Other Gadgets (general gadgets)

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by NotFromHere
My choices seem to be to buy another hard drive (seems wasteful) or an external drive. Any advice?

Buy an external. You can move it to the next computer when you ditch this one. I have an external with all my itunes (~30GB), plug the ipod into it through teh firewire. Syncing has been no problem.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by pony_trekker
A lot really depends on what file type you are using. You have the option of using AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, MP3 and, WAV. I believe that WAV and AIFF create HUGE files. I use primarily AAC and have about 1100 songs, filling up about 7 gigs.

I think AdL uses Apple Lossless. Alex, is this actually superior to AAC (my format, and the iTunes Music Store format of choice) for ripping? If so, does it stay in that format when it's synced to the iPod? How much more space does it take up?

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
I think AdL uses Apple Lossless. Alex, is this actually superior to AAC (my format, and the iTunes Music Store format of choice) for ripping? If so, does it stay in that format when it's synced to the iPod? How much more space does it take up?

I use lossless for all ripping, and I can tell the difference between AAC and lossless ripped files, usually in the brightness of the highs (lossless is brighter with greater extension). As for size, the files are not as big as WAV or raw audio, but they're bigger than AAC and mp3, etc. iTunes tells me my library holds 2,415 songs taking up 37.58 GB.

As for the question of adding additional HDD space, I am in the process of researching these solutions, and I will likely go with a network-attached storage solution, such as the Buffalo Linkstation which is available in 160 and 250 GB models. Such devices simply hang on your network with their own IP address and act as a data server. A slick solution, in my view.

[Say_hello_for_me]

I went to Best Buy last night just to browse around. One of the things that caught my eye was a GPS receiver and mapping program to accompany a Windows laptop. $129.00 or so. The nice stand-alones from Garmin, Magellan etc... were over $1000.00 not so long ago, and are still $500-$800 or so.

Which leads to my first question... is there anything like the software program and receiver for the Apple laptops? This would be a pretty good add-on for the coasters who can take day trips to locations unknown.


Another thing that caught my eye was the IPod song transfer program for $20.00 that allows you to transfer music from an IPod. It didn't seem to work for me though, as I use my Apple laptop to download music, but I was trying to transfer the music to my Dell. Plug the IPod in and Apple's IPod software jumps in to offer to restore my factory settings so that I can reconfigure the IPod for windows.

Which leads to my second question. Has anyone figured out how to store music on more than one computer? It seems like every time a program comes out to do this, Apple jumps in with an update that prevents doing this again.

Oh, and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas for XBox is out on June 6 or so.

Hello

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
Which leads to my first question... is there anything like the software program and receiver for the Apple laptops? This would be a pretty good add-on for the coasters who can take day trips to locations unknown.

I have a program called "Route 66," which perversely is European in origin, I think. It's the best one I could find for the Mac. It will take inputs from any GPS receiver with a USB, serial, or Bluetooth interface. A Bluetooth GPS receiver costs about $200, I think. The interface to Route 66 is only so-so; I have yet to see anything that's as slick as Google Maps, which is my default for everytime I need directions.

Another reason I haven't brought this to my car is that with GPS it's all about leaving it on, and by the time you buy the GPS, the software, the car power adapters for the GPS and the laptop, it's a total fucking pain and just puts your laptop at risk of being stolen at a rest stop. I have a standalone GPS from Magellan with all USA maps preloaded on an HDD.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
I have a program called "Route 66," which perversely is European in origin, I think. It's the best one I could find for the Mac. It will take inputs from any GPS receiver with a USB, serial, or Bluetooth interface. A Bluetooth GPS receiver costs about $200, I think. The interface to Route 66 is only so-so; I have yet to see anything that's as slick as Google Maps, which is my default for everytime I need directions.

Another reason I haven't brought this to my car is that with GPS it's all about leaving it on, and by the time you buy the GPS, the software, the car power adapters for the GPS and the laptop, it's a total fucking pain and just puts your laptop at risk of being stolen at a rest stop. I have a standalone GPS from Magellan with all USA maps preloaded on an HDD.

How do you like the Magellan, and are there any issues you can think of that I should know of? Your point re: the theft-risk for a laptop is well taken.

On a related note, one of the people I work with was telling me about some universal interface thingamajig that will interface everything to everything else. Particularly useful for hooking up any laptop to a car's cigarette lighter. I'll look at the post-it note I wrote when he told me, and try to remember to post it tomorrow.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
I use lossless for all ripping, and I can tell the difference between AAC and lossless ripped files, usually in the brightness of the highs (lossless is brighter with greater extension). As for size, the files are not as big as WAV or raw audio, but they're bigger than AAC and mp3, etc. iTunes tells me my library holds 2,415 songs taking up 37.58 GB.

For comparison's sake, at the moment I have 7,271 songs in mostly AAC (some MP3), and I'm at 26.92 GB. Sounds like it's something I should save for my seven classical CDs.

So the files in AL format just go into the iPod as-is and play normally (if somewhat more largely and with better dynamic range)?

As for the question of adding additional HDD space, I am in the process of researching these solutions, and I will likely go with a network-attached storage solution, such as the Buffalo Linkstation which is available in 160 and 250 GB models. Such devices simply hang on your network with their own IP address and act as a data server. A slick solution, in my view.

Do some research before plunking. I've heard the Linkstation had some bugs with Mac vis-a-vis 32-character filenames. Something about Apple not giving them the right SDK. Caveat Maxtor.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
How do you like the Magellan, and are there any issues you can think of that I should know of? Your point re: the theft-risk for a laptop is well taken.

Well, the Magellan costs something like $900 at Costco, so worrying about theft doesn't exactly go away. But you can stick it in the glove compartment.

