Other Gadgets (general gadgets)

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by mmm3587
He hates Comcast. He hates Comcast.

Ohmygod, I have a sock.

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
I sync my BB at home with my Mac and have a similar setup, syncing my BB at work with my work-related outlook folders, and at home with my home stuff.

Interesting. How do you tell it which files to sync?

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by mmm3587
Interesting. How do you tell it which files to sync?

You can configure the sync engines (Intellisync on the PC, PocketMac BB on the Mac) which files to sync.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by mmm3587
I don't know of anyone who has gone from satellite to cable. Period. Once you make the leap, you never look back.

You make a pretty good case for the defense, but you're fighting an uphill battle making this point the week DTV announced rate increases.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Would I like to go to HDTiVo and DirecTV? Sure. Do I watch enough TV to make $1,000 (for a box that doesn't work well, from the comments here and elsewhere) sound at all tempting? Hell no.

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Is it perfect? No.

Of all the verbal tics you might have picked up from the Administration, you pick this one? Knock. It. Off.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Of all the verbal tics you might have picked up from the Administration, you pick this one? Knock. It. Off.

Me and McClellan are like *that*.

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
You make a pretty good case for the defense, but you're fighting an uphill battle making this point the week DTV announced rate increases.

Fair enough. For my expenses in that price range (say $30-75/month) for somewhat commodified but not completely fungible services, price is not the most important driver for me. Maybe I should be more concerned, but, as far as I can tell, the costs of my local cable options, DirecTV and Dish network are all in the same ballpark. The only hardware I have ever paid much for (maybe $100 for a couple extra old school receivers back in the day, I can't remember) was the HDTiVo, which cost me $1000. But it was worth it. Time-shifting HD is amazing. I am scared to put in a bigger drive, though, because of all the problems with the hard drives.

When I had it, I always had problems with cable service and picture, and their customer service is a nightmare. And digital cable sucks, I can't stand a system that has slow channel-to-channel switching without the ability to record programs automatically, which makes up for it in my mind. Maybe a modern digital cable DVR would change my mind.

Except for (a) unplugging a receiver I haven't been using for a while and having to use their automated system to reactive it and (b) my current problems with the HD TiVo (which I can accept because of the nature of the hardware, even though the cost is a drag), I have never had any problems with DirecTV or Dish Network (which I had from 2000-2002 and only left because I wanted an integrated TiVO receiver, and I wasn't super-happy with the Dish DVR*). I've been a satellite TV guy for five years. Hell, I even had one in NYC, and that was rare indeed. My building's cable service sucked, though, and I was glad that I was able to do it.

* Although apparently others do, as I was able to sell it on eBay for $100 more than I paid for it more than 18 months after I got it.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
Here is a comparison of noise-isolating v. sound cancelling headphones. Definitely worth a read.

Keep in mind, though, that the study was commisioned by Shure, so evaluate the results accordingly.

I just ordered a pair of Shure e3c's. I haven't received them yet but wil report back once I've listened to them for a while. FYI, I found them for significantly less that the $179 MSRP, and from an authorized dealer. PM me if you are interested.

On a related note, if you really want to geek out on headphone audiophile nonesense, check out headfi.org.

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
I just ordered a pair of Shure e3c's. I haven't received them yet but wil report back once I've listened to them for a while. FYI, I found them for significantly less that the $179 MSRP, and from an authorized dealer. PM me if you are interested.

On a related note, if you really want to geek out on headphone audiophile nonesense, check out headfi.org.

I bought those as well. My only complaint is that all of the ear plug devices (plastic and sponge) are a little too big for my ears and they become uncomfortable after about 1/2 hour. They sound good and block out almost all external noise. Which can be bad if you're walking in traffic, or someone is trying to talk to you.

[mmm3587]

A while ago somebody asked about 2.5mm phone headsets for the plug that is standard for a lot of cell phones these days.

I recommended the one below, but didn't have a link. Mine has lasted a long time for me and still sounds great on both ends, I am told. It is the "RIM BlackBerry Headset" available on this page:

http://www.t-mobile.com/products/acc...ackBerry_7100t

I have used it with other cell phones, and it works great. $23.95 is pricey, but I previously had a bunch of $15 ones sound like crap and quit working, so I think that it's worth it.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Can anyone recommend a good wireless speaker system to add in to a home network? We'll want to add at least two and maybe three nodes and have the ability to control each separately.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Can anyone recommend a good wireless speaker system to add in to a home network? We'll want to add at least two and maybe three nodes and have the ability to control each separately.

Take with a grain of salt, but I know Sony has the Dream systems at the high end of their offerings. Tweeter and Best Buy don't carry the wireless systems, and their salesmen uniformly disparaged them due to operational (i.e,. failuure to operate if the line-of-sight is blocked, and failure to synchronize adequately) very recently. Basically, go to any store anywhere and, even though the store would make the most money from selling the most expensive product (at least I think they would), salesmen very recently (two weeks ago) were disparaging the systems.


Hello

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Take with a grain of salt, but I know Sony has the Dream systems at the high end of their offerings. Tweeter and Best Buy don't carry the wireless systems, and their salesmen uniformly disparaged them due to operational (i.e,. failuure to operate if the line-of-sight is blocked, and failure to synchronize adequately) very recently. Basically, go to any store anywhere and, even though the store would make the most money from selling the most expensive product (at least I think they would), salesmen very recently (two weeks ago) were disparaging the systems.


Hello

They only make money if it stays in your house. The 2 worst ideas in the last 10 years have been wireless headphones and wireless speakers. It's easy to disparage something that is so so susceptible to any kind of RF in your house at all. Especially when you spend 20 minutes trying to explain how they work, only to have them come back 2 days later because they buzz when your refrigerator comes on, or the cut out when you turn your head, or they buzz when your cell phone is on, or they buzz when your computer's on, or they buzz when your dog walks in the room. There are very few environments where these things work at all. And even when they do, they sound like crap for the price because they're transmitting on a radio frequency.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Can anyone recommend a good wireless speaker system to add in to a home network? We'll want to add at least two and maybe three nodes and have the ability to control each separately.

Most Chicago stores don't even sell them due to potential interference. If you live in a big city, I would recommend against wireless.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
The 2 worst ideas in the last 10 years have been wireless headphones and wireless speakers.

I'd say more that it's the two most poorly executed ideas. The idea is great; the technology and/or clear spectrum prevents its realization.

That said, surely by the time you're investing heavily in wireless speakers and what not, you're better off just paying tweeter or their subcontractor to come wire your house with speaker wire and install some in-wall speakers.