Thinking about buying a new TV, DVD or surround sound system? Wondering what's currently out there and the best way to go? The mind-boggling rate at which technology evolves today makes any major electronics purchase a difficult decision.

So how would you like to have almost every new technology displayed and demonstrated under one roof, side-by-side, where you could see the latest developments and easily compare? With the very best of about 2,300 companies, featuring thousands of the latest electronic products in a 2.5-million-square-foot Mother of all Mega-malls?

Such was the case at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas —where we, along with 120,000 others from more than 110 countries, gathered to view and experience the latest "gotta-have" gizmos and gadgetry.

It was apparent something was different this year. The keynote speaker was Bill Gates of Microsoft —a software manufacturer —who, along with Jay Leno, kicked things off by introducing Media Vision HD that converts movies, music, photos and other content into a high-definition format. It then downloads this from your PC to Microsoft's new Portable Media Center (PMC) —a wallet-sized device that stores and replays or displays virtually thousands of selections. Want to see my vacation pictures? Choose tunes from my couple-of-thousand song library? Or see "Gone With The Wind?" No problem. It's like an iPod on steroids.

Microsoft wasn't the only huge name in a crossover frame of mind. Consider Shell Oil Company, which was just down the aisle, introducing its new Home Genie system for home automation. Such control systems were more prevalent and diverse this year, and one manufacturer —Home Automation Incorporated (HAI) —is now being widely offered in Comp USA stores.

Message? Home automation for everything from security and convenience to energy-saving is fast becoming an accepted and affordable mainstream reality.

Overall, television and imagery is still the star of the show. Big and beautiful flat screen Plasma and LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) high-definition TVs —featuring Digital Light Projection (DLP) technology —were abundant.

Today, the most common high-end TV sold is a 42-inch Plasma or LCD screen, that on average is 2- to 4-inches thick, weighs about 100 pounds and costs around $9000. However, that too is rapidly changing.

Enter another large company in the crossover mode. Philips, originally known for lighting technology, has recently become a major player in producing cutting-edge televisions. It, too, was one on the manufacturers that recently introduced a new Liquid Crystal On Silicone (LCOS) screen.

Big selling points? It eliminates some negatives such as Plasma's "image burn-in" from repetitive display and most important, it greatly reduces the cost of high-end TV as with LCD.

The new Liquid Crystal On Silicone (LCOS) sets, with a 44-inch screen that offer comparable screen brilliance and beauty, cost only about $3300. Or for around $4800, you can step up to a mammoth 62-inch screen. Averaging about 14-inches thick (vs. only mere inches for Plasma and LCDs), LCOS provides comparable view pizazz while keeping your wallet a bit thicker. It's worth checking out.

Remember when mom said to keep a soft light on while watching TV? Turns out, she was right. Another amazing technology by Philips was Ambilight, again a derivative of illumination expertise. By adding soft "spill lighting" around the outer screen edges, they substantially intensified the absolute best Plasma or LCD image —making it appear sharper and more brilliant by comparison. A hand-held remote control lets one select virtually any color of the spectrum to complement what is on screen at the time. In the demo we saw, football was enhanced by a soft green glow, a movie seemed more intense with a soft magenta border and so on. It was intriguing and a precursor of things sure to come.

There's more "wireless everything" as well. Far beyond just telephones and personal computers, TVs are but one of the new entries that have become unattached. A new 15-inch lightweight wireless TV, only 2-inches thick with an LCD screen and stereo speakers, can now be carried and played anywhere within the 300-foot range of its plugged-in base receiver. And the cost is surprisingly affordable at around $800.

Also of interest was the greater presence of increasingly hot Satellite XM radio and the ability to receive high-speed broadband Internet service by means of one's 18-inch satellite TV dish.

Other new technology of note: new paper-thin flat wiring for electrical, video, audio and-or data transmission that allows surface mounting electronics and concealing all feed wiring with just a bit of joint compound and paint.

Solid sound technology, or hidden "Stealth" speakers, turn home theater seating, hot tubs and even entire room walls into a physical sound experience.

Bottom line: For the first time ever, this year's consumer electronics sales are expected to reach $100 billion, with the average household purchasing over $1,000 worth of new electronic products annually.