albrandwood

I'm thinking about borrowing a wheelchair from a relative ... Would love to see BB refuse to let me in with it :-) @ (either that, or crutches and leg cast ... etc ...)

Sirius Subscribers: >2.1m Listener MarketShare: 30% Retail Sales: 41% (Q3 2005) Including pre-installed Vehicle Sales: 37% (Q3 2005) Financials: Total Worth: $9.80bn. Cashflow: $-357m Exclusives: Howard Stern (good reason to get XM ) Martha Stewart Sports: NFL NBA NHL College sports English Soccer Plans: monthly: $12.95 12-month: $142.45 ($11.87/month) (break even after 11 months) 24-month: $271.95 ($11.33/month) (break even after 21 months) lifetime: $499.99 (break even after 38 months) (available until Jan 06) multi-subscriptions (ie radios #2-4) are $6.99 month. XM Subscribers: >5m Listener MarketShare: 70% Retail Sales: 59% (Q3 2005) Including pre-installed Vehicle Sales: 63% (Q3 2005) Also available online (free for subscribers) and via DirecTV (soon) Financials: Total Worth: $6.65bn. Cashflow: $-189m Exclusives: Opie and Anthony (good reason for Sirius ) Bob Edwards Snoop Dogg Tom Petty Quincy Jones VH-1 MTV Sports: Nascar MLB ACC / Pac-10 / Big10 (college Sports) Plans: monthly: $12.95 12-month: $142.45 ($11.87/month) (break even after 11 months) 24-month: $271.95 ($11.33/month) (break even after 21 months) 36-month: $359.64 ($9.99/month) (break even after 27 months) 48-month: $479.52 ($9.99/month) (break even after 37 months) 60-month: $599.40 ($9.99/month) (break even after 46 months) Multi-subscriptions (ie radios #2-5) are $6.99 month. With XM if you buy a multi-year package, and cancel early, you will recieve a prorated refund ... Which is better? depends on what you want. @

If you your hubby wants a car navigation system, then don't bother with the cheap options ... you need to speend more than $79.00 ... The eTrex is great for Hikers etc, who need to know where they are, and where they parked their cars, but it will not be good as an in-car navigation system. There are a lot of models that are good for automotive use... I can tell you about the Garmin range. (and a little about the Magellan Ranges). (* = model numbers, + = positive aspects, - = negative aspects) StreetPilot i-series ... 2.15" screen ... comes in 3 versions. * i2 = greyscale screen. Regional Maps. 128Mb Transflash card. (MSRP:$320) * i3 = color screen. Regional Maps 128Mb Transflash card. (MSRP: $430) * i5 = color screen, National Maps. (MSRP:$535) + They are about the size of a baseball. + They can use AA batteries, (good for rental cars) + come with 12V adapter, and suction mount. - small screens (2.15") - i2/i3 use Transflash (smaller version of SD ... not cheap) - 128Mb will get a regional map ... tristate area around NYC for example (NY, NJ and CT ) StