Other Gadgets (general gadgets)

[NotFromHere]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Ew.

How does the store tell they are unused?

I mean, ew.

What are you...2?

If the tag is still on, the assumption is that it has not been worn. I mean really, how many people go around with tags on their underwear. Sheesh.
Besides being all uncomfortable and scratchy, it would leave a huge lump in a funny spot.

[bilmore]

Weird question:

I have a Rio Nitrus 1.5 gig mp3 player, with drop'n'drag capability, but which is normally driven off of the USB from the computer software.

I also have a fairly high-tech digital camera.

I normally take pics at the highest resolution possible, as you can always decrease, but never increase.

Has anyone seen any info/writings/whatever that suggests a way to hook these two units together with the USB cable and drop pics onto the storage capability of the Nitrus? 1.5 gig makes for a lot of cards, and I get tired of carrying the laptop around.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Ew.

How does the store tell they are unused?

I mean, ew.

Ever had sex with a stranger?

(I mean, let's be realistic here. "Ew"? For touching a swimsuit someone else touched? Some people even actually touch the touchee's PARTS!)

[bilmore]

damn buttons

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by bilmore
Weird question:

I have a Rio Nitrus 1.5 gig mp3 player, with drop'n'drag capability, but which is normally driven off of the USB from the computer software.

I also have a fairly high-tech digital camera.

I normally take pics at the highest resolution possible, as you can always decrease, but never increase.

Has anyone seen any info/writings/whatever that suggests a way to hook these two units together with the USB cable and drop pics onto the storage capability of the Nitrus? 1.5 gig makes for a lot of cards, and I get tired of carrying the laptop around.

Probably not. You would need some way to get the mp3 player to actively download from the camera. Right now, presumably, you use the computer totell it to do that. But you won't have that capability without the computer.

Apple iPods now can be purchased with a card reader, which is essentially what you want for your mp3 player. Of course, before apple added this device, you couldn't use the 20-40gb of memory on the ipod to save photos, etc.

Things called image tanks exist for the purpose you want. but thats a few hundred $, which is more than the free you were hoping for, i imagine.

[Atticus Grinch]

A San Francisco law firm is looking for plaintiffs for a class action against Apple arising from iPod Sudden Battery Death Syndrome.

The only problem is, the muckraking, whistleblowing consumers who first brought the Sudden Battery Death Syndrome to the public's attention aren't supporting the lawsuit. They call Apple's new warranty and replacement policy "fair."

We report. You decide.

[dc_chef]

I'm considering getting a plasma tv, probably lower end, around the 42" range. What are features that I should look for/consider? One thing that I would like is to be able to use digital cable, but to avoid using being tied to the digital converter box and its remote. I think that some newer tvs allow you to use their remotes for digital cable; is there a feature that allows this option? Any reasonably priced brands out there? Remember, I'm not looking for something that is top of the line, just a basic flat screen system.

As examples, how would you compare:

This Gateway: http://products.gateway.com/products...=plsmtv&seg=hm

with this Gateway:

http://products.gateway.com/products...m42ubtv&seg=hm

with this Daewoo:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....007&cmp=%20%20

with this Akai:

http://www.circuitcity.com/detail.js...&b=g&WT.mc_t=I

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by dc_chef
I'm considering getting a plasma tv, probably lower end, around the 42" range. What are features that I should look for/consider? One thing that I would like is to be able to use digital cable, but to avoid using being tied to the digital converter box and its remote. I think that some newer tvs allow you to use their remotes for digital cable; is there a feature that allows this option? Any reasonably priced brands out there? Remember, I'm not looking for something that is top of the line, just a basic flat screen system.

I don't really know much about the differences in 42" flat screens, but I did recently go shopping for a universal remote, which might be the better answer to your remote control concern, regardless of which TV you go with. See, e.g. :
http://www.harmonyremote.com/
(review and price comparison at http://www.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/5/7831.html )

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by dc_chef
One thing that I would like is to be able to use digital cable, but to avoid using being tied to the digital converter box and its remote. I think that some newer tvs allow you to use their remotes for digital cable; is there a feature that allows this option?

Pretty sure you won't find much that can do this. Some cos. are working on a tuner/decoder that will use a standarized card (a la satellite dishes) in place of the cable box, but from what I understand it's a) a couple years off and b) if available, has only limited acceptance so far. So, what you'd need is a tv that has an IR blaster to change the channels on the cable box. After all, if you're using digital cable, the tuner is the cable box, not the tv.

what baltassoc says is probably the best approach. get a universal remote, or a tv with a programmable remote, so you can program it to change the cable box channels.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Pretty sure you won't find much that can do this. Some cos. are working on a tuner/decoder that will use a standarized card (a la satellite dishes) in place of the cable box, but from what I understand it's a) a couple years off and b) if available, has only limited acceptance so far. So, what you'd need is a tv that has an IR blaster to change the channels on the cable box. After all, if you're using digital cable, the tuner is the cable box, not the tv.

what baltassoc says is probably the best approach. get a universal remote, or a tv with a programmable remote, so you can program it to change the cable box channels.

The remote for my receiver (a Yamaha) is programable, and I use that to control my rntire system. Alternatively, I would look to the Marantz line of universal remotes: they're supposed to be terrific and very user-friendly.

[notcasesensitive]

wrong board.

carry on.


ETA: we are starting to look at plasma/lcd flat screens too. also considering setting up tv-enabled monitor (could run off a computer, or not) in exercise room. anyone set up a monitor that way?

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
ETA: we are starting to look at plasma/lcd flat screens too. also considering setting up tv-enabled monitor (could run off a computer, or not) in exercise room. anyone set up a monitor that way?

I was briefly looking into this for my kitchen, to mount in a place that I could see what was going on on my big screen without actually turning that way. I eventually realized that it was stupid to have two tvs in the same great room, even if one was in the "kitchen" so that I could watch and not just listen to tv while cooking or cleaning up after cooking or sitting at the kitchen table.

But, while I was looking into it, I found these things out:

coax inputs on flat-panel displays make them a lot more expensive, even if they're LCD;

coax inputs on regular monitors are extremely rare;

the only way it's cost-effective is if you get an LCD monitor, and they don't look that good.

[SlaveNoMore]

Anyone recent do any research they care to share on HDTV-ready rear projection televisions in the 50-55 inch range?

I need to upgrade my current Sony 53" [non HDTV] and I am currently doing feature comparisons.

[And no, don't be snarky and suggest going for the plasma - ain't ever gonna happen until I actually own the wall you have to cut open to install the wiring]

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore


[And no, don't be snarky and suggest going for the plasma - ain't ever gonna happen until I actually own the wall you have to cut open to install the wiring]

Well, if you're spending several thou on a set, what's a couple hundred on getting a drywaller in to fix it up when you leave?

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
The remote for my receiver (a Yamaha) is programable, and I use that to control my rntire system. Alternatively, I would look to the Marantz line of universal remotes: they're supposed to be terrific and very user-friendly.

These days, the only three remotes I use are my Tivo remote, my DVD player remote, and my reciever's remote.