A Room With a View

Come rain or shine, day or night, glass conservatories always offer a different atmosphere than any other room in the house. Originally intended for horticulture by Dutch farmers some 300 years ago, conservatories are always all the rage for more than just backyard botany.

The diversity of uses, along with the sheer comfort, makes for an increase in property value as well as a boost to ones everyday quality of life. The addition of a glass conservatory also contributes to the rest of the house. Your home will receive a lot more light, thus making it warmer and more of a live-in pleasure. There are many uses for a conservatory, here are a few:

winter Garden
These mini-greenhouses are perfect for the potted projects of homebound horticulturists. As the climate inside is easily controllable, youll soon find you and your favourite plants thriving in only the most favourable of environments.
The versatility of climate control means that youll be able to accommodate plants you never thought possible.

Shed
Of course you may need the facilities of a tool shed, or a potting shed. Keep your tools on hand, in a place and in a style like no other. From professional landscapers to hobbyists, be the master of your green thumb and the envy of the Joneses.

Lounge area
One of the most popular uses for conservatories, glass lounge areas are perfect for those rainy Saturdays. Keep the rain out and enjoy a good book underneath a canopy of self-cleaning glass. A simple couch or bench will transform your space into an inviting area in which to relax and unwind.

Entertainment or Dining area
Conservatories provide ideal cover for Sunday BBQs. Open the doors and let your friends and family spill out into the garden.
A lot of enthusiasts opt for swimming pools, Jacuzzis or bars in their glass houses. Pool tables, pinball machines and such are ideal for creating a games room in your space.
These areas are also perfect for doubling up as relaxing environments for enjoying a glass of wine, or watching the game with friends. Dont let the weather get you down, rather transform into all year-round relaxation.

gym
A treadmill here, an exercise bike there, and youll have the most inviting home gym on the block. work out in the comfort of your home, and take in the beauty of the world outside.

Perfect for pumping iron or just getting in shape, your gym conservatory will help you stick to your routine. Its also ideal for yoga, pilates or just creating a zen-like environment through meditation.

Artists studio
Great for a private sanctuary in which to express oneself; glass conservatories open up your everyday living experience to the world outside.
Controllable internal conditions mean that youll always be able to appreciate every external weather condition.
These additions to the everyday house are proving popular in recent real estate trends. Artists studios (or glorified conservatories) are marketed as just that, and have the added capacity to increase the value of your home.

Kids Playroom
Let the little ones run wild in their own private den, and keep the rest of your house mess-free. Glass conservatories are also generally low maintenance and easy to clean.
Perfect for keeping an eye on the little ones, while still having enough freedom to do what you need. These areas can easily be kept secure with a little childproofing, leaving you to enjoy your space and your children to enjoy their own recreational area.

Guest Room
With built in blinds or controlled tinting, glass conservatories will have your guests feeling like theyre living in the lap of five star luxury. Your new unique guest room will have them extending their stay and coming back for more, so use it wisely.

Observatory
Enjoy a blanket of stars without leaving the comfort of home. With the small addition of a telescope, one can convert ones living area into a personal observatory. The aesthetic beauty of glass (or rather what lies behind) will keep your eyes on the skies.

Other
The possibilities are endless, and are ultimately up to the homeowner to decide how to best utilise the space.
Conservatories can also be used for hobby space, as a library or computer room, a home office, or even a sleeping area for dogs during those cold nights.

Many conservatory companies recommend Pilkington when it comes to glass. Having been in the glass industry for 179 years, Pilkington is recognised as the world's technological leader in glass. Out of all of their innovative products, Pilkington Activ - the world's first self-cleaning glass is one of their greatest products and an ideal glass for conservatory construction.

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The Console War Three Decades and Counting

With the recent release of Microsofts xbox 360 and the upcoming releases of Sonys ps3 and Nintendos Wii, gamers a like are becoming more aware of the fierce competition and tactics used by these three major players of the video gaming industry.

It all began in 1972 with a unit you may remember Magnavox Odyssey. While Magnavoxs efforts were short lived, they are still remembered to play a heavy role in the establishment of the home-based video game console. Of course Atari was next in line with a new and back then evolutionary game PONG. As simplistic as the game was, it was loved by consumers worldwide and helped launch Ataris name into the big books.

The newly created gaming industry was gaining strength and the general consumers interest. However as 10 years passed the video gaming industry was about to crash. In 1983, consumers criticized the lack of quality console games with the emergence of home-based computers, gamers began to lose faith in the console. Breaking the silence in late 1983, nintendo introduced the Famicon (Nintendo Entertainment System). With the release of the Famicon came the birth of Super Mario Bros. a signatory series to the nintendo brand.

Nintendos dominance was challenged by sega who entered the market with their Master system. Despite Segas efforts, their Master system barely captured any market share and made little profit. The company refused to face defeat and soon there after released the Mega Drive/ Genisis in 1988, two years before Nintendos release of the Super Nintendo (SNES).

Moving along, the video gaming world became divided into the 32-bit vs. 64-bit machines. The first wave of systems that entered the market was the 3DO and Ataris Jaguar. While both systems were powerful for their time, neither was able to outperform sega or nintendo who both dominated the market until 1994. On December 3 1994, Sony launched its Playstation system and enjoyed a successful launch. nintendo followed 2 years later with their 64-bit offering, the nintendo 64. Even at this stage nintendo made the controversial decision of releasing a cartridge based system arguing that it would reduce load times and minimize piracy.

sega fought back one last time in 1998, releasing the dreamcast. While Segas efforts were strong, the company failed to make ends meet when Sony released the successor to their first console the ps2 (in 2000). In 2001 nintendo released its gamecube targeting a younger market. Both companies had established their own brands and proved themselves to the gaming community. Sonys system was challenged in 2001 when microsoft entered the arena with their xbox.

We are currently in a new generation of console gaming. While Xbox 360 is currently available the ps3 and Wii are due to release later this year. Previously, Sony dominated in market share, however this is forecast to change with the new generation of gaming. More than ever it is critical to offer the greatest innovation, greatest power and most of all the greatest games.

So who will dominate the market this generation? This is difficult to answer, however as a gaming enthusiast, I strongly believe that competition between the three companies ultimately means better games for you the gamer.

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