XtremeHD from XtremeMac is Pretty Extreme

With the growth of HD content and the switch to all digital in 2009, folks are beginning to upgrade their old standard definition TVs for new swanky HDTVs. They’re also upgrading their cable packages in the process, as well as purchasing Blu-ray players and Apple TVs. Well, as any HD guru can tell you, when it comes to getting the best quality picture, you’re going to want to go with the most bang for the buck: HDMI.

But there’s a little problem… most TVs come with only one or, at most, two HDMI inputs. While this might work for those lucky enough to use only a single HDMI device, or those who don’t mind going back to analog with the still quality, but not as high grade, component cables, it doesn’t help those who demand the most out of their equipment.

Well, just recently Macworld.com did a review on HDMI switchers, which will allow you to hook up multiple HDMI devices into a single input. That means you can hook up that Apple TV, cable box, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 without pulling your hair out or physically switching between the four when you want to switch to another device. But there was one in particular that caught my eye while I was perusing the article. It’s called the XtremeHD 4-Port HDMI Switcher and it’s made by XtremeMac.

It sounds a bit corny, but it garnered favorable reviews from Macworld. What drew me to the device, however, was its Apple TV styled look and a glance at their website reveals that the device was in fact designed for the AppleTV. Very handy.

I haven’t ordered one yet but I intend to in the coming months, after I’ve grabbed both my PS3 and AppleTV. I’ll put the device through its paces to make sure it’s a quality product, but those who might be interested should check it out by going to Macworld.com and reading their article. See for yourself if this is really the right investment for you and tell us about it! I’d be interested to know if our readers found it a favorable device.

(Note: In the article, Macworld was comparing two devices. I chose the XtremeHD device based on price and current tech and not the future.)

~ by The Shepherd Sons on April 9, 2008.