Back in the prehistoric times of a few years ago, your main option for television viewing was still essentially the trusty old cable box that beamed down scheduled programming controlled by major networks. Although the advent of the digital video recorder (DVR) at least allowed you to watch your favorite shows on your own time rather than on the network's schedule, you still didn't have the satisfaction of pulling down content on demand in your living room.

With broadband penetration at an all-time high in the US, and more and more folks opting to stick a computer into that home theater rack, there has never been a better time to ditch the cable box. With companies like Netflix and Blockbuster scrambling to deliver TV and film over the internet and into your living room, online video sites like YouTube and Hulu offering a seemingly endless array of media browseable at your leisure, and hardware manufacturers like Roku and Sling Media stepping up to the plate with internet-savvy set-top boxes, you have all the tools you need at your disposal to set up that long dreamed of celestial jukebox for video programming. In this 3-part series of features we show you how to accomplish just that.

 

Part 1: Online video providers mega list

I'm fed up. Like most Americans, I've had some form of cable or satellite for about 15 years, but entering my cable teenage years I've now realized I hate my cable parents. And while I've had some great times with my cable subscription, the good is almost outweighing the bad. I'm sick of rising cable costs, "repairmen" who have to show up multiple times to fix a job at hours according to their schedule, and frustrated with the lack of respect the cable company shows for me. The way to fix it? Kill the cable box and stick to internet access. We'll show you ways you can get your TV fix online for much less than the cable company charges.

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Part 2: Stream internet video to the living room

Like you, we're sick of our cable company. Recently we broke down a gigantic list of online video streaming services that'll help lose the cable addiction, but there's one key problem: you're still tethered to your monitor instead of sitting on your couch. It's obvious that the networks see online video as the future, but how do you connect the future with your current living room? We've got a list of hardware streaming solutions that'll help connect an HDTV with the vast set of online streaming video resources.

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Part 3: Setting up a laptop as a media server

We've done it. The cable box is now obsolete. No longer will we be shackled by increasing monthly rates, hundreds of channels we never watch and service interruptions with ridiculous wait times. Instead, we've now gone completely net-based with our video consumption, and the process is surprisingly simple. Think you're ready to make the plunge and drop your cable box? Keep reading.

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[Image: manchester_09 by Flickr user Killmore under Creative Commons license]