Other Gadgets (general gadgets)

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by leagleaze
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/pending/callscam.asp

Seems they are trying to get people to let them call them by offering free stuff. I don't know about you but a free 12 pack of coke isn't enough to have my phone ringing off teh hook.

I wonder if they verify the number before sending the coupon (hint, hint).

I kind of trust the FTC to crack down on any of these scams. I can sort of see it play out . . .
FTC: We've received numerous complaints that your co. has been calling people on the DNC list.
Co: We have a business relationship with them
FTC: What is that relationship?
Co: They requested a coupon from us.
FTC: Do you have a copy of that request?
Co: Uh, no.
FTC: Bam. How about we settle for $1000 for each violation?

[Oliver_Wendell_Ramone]

Okay, it looks like I'm going to finally pull the trigger on Direct TV (with Tivo). Do I care whether I have a "standard dish" versus a "triple LNB dish"? What does the extra $50 bucks get me?

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Oliver_Wendell_Ramone
Okay, it looks like I'm going to finally pull the trigger on Direct TV (with Tivo). Do I care whether I have a "standard dish" versus a "triple LNB dish"? What does the extra $50 bucks get me?

You get the ability to do many other things. Spend the $50 it's totally worth it. Unless you only have 1 TV and never intend to watch one thing and record another.
It gives you dual tuner capabilities for those times that 2 things are on at the same damn time, you can record 1 and watch the other. Allows for additional rooms for TV's and Tivos.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
You get the ability to do many other things. Spend the $50 it's totally worth it. Unless you only have 1 TV and never intend to watch one thing and record another.
It gives you dual tuner capabilities for those times that 2 things are on at the same damn time, you can record 1 and watch the other. Allows for additional rooms for TV's and Tivos.

Actually, "Triple LNB" means it's an elliptical dish, capable of receiving up to three DirecTV satellites. It's unrelated to the number of outputs --- look for the term "integrated multiswitch"; any dish sold in a package with the DirecTivo will have two coaxial outputs capable of feeding dual tuners, which is what NFH is talking about.

The elliptical dish allows you to receive some specialty channels like NASA, Spanish channels, and HDTV movie channels (NB: not HDTV locals, which are still over-the-airwaves, not satellite-based). Basically, you're future-proofed if you decide to get an HDTV receiver (still about $500) or later upgrade to the announced HDTV DirecTivo.

My Spanish is muy pobre and I don't get up at 3 a.m. to watch the Florida shuttle launches, but I got the elliptical so my WAF will be higher if I decide to buy the HDTV DirecTivo next year.

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Actually, "Triple LNB" means it's an elliptical dish, capable of receiving up to three DirecTV satellites. It's unrelated to the number of outputs --- look for the term "integrated multiswitch"; any dish sold in a package with the DirecTivo will have two coaxial outputs capable of feeding dual tuners, which is what NFH is talking about.

Triple LNB does in fact mean three outputs. The very first dishes were single LNB, and only had 1 output. Then came the dual LNB ones, which are standard now. You can use multiswitches on dual LNB dishes to get additional outputs in certain multiples (4, 8, etc.), but not on single LNB dishes. I'm not aware of a difference between a "multiswitch" and an "integrated multiswitch" other than just marketing words.

If someone's going to need more than 3 outputs, I wouldn't get a triple LNB dish unless it's free or close to free, since you would have to buy a multiswitch anyway.

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally posted by rbb
Triple LNB does in fact mean three outputs. The very first dishes were single LNB, and only had 1 output. Then came the dual LNB ones, which are standard now. You can use multiswitches on dual LNB dishes to get additional outputs in certain multiples (4, 8, etc.), but not on single LNB dishes. I'm not aware of a difference between a "multiswitch" and an "integrated multiswitch" other than just marketing words.

If someone's going to need more than 3 outputs, I wouldn't get a triple LNB dish unless it's free or close to free, since you would have to buy a multiswitch anyway.

Is there some way to merge this thread with the "Slot C" discussion on the FB? All this engineering talk is making me blush.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
I just picked up a Siemens S56 the other day.

From everything I've seen, that phone is the balls. I'd like to get one so i can use iS¥nc, as well.

Biggest worry: how's the GSM coverage?

[pony_trekker]

Anyone have this? I am interested in watching my huge collection of porno videos on this device and wondered if the screen resolution is adequate.

Not with the lousy production value of most porn...