I posted about it here. Since then I installed a firmware update that added some cool features, like little icons showing you the ATMs (or other services/businesses of your choosing) nearest to your current location, and some other shit I don't use. Overall, I like it. I would definitely recommend it over a $2,000 in-dash dealer option.

[pony_trekker]

Originally posted by Say_hello_for_me
I went to Best Buy last night just to browse around. One of the things that caught my eye was a GPS receiver and mapping program to accompany a Windows laptop. $129.00 or so. The nice stand-alones from Garmin, Magellan etc... were over $1000.00 not so long ago, and are still $500-$800 or so.

Which leads to my first question... is there anything like the software program and receiver for the Apple laptops? This would be a pretty good add-on for the coasters who can take day trips to locations unknown.


Another thing that caught my eye was the IPod song transfer program for $20.00 that allows you to transfer music from an IPod. It didn't seem to work for me though, as I use my Apple laptop to download music, but I was trying to transfer the music to my Dell. Plug the IPod in and Apple's IPod software jumps in to offer to restore my factory settings so that I can reconfigure the IPod for windows.

Which leads to my second question. Has anyone figured out how to store music on more than one computer? It seems like every time a program comes out to do this, Apple jumps in with an update that prevents doing this again.

Oh, and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas for XBox is out on June 6 or so.

Hello

That software works, you just have to download everything BEFORE you answer the question whether to associate your IPOD with this computer. So you sort of have to leave that question hanging.

[pony_trekker]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Well, the Magellan costs something like $900 at Costco, so worrying about theft doesn't exactly go away. But you can stick it in the glove compartment.

I posted about it here. Since then I installed a firmware update that added some cool features, like little icons showing you the ATMs (or other services/businesses of your choosing) nearest to your current location, and some other shit I don't use. Overall, I like it. I would definitely recommend it over a $2,000 in-dash dealer option.

And take my word for it, if you are going to buy one, buy one that you can load all of the maps on. It is a total pain in the ass to have to load a set of maps when you want to go to Boston on Mondaym, then to have to load another set of maps, when you want to go to DC on Tuesday.

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
For comparison's sake, at the moment I have 7,271 songs in mostly AAC (some MP3), and I'm at 26.92 GB. Sounds like it's something I should save for my seven classical CDs.

So the files in AL format just go into the iPod as-is and play normally (if somewhat more largely and with better dynamic range)?



Do some research before plunking. I've heard the Linkstation had some bugs with Mac vis-a-vis 32-character filenames. Something about Apple not giving them the right SDK. Caveat Maxtor.

Yup, lossless files go right over to the iPod and play as normal. It's seamless.

Thanks for the tip re the Linkstation.

[mmm3587]

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
After doing research, including input from many regular rposters here, I ordered a 7100g late last week. I should have it tomorrow. As soon as I get it and use it a bit, I'll post a review.

AdL

So, what was your verdict?

[Alex_de_Large]

Originally posted by mmm3587
So, what was your verdict?

Love it, and I have no intention of giving it up. I have gotten used to the keyboard (took a week or so) and can now type as quickly as I could with my BB 7280. The keys are a bit better spaced that the tmobile 7100t.

-RF on the phone portion is very solid, no complaints.

-The form factor is a bit bigger than phones that I have carried in the past, but having to carry only one device more than makes up for it.

-The speakerphone is terrific.

-Bluetooth implimentation is limited (for security reasons) but it works fine with my Nokia hdw-3 headset and parrot ck3000 car kit.

-I get about 2-3 days out of a battery, with pretty constant voice and e-mail use. BT accelerates battery drain pretty significantly, but this is expected and happens on every other BT phone I've ever used.

Bottom line, I highly recommend the 7100g.

[Atticus Grinch]

Originally posted by pony_trekker
And take my word for it, if you are going to buy one, buy one that you can load all of the maps on. It is a total pain in the ass to have to load a set of maps when you want to go to Boston on Mondaym, then to have to load another set of maps, when you want to go to DC on Tuesday.

Strongly concur. The reason I went with the RoadMate 700 is that it has a ginormous pre-loaded HDD that has all USA maps in memory already --- no uploading. We rented a car on the East Coast last fall, and I just threw it into my carry-on luggage and suction-cupped it to the windshield at our destination. The beeyootiful thing is that you turn it on and it tells you how to get from the airport to wherever you're going, no muss, no fuss, no learning curve.

One tip: don't turn it on unless you're using it for directions to a place you don't know how to get to. When I first got mine, I started playing with it during my daily commute (where I already knew where the fuck I was going) and I got into the bad habit of totally tuning out the verbal directions because I didn't need them. ("Right turn approaching --- two miles." Yeah, whatever.) This led to the unfortunate situation of tuning out the verbal directions when I DID need them. Bottom line: only turn it on when you plan to pay attention to what the damn thing is telling you. Word to the wise.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
Strongly concur. The reason I went with the RoadMate 700 is that it has a ginormous pre-loaded HDD that has all USA maps in memory already --- no uploading. We rented a car on the East Coast last fall, and I just threw it into my carry-on luggage and suction-cupped it to the windshield at our destination. The beeyootiful thing is that you turn it on and it tells you how to get from the airport to wherever you're going, no muss, no fuss, no learning curve.

One tip: don't turn it on unless you're using it for directions to a place you don't know how to get to. When I first got mine, I started playing with it during my daily commute (where I already knew where the fuck I was going) and I got into the bad habit of totally tuning out the verbal directions because I didn't need them. ("Right turn approaching --- two miles." Yeah, whatever.) This led to the unfortunate situation of tuning out the verbal directions when I DID need them. Bottom line: only turn it on when you plan to pay attention to what the damn thing is telling you. Word to the wise.

I've only used those things in rental cars, but I LOVE the condescending voice the computer uses when it says "recalculating" after you fuck up its instruction.