Found a bug in some old code (my code before you all start "WTFing????" and moan about rubbish SQL Developers):
Ooops. Turns out the app had not been behaving quite as well as we thought for quite some time

pootle flump ur codings are working excelent.

You lucky git Poots!
Have you considered FreeSat TV? The PVR (that's the recording,pause, rewindy (ala sky plus) kind of thing) hasn't been released yet but it's still a great deal.

It's like freeview, but over satellite with a hellofalot more channels. Something like £150 one off payment.

You're not much of a gamer (afaik), so suggesting you consider a 360 would probably fall on deaf ears.

As for the TV - I advise you try before you buy, because the deciding factor on many new TVs other than looks, is the firmware. My hosuemates Samsung is stunning, but it is an absolute dog when it comes to it's inbuilt Freeview, PiP support (practically lack thereof), and switching between modes.

The less pretty TV I bought a good few years ago out performs the Samsung ten-fold. Not waiting for your TV to do stuff after you press something on the remote shouldn't be a luxury! (Oh and PiP in my opinion is one of, if not the, best feature!)

As for audio - if you're an audiophille, then fine, go buy aa 5.1 or 7.1 cinema setup for millions of pounds. If you're anything like me and just want a bit more oomph than you can get from your TVs inbuilt, then a solid 2.1 system is all you need. I suggest the set I bought for my ex, but can't remember what they're called... if I remember I'll post back.

One final consideration on the TV; would you like to be able to plug our PC up to it? That's a lovely added extra, not necessarily something to go out of your way for unless you're a heavy downloader.

Oh and of course, if you want a luxury throne (or two), then the Omni bag from Sumo is wicked. I know, shipping costs, yadayada, but it really is the comfiest (sp?) thing ever!

Hehe, that's a lovely little code snippet!

Yeah I'd go with mike suggestion of a MP3 server & player(s).

obviously NOT the whisky!

there are other servers out there, but Squeezebox is pretty good, although I think the players are pretty expensive for what they are.

Mind you I would buy that player from AdvancedMp3players and save £40 or so, but as people often tell me I'm just cheap

you can even run it on low voltage Linux Pc's which don't aurally intrude in living rooms (no fan, no disk noise), unlike many other boxes (eg BTVision/Phillips TV box)

The annoying thing about this bug is that it inhibited bug reporting; kind of like false negatives except the negative's principal characteristic was their absence.

pootle flump ur codings are working excelent.

Thanks for suggestions guys.

Just some feedback:
Will consider PiP
Might build the speaker part based on money left over after the rest, or wait a few months to save up.
Not yet a heavy downloader but gearing up.
My gaming days are behind me.
I get virgin now and might upgrade to the virgin hard disk, or (being cheap too) see if I can wrangle one when my contract is up for renewal).
Looking to plug in PC possibly.
Will look at the media centre ideas.
I'm an MS whore so no Linux for me.
I'm not a student so no oversized cushions in my sophisticated Flump Pad.

pootle flump ur codings are working excelent.

i have not gone NAS yet but it is going that way. I have multiple external drives hooked into a laptop that has lines in and lines out to a traditional home stereo receiver and various entertainment system pieces with 3 sets of hard wired speakers running through the apartment.

the ax falls today. there will be blood.

linux OS £6.00
runs on smaller less capablel boxes (have a 1.2Ghz Via Eden lowvoltage PC in the parts bin) add a SSD to a touch screen monitor (again from the parts bin), a bit of PHP + Ajax and we have a quiet touch screen media player suitable for domestic environments where fan & disk noise is deprecated by SWMBO... The touch screen slides away behind cupboards between uses.

haven't got a remote control on the linux server, but my eyesight is so bad I couldn't read the stuff on the remotes, so In my books y'operate it from the screen. and unlike Georgev.. I need the exercise as SWMBO keeps telling me.

SWMBO probably should be rephrased as SWTSWBO (She Who Thinks She Will Be Obeyed) ...or expects or demands.. but there is probably very little chance of the O'ing going on.

Website sez shipping is free.

To uk?

pootle flump ur codings are working excelent.

Nothing says "professional-go-getter" more than casual chairs!

Sumo have come to the UK!!

http://www.sumolounge-uk.com/

Whatever happens, hope it's the result you're wanting Sean

After all Poot's displayed some in depth knowledge on cottaging here, I have a mental image of a 'Hot Pink' Omni bag in Flumpington Towers, or perhaps its just my diseased mind

i am rather indifferent because that is the whole culture here.

I am kind of keen on the whole tivo-video ipod integration even though I vary rarely use it.