Bought my wife one several months ago -- she loves it. The camera function has only adequate resolution, but is better than nothing when that's the only camera you have around.

Other than the typical PDA functions, she uses it extensively for deposition note-taking, along with a collapsible keyboard and "Docs to Go" to sync it with Word. She does a lot of one-day traveling for deposition coverage, and it's a lot easier than lugging around a laptop (particularly when dealing with airport security).

It's got a pretty great display, and is pretty fast -- much better in both regards than my Treo 270.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Any thoughts vs. Replay TV?

Also, are there no longer different brands of TiVo units? IIRC, Sony and Panasonic (maybe), and perhaps others) also made Tivo units. Is that no longer the case? And does it matter? Should one just get the Tivo-branded unit listed on the website?

Also, get the "lifetime" plan or the monthly? In other words, should I expect the unit to last longer than 24 mos.?

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Any thoughts vs. Replay TV?

Pound for pound, the DirecTV receiver with Tivo is the best value. If there's any way you can do satellite, do it. No lifetime contract; they just add $4.95 to your monthly satellite bill (or nothing, if you get the package with the premium movie channels like HBO and Showtime), which in most areas is less than cable's monthly bill. And right now the receivers are $50 with all the rebates. Eventually, DirecTV will probably give them out for free.

I've never actually used a Replay, but Tivo seems to be the Apple in this market in terms of innovation, so I'm naturally biased in its favor.

Jooooooin usssssssss . . .

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Any thoughts vs. Replay TV?

Also, are there no longer different brands of TiVo units? IIRC, Sony and Panasonic (maybe), and perhaps others) also made Tivo units. Is that no longer the case? And does it matter? Should one just get the Tivo-branded unit listed on the website?

Also, get the "lifetime" plan or the monthly? In other words, should I expect the unit to last longer than 24 mos.?

I got my Tivo the same week that my dad got his Replay TV. I set up my Tivo in about an hour or so, and I think he had the same set up time, though his system is much more complicated than mine. I've never had to call customer service. Within a week, he was calling customer service almost daily. Without prior programming, the Replay TV would change the channel at 11:00 every night without fail. That went on for a few weeks. Then, the Replay TV wouldn't even let him turn on the TV to watch programming. It would have this message saying that it was loading new information and please wait. Customer service was not particularly helpful. They'd tell him that he needed a software upgrade, and then he'd be ok. He'd try to download the software, but it never helped the problem. Eventually, he took back the Replay TV reciever to Circuit City, and used the credit to buy a Tivo. Replay TV did credit him the $300 lifetime fee. He had bought the Replay TV initially because it got slightly better reivews in Sound and Vision, and he liked the "fast forward through commercials" feature. That feature is no long available.

As for the unit, mine is a Tivo Brand unit, and again, no problems. I have a serial port that goes from my Tivo to my digital cable box, so the remote control is fairly instantaneous. (I had had a little bit of problem with the infrared remote controlling, when I first set up the system.) I use a telephone line to connect to the Tivo service, but I just bought a wireless router. I'm hopeful that the USB wireless connection will be doable, though I haven't tried to set that up. My only problems have been dialing up to the mothership, and that was solved when I disconnected the DSL line from the same jack that I was using to dial up.

[Seven of Nine]

I echo Texan's comments.

The TiVo user interface is completely intuitive and you'll start having fun very shortly after hooking it up. Replay, however, will take some time to learn and never really feels quite right.

So, if all else is the same, get the TiVo.

[Flinty_McFlint]

Originally posted by Seven of Nine


I echo Texan's comments.

The TiVo user interface is completely intuitive and you'll start having fun very shortly after hooking it up. Replay, however, will take some time to learn and never really feels quite right.

So, if all else is the same, get the TiVo.

If any of you tivo fans are feeling frisky, try out the following book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...101748-9032732

Be sure to click through this site of course to get LT the referral fees.

I personally have an Ultimate TV w/ DirecTv, which is a competing service originally from Microsoft. Oddly enough, UTV is very hackable, and has a pretty devoted tech following (albeit dwindling)--I like the interface better than Replay or Tivo, but I bet I'll have to get Tivo once support becomes an issue. A hard drive upgrade is a must for any Tivo/Replay/UTV user--very simple and you can expand your recording capability by 80+ hours.

Flinty

[pony_trekker]

Sonic blue sucks balls. My Rio 500 is a paperweight because it really isn't compatible with Xp. Company's position is: "So what."