Forget ringing in the New Year, this holiday season was all about dragging my in-laws into the New Century - technology-wise, that is. After years of long visits to their North Carolina house with no real connection to the high-tech world, I finally got a chance to show them the wonders of the modern electronics world. Now, I can't say that I'm sure that they fully understood everything that happened during that week but some of it certainly sank in - and I had a lot of fun with the whole house upgrade!

$3000 TV with a $500 Picture!

The first stop was to correct a problem recently created when my father-in-law bought himself a new plasma TV for the family room. Putting aside the rationale for plasma over other competing technologies, I instead chose to question why he only had an S-Video connection feeding into the new TV from his cable box. Here was a chance to score some easy points. A quick call to the local cable provider and a few days later: digital cable! It was a simple change to swap out two existing set top boxes for HD units and with a small service upgrade; I was able to show them all just how far TV had come. I think its safe to say that the entire family enjoyed the holiday bowl games a bit more.

A New Hotspot in the Neighborhood

With the obvious cable TV upgrade in the works, I felt the time was right to push for a broadband connection in the house (wouldn't you?). A cable modem is a very simple addition to one's existing cable service but I wasn't going to be content unless we had broached the wireless home network subject. On the first (of many!) trips to Best Buy, I snagged a good wireless router and had it ready to go when the cable guy showed at the door. I think I may have intimidated him when I offered both my Mac and Windows laptop for him to configure the modem - a bit but that's what impending wireless Internet access can do to you!

For those of you who have bought a wireless router recently, you can attest that configuring a new home networks from your cable or DSL modem is trivial these days. Finally I was back on the Internet, plugged in, charging up my weakened online batteries, and connecting to all my familiar places. But this wasn't all about me, I needed to share the wonders of cyberspace with my wide-eyed kin.

This is called a Laptop

Noone can match me for creating excuses to go shopping at Best Buy, so I figured I might as well get the family a computer to utilize the newly-acquired wireless home network. Hey - they needed one anyway! I grabbed a good Gateway laptop on sale and in a few days it was delivered to the house. It only took minutes to unpack and connect to the wireless network (another testament to how far we have come); just think, in a few years, mere mortals will be able to do this for themselves and geeks like me will be obsolete.

Now, I knew High-Definition would sell itself and that they wouldn't have any problem accepting that the Internet could be accessed without wires - its "cyberspace" after all, right? But I totally underestimated how unfamiliar a laptop computer might be to a household that still uses corded phones. Sigh. I can't remember the last time I had to explain what a mouse was, let alone a trackpad and single vs. double-clicking. Still we made great progress as I concentrated on the applications and bookmarks that would keep them busy till the next visit.

One Small Step for Me, One Giant Leap for the Inlaws

I now count this as one of the best family vacations in recent memories. I can actually say that with this trifecta, I feel very much "at home" in my wife's family house. I can't take all the credit for bringing them a bit closer to the mainstream, I was just their guide and handyman. I think I will let the effects of this high-tech barrage sink in before I convince them that their lives are not complete without a DVR, cordless phone system, and robot dog. Just think of all the Best Buy RewardZone points I could rack up!!!