(COMMERCIAL BREAK) ZAHN: For those of you who think that high fidelity means record albums, that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) means to call someone else, and that a pop-up toaster is high tech, we have some help for you tonight. We want to tell you about the fab three featured in the upcoming issue of "Fortune." Think critical care for the gadget-impaired. These guys can create a media environment for the most challenged of all consumers.
Joining us live from Washington are home owners Jennie and Mike Burke, here with us in New York a member of the fab three team, Dean Heistad. Welcome to you all.
DEAN HEISTAD, TECH EXPERT: Thanks.
ZAHN: So you have to be very honest when you describe the scene that awaited you when you went to their home.
HEISTAD: Well, no offense, but it was, I think, a disaster. It was a technological disaster, I should say.
ZAHN: How?
HEISTAD: There was -- the kids and toys everywhere, a typical home I think in America, in rural America, and there was a cable strung from the computer to the kitchen outlet to get on the Internet; very few what I would consider high-tech gadgets.
ZAHN: Jenny, you brought with you what you would say shows just how far behind the times you were. What is that?
JENNY BURKE, HOME OWNER: It's a little sign I have on my doorbell that says "doorbell does not always work."
ZAHN: Now, is that a function, Mike, of being a technophobe, or the fact that you all just don't have time to figure this stuff out on your own?
MIKE BURKE, HOME OWNER: Well, I would say it's mostly lack of time. I think we have a lot of interest, but it's not always as easy as the commercials might lead you to believe. So time is definitely needed.
ZAHN: So, Dean, what was the biggest challenge in trying to create an audiovisual dream for this lovely couple?
HEISTAD: The biggest challenge was integrating all the equipment that we had. We had a very good idea of what we wanted after we talked to the Burkes and decided we wanted a comprehensive makeover for them, but to integrate it all, to make it all work so that they didn't have to think about how it all worked, that was the biggest challenge.
ZAHN: All right, Jenny and Mike, come clean, can you really operate your home entertainment system on your own?
M. BURKE: Well, we can operate it. We probably can't move any of the cables.
J. BURKE: It's never going to move. We're getting pretty good at it, actually. Some of it's quite intuitive. Other things we've had to break out the manual for after our guru Dean left. But Mike's already addicted to TiVo.
M. BURKE: That's right, TiVo is my life.
ZAHN: And some of us are scared of that concept, because I am looking at the changing time coming up here in the fall, and I'm thinking how many months am I going to have to live with the blinking 12:00 on the microwave and just about every other electrical appliance in the house.
HEISTAD: You're in the majority. Well, I think we're at a technological revolution, and I hope that manufacturers start making things a lot easier.
ZAHN: Truly, as you worked on this for "Fortune" magazine, did you find that Americans by and large were intimidated by this stuff...
HEISTAD: Oh, absolutely.
ZAHN: ... or is it just that those of us that lead busy lives and don't have time to read the manuals?
HEISTAD: No, I think Americans are intimidated by putting it all together. Maybe they'll buy one thing a year, maybe two things they'll get a gift, but to do it all at once is overwhelming to most.
ZAHN: Do you make any other house calls?
HEISTAD: I do.
ZAHN: You're going to get so many calls tonight. Come rescue us, Dean, Dean. Jenny and Mike, thank you, and I'm glad you know how to listen to your CD player now.
Good luck.
M. BURKE: Thank you, Paula.
HEISTAD: Thanks, Paula.
ZAHN: We're going to be back after a short break. Please stay with us.