Bits (and PCs)...
Everyone1 needs a hobby; something to stave off the boredom.
I confess I've always liked gadgets of various kinds, and firmly believe that "He who dies with the most toys, wins" (though I'm not sure what the prize is).
I've described my hi-fi systems here (living room) and here (upstairs reading room), and there are some notes on my video system here. My remaining major lumps of technology (described within this section of 'molehole') are largely related to personal computing. Mind you, the recently acquired Netgear media player bridges neatly between both worlds. And has already been displaced by a newer, smarter, far smaller Western Digital device.
Heck, I've even finally managed to drive my 60" Kuro plasma screen from my PC as well as keeping both 24" desktop screens ticking along (all off the same graphics card).
Personal computing
The first mention I can recall of personal computing being something casually taken for granted was in Larry Niven's rather turgid 1977 tome about an asteroid strike — "Lucifer's Hammer". At the time I was a new first-line manager in ICL and had little spare time, energy, or cash to explore the concept. Besides, I was too busy with a flourishing freelance career of hi-fi and record reviewing, and also programming an ICL 1500 Series minicomputer designed by one of my computing heroes: George Cogar.
Enter my little hi-tech Aladdin's Cave (via the button above) at your peril.