What I want, when I want it

For Father’s Day, I got my dad a Gateway netbook. It came with a starter version of Windows 7 and an infuriating user interface.

It took me half an hour just to change the wallpaper on the desktop to something other than the Windows logo.

The Fleischman household is an Apple family; it’s not like anyone wanted to see the Microsoft brand itself on the screen.

The netbook was not intended to be used as a computer. To the contrary, I spent Father’s Day hooking it up to the television in the living room. The device’s purpose was to become a media center with the ability to stream iTunes, Netflix and Hulu.

Now my family has the ability to watch whatever they want when they want to watch it — well, as long as what they want to watch is available online.

When I got the service up and running, there was a reduction in picture quality, but that quickly paled in comparison to the benefit of streaming every episode of “30 Rock” instantly.

It’s not a perfect setup, but it has substantially improved the quality of programming in our home. No longer does anyone have to surf through channel after channel out of boredom: If there is nothing good on cable, there is always something good online.

And while sitting on the couch, using a mouse to watch television instead of a remote, I had to wonder — why hasn’t this method of entertainment become more commercialized?

Lance Ulanoff, the editor-in-chief of PCMag.com, had the answer for me.

“It’s a niche audience right now, but it’s a concern for cable companies because this is the way things are going,” he said. “They’re going to have figure out the revenue model. Right now, there’s tension between what people want and what content providers are willing to deliver.”

I can’t blame the content providers (think Comcast) for going into the future kicking and screaming. They are making a fortune on subscription fees, and there is no doubt that a new service model would dig into their profit margin.

But I don’t work for Cox Cable, so I couldn’t be more excited for the future of television.
Of course, there are downsides to ditching cable in favor of streaming content from the Internet. I already mentioned the reduced picture quality, but there are certain behaviors we have become accustomed to.

With the ability to watch whatever you want, when you want it, there isn’t an option to brainlessly channel surf.

Unfortunately, there is currently very little in the way of sports programming available online.

Forget 3-D television. I certainly don’t want to wear a pair of glasses when I’m trying to relax in the evening.

Give me the ability to interact with the contestants on the next VH1 reality series or win virtual prizes for guessing right on a game show. Just think: commercials could be tailored to my specific interests by data-mining my Facebook page.

It’s true that, right now, Internet television is far from perfect — but it is certainly the way of the future. I highly recommend tuning in.