has partnered with Shopko, a $2 billion regional retailer of everything from pharmaceuticals to optical services to home entertainment gear. Shopko, headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., has 136 stores in 13 states throughout the Midwest, Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions. With the deal, Zip strengthens its furniture assembly and regular old “white glove” delivery offerings in its roster of services. Furniture assembly starts at $130. Shopko customers can… View this story
Computer Systems • Computers • Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • Furniture • Industry • Installers • Retailers • Info and Answers

You might think that equipment racks, by themselves, are no better than the shelves of your wooden entertainment system. Why would you spend more than $500 for a place to store your Blu-ray player, receiver, etc.? Equipment racks do actually provide significant value. Ventilated shelves and integrated power protection can keep your equipment running properly. This will save you both time and money. Racks can also add a neat appearance to any room when they’re recessed into walls and cabinets. But perhaps the biggest value… View this story
AV Components • Furniture • Equipment Racks • Home Theater • Info and Answers • Slideshows

When you think about it, there’s a ton of technology that can go onto the ceiling. Recessed lights, built-in speakers, video projectors and wiring are often mounted overhead. All of this can make your ceiling look like a block of Swiss cheese. And, depending on the room design—like if there’s no attic space above, or the ceiling height is lower than 8 feet—the ceiling may not even be able to accommodate some of the products. Here’s where a soffit can really help, and possibly even… View this story
Furniture • Home Theater Accessories • Home Theater • Enhancements • Info and Answers

Update: Sears is offering a series of “Black Friday Now” deals that will be available every Saturday between Oct. 31, 2009 and Christmas from 7 a.m. to noon. Due to Halloween, doorbusters sales will start on Friday, Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. Not to be out-leaked by OfficeMax, the Black Friday ads from Sears have been posted on BlackFriday.info. Black Friday is on Nov. 27, 2009, and Sears has some great deals on consumer electronics and DIY products, including TVs, Blu-ray players, home theater systems,… View this story
AV Components • Blu-ray • DVD Players • Cables, Wires and Tools • HDMI • Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • LCD • Plasma • Furniture • Gaming • Games • Deals

We haven’t even reached Halloween yet and Black Friday deals are already beginning to leak. BlackFriday.info has posted deals from OfficeMax, receiving word from “a few anonymous sources” that the deals are real. (via Gizmodo) The Web site says that while the final version of the ad might change slightly, most of the items listed should be on sale. After looking over the deals, some immediate highlights include a $30 Memorex portable DVD player and a $150 Acer Aspire One Netbook. Here’s the list of… View this story
AV Components • DVD Players • Computer Systems • Computer Accessories • Computers • Software • Furniture • Gaming • Games • Deals • Product News

CEDIA Expo is not just for exploring new technologies and enlightening CE Pros. It’s also a great place for doing your own virtual shopping – virtual as in, “If I had the money, I would buy ….” Virtual shopping also applies to products that are not yet available, and ones that are inexpensive enough, but you couldn’t be bothered to install them. After CEDIA Expo 2009, I came away with a nice shopping list for my own home—some items I’ve coveted for years; others that… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • Video Screen • Furniture • Lighting Control • Shades and Blinds • Safety and Security • Product News • Slideshows

Furniture?! What is furniture doing on ElectronicHouse.com, whose 95-percent male audience loves their manly amplifiers, speakers and big screens? Consumers can become so preoccupied with the aesthetics of A/V furniture that they forget about the high-tech features that make them an integral part of an entertainment system. That’s something that EH editors Julie Jacobson and Lisa Montgomery forgot when they bought their own media consoles on the merits of style (next page). Before you buy, make sure to consider these furniture features. And for the… View this story
Furniture • Cabinets • Equipment Racks • TV Mounts • Info and Answers • Slideshows

My home is tiny, so every square foot is precious. My viewing appetite, on the other hand, is so large that our console-mounted 50-inch plasma TV overwhelms the family room. Let’s just say reviewing OmniMount’s Power55 motorized wall mount—one that tilts, pans and swivels—presented an ideal way to measure its space-saving benefits and other features. Mounting a flat-panel TV can be tackled yourself, but for larger sets of 42 inches or more, invite a few brawny friends over or hire a custom electronics pro—especially if… View this story
Furniture • TV Mounts • Reviews • Product News

Q. I need help on how to pick the right color for a theater room. Where do I begin? -Rosio, Maryland A. This is a common question we hear, and wall color can definitely make a difference in the room’s performance. If at all possible, look to use darker colors for the wall that will be behind your television/projection screen. Also think about color of the ceiling and if it’s possible to use a darker color on that surface too. These colors will help the… View this story
Furniture • Media Room • Home Theater • Ask a Pro

According to the U.S. Census Data, the median size of a home dipped in 2008. This is the first decline in 13 years, and home sizes are expected to drop in 2009. In this economy, it’s not surprising. Although people are opting for less square footage, there’s still plenty of room for electronics. “You just need to know how to maximize the space,” says Rich Conklin, a custom electronics (CE) professional at Grand Home Automation, Grand Rapids, Mich. “We’ve put $1 million worth of electronics… View this story
Furniture • Cabinets • Equipment Racks • TV Mounts • Enhancements • Info and Answers

Spending more than $500 for a place to put your A/V receiver, Blu-ray player, amplifiers and processors seems way over the top. I know I’d have a hard time dishing out the cash for that. But by the time I finished speaking with Rich Conklin, a custom electronics (CE) professional at Grand Home Automation in Grand Rapids, Mich., I was sold. It’s not like I’ll rush out today to buy a specialty rack today, but if I do ever expand my entertainment system, I’ll be… View this story
Furniture • Equipment Racks • Home Theater Accessories • Product News

Who needs a Man Cave when you can have a “Man Wall”? It’s the brainchild of Bradenton, Fla., company HybridSpace Furniture and if you want all things manly in your own private living room paradise, the Man Wall has it all. The 2 x 8 x 8-foot piece is a fully integrated solution that combines cabinet, A/V and much more that you may not have considered (or considered and couldn’t fit) for your man cave. For starters, this ultimate sports fan’s fantasy features a 52-inch… View this story
Furniture • Cabinets • Home Theater Accessories • Sports • Product News