Laptop TV tuners are rapidly changing the way we use our portable computers. Unlike media drives like DVDs and CDs, a TV tuner is another animal entirely, closer to an antenna than a VCR. For a growing number of mobile professionals, they are proving the killer app that has sent laptop sales skyrocketing in the last few years.

What is a TV tuner? Put simply, it is an extension card that creates a jack on the back of your notebook that looks exactly like the one on the back of your television. Take coaxial cable out of the wall or S-Video from that satellite receiver and you can plug it directly into your PC. Voila: instant TV programming on your computer's screen.

One Trick Pony?

Of course watching live television is just the tip of the iceberg for this new technology. The real power comes in recording those programs for future viewing, burning to DVD, or anything else you want. With Media Extenders from Microsoft, you can even output the very same programming to any television in the house.

Needless to say, this explosion of versatility has sent Hollywood entertainment executives into a panic, wondering how they can control appointment viewing anymore. Unfortunately it looks as if that ship has already sailed with the widespread adoption on Tivo-like machines. Nowadays if you want to be prepared for what is coming next, you may want to look into the many inexpensive TV-ready notebook choices available on the Web these days.