All you need is a Slingbox, a broadband/high speed Internet connection, and a computer or cell phone.

For a one-time investment of a $106-$189 (depending on where you buy and what model) you can watch your favorite shows, sporting events and movies down the street at Starbucks; across the world while vacationing; while stuck in the airport, or just in your backyard. Ditto for taking a break at the office. (It can even broadcast your shows in a floating window while you do other work at your desk).

For the first time ever, owning a Slingbox means that YOU can watch what YOU want to watch, wherever YOU are on the planet. You tune into your home system (aka “access your Slingbox” using a laptop, desktop or internet-enabled mobile phone.

The picture quality is excellent and stutter-free. To completely mimic the home experience you have complete control with a virtual remote that appears on your screen that gives you the same choices as your home remote including pause, fast-forward and skip.

Also note that the programs you watch you can be live or recorded.

There are no monthly charges. You buy the hardware and that’s it.

While the Slingbox delivers on its promise, there are two main "gotchas" you should be aware of. (See the complete list of "gotchas" towards the bottom of this webpage.)

First, if you have high-definition video or your home’s Internet connection is nowhere near your video equipment, you may need to buy adapters and/or cables that could add from $50-$150 to the price of your Slingbox. Reading this guide will help you figure out if this will be necessary. For many it will not.

Second, if you want to watch on your Windows Smartphone, Pocket PC or other compatible cell phone you’ll need to spend an additional one-time fee of $30 for the mobile version of the Slingplayer, the software that lets you watch your Slingbox. You can get a free 30-day free trial before you buy to test it out.

Important note: There is NO fee for the SlingPlayer software that installs on desktop and laptop computers you are using to watch your Slingbox. That is free. There is only a one-time charge for the Slingplayer software that is used on cell phones.

As of this writing, most sites were charging between $199-$249 for the Slingbox PRO while Amazon.com was either at $199 or below, depending on the pricing war that day. Amazon's price includes free shipping.

Furthermore if you should (heaven forbid) receive a defective product, Amazon.com will pay for the return shipping. You have 30 days from the day you receive your Slingbox to report a problem. You can even generate a pre-paid return shipping label instantly through Amazon.com’s Return Center.

By way of example, let’s compare this scenario to Buy.com which only lets you return a defective product within 14 days of the date when your product left the warehouse, regardless of when you actually took delivery of the product. You also have to fill-out a reimbursement request for the shipping after you’ve paid for it, and if you use anything other than ground shipping, they won’t reimburse you at all. Geez.

As a final note, as much as we love eBay, we have not once found a better deal for a new Slingbox on eBay than Amazon.com when comparing complete price – product cost plus shipping.

The newer version of the Slingbox Classic is the Slingbox Tuner, which is rated at 400% better quality than the Slingbox Classic and actually costs less. As of this writing the Slingbox Classic is $120 and the higher quality Slingbox Tuner is $100. Click here for the current price.

In others words, there is no reason to buy the Slingbox Classic unless this is the only model you can get because you live outside the United States.

• Customer support is excellent and fast to reach.

• The picture quality is excellent and stutter-free. Slingbox uses dynamic bandwidth adjustment which gives you the best picture possible so playback is remarkably smooth. Also there are no buffer overruns or freezing.

• You have complete control over what you are watching including being able to pause, fast-forward and skip.

• Fast set-up. Connecting the cables averages 10-20 minutes; software set-up on a computer or portable device like a cell phone takes about 10.

• Can view video on any PC system in the house. No need to setup additional televisions and buy more equipment.

• Slingbox saves you money from having to add extra cable outlets.

• You can watch on computers connected to a wireless network.

• No more lousy hotel TV when traveling. In fact, no more lousy TV anywhere when traveling.

• Well engineered video encoding gets the most out of any connection.

• The “on-screen” remote is a virtual replica of your real remote so it’s easy to click on the correct button.

• Sling Media has a track record of constantly upgrading/updating its software to improve picture resolution. Your Slingbox purchase will actually improve with age.

• Slingboxes work with slower DSL connections.

• The Slingbox box is a slick, cool looking addition to your media center.

• Great support including Slingbox video setup tutorials available online on their website.

• Slingbox is compatible with Apple TV.

• Slingbox works with PALM OS phones.

• Supports widescreen (16:9) making the Slingbox great for movies on the go.

• You can watch live or recorded programming with your Slingbox.

• MAC support is not as well developed as Windows is apparently working well.

• Slingbox does not support closed-captioning.

• To remotely switch between inputs (let’s say from your cable box to your TIVO) you have to navigate two levels deep in the Slingbox software menus.

• Slingbox’s “virtual” remote control is a little sluggish (though not problematically so).

• If you want to surf the Internet while watching a program remotely, your surfing could be on the slow side since the SlingPlayer needs a lot of bandwidth.

• If you are running Vista, the Slingbox software initial set-up will take longer because the SlingPlayer must be run in Vista’s compatibility mode.

• The SlingPlayer does not currently work on Blackberry phones but Sling Media has announced that it is a top priority and that they are working RIM.

• If your Internet connection is not near your cable box, TIVO, DVR, or DVD player you’ll probably need to get a “wireless bridge” from Sling Media that costs about $90.

• If you’re installing the SlingPlayer on a company-owned computer, including a laptop, you may have to get administrative rights to install it.

In addition to their online support center – which is thorough and easy to navigate – you have these 3 additional options:

• SLINGBOX ONLINE CHAT SUPPORT
If you’re using Windows a technician can even take over your computer and remotely set up the Slingbox to work with your router while you sit and watch.

• EMAIL
Slingbox generally responds within 24 hours during the work week.

• HUMANS
Available from 7am to 7pm Pacific time, Monday through Friday. Dial 877-467-5464. Their main number is 650-293-8000.