Hi aduncan Thank you checking with me! I had a deadline for yesterday and didn't cehck the boards. I haven't signed up for notifciations too. I happened to check the boards and saw this in the first few pages. The information which you guys gave me was very useful. The installer also suggested the same thing and a IR repeater/finder so that we could use a remote in front of the TV while the setup will be hidden on the other side of the TV in the office room. We don't have a closet close by and he gave this suggestion which I liked. He suggested to add ethernet jacks in a couple of places in the house and gave me suggestions for a speaker bar to be placed on top of the TV. He said that it will be thin so I don't have to worry about the looks. He suggested using a sling box to view the video content from the DVR. But that could be used for viewing the content only on a computer not on a tv. I could go to the route of satellite connection with multiple DVRs for that. All in all, it was a great meeting. He hasn't given me the quotes yet though! I can decide what I want then.

david_cary - where did you find a wall mount for so little $$? DH and I are buying a 42" plasma (about 50 lbs) and I'm having trouble finding a tilting (not even full-motion) wall mount for much less than $100 (US). Then I have to do a channel cover and paint to hide cords to DVD player and power below, since I plan on using the coffee table (18" high - haven't figured out yet what height to mount TV) for DVD player (and maybe DH will want to buy surround sound) since I just have it shoved up against a different wall right now - the kids like to sit on floor in front of sofa so I can't put table or ottoman there. This is exterior wall so don't want to fish wires through insulation.

I needed to mount a TV above the fireplace because it was really the only place in the room it could be viewed by everyone and not in the way. The mantel of our fireplace is rather high (almost 6 feet) which would put the center of the TV well above a comfortable viewing angle. I spent months searching for a TV mount that could lower the TV to a decent height. I quickly discovered that anything motorized would cost several times what I paid for the TV. Beyond that, there were 2 options: Omnimount or Down and Out by Dynamic Mounting (http://www.dynamicmounting.com/index.php). The Omnimount is cheaper ($200-$300 vs. $400-$500) but an inferior product for my purposes. The Down and Out mount is much thinner (protrudes ~4 inches from the wall) and can lower the TV much farther (~30 inches!). I should also say that I have engineering degrees and tend to do all my own work. I thought about making my own mount but was a bit surprised at both the cost and level of difficulty. The Down and Out was fairly simple to mount on the wall and works VERY well.

Parma, I obviously misread the specs on the bob mackie,sorry! You are right about the chinoiserie, I would prefer an accent piece and I really don't want the tv to be a visual focal point (though of course it will be because it IS the tv). You are also right that I am trying to take it on as a whole room and that is overwhelming to me. I am feeling pressure from lots of directions and it isn't helping me to think clearly. (ps.. are you going someplace fun?) Deborahnj- thanks for the view of my tv on a higher stand. That helps. My big concern though is that my room is narrow and the viewing distance is about 10'.. still, I think we'll be fine. bbstx - you crack me up because that's how I'd describe the doohickey too-- but I do know what you are talking about and I'll probably get the same thing (it's an infrared redirector or something?? maybe?). Thanks for the tip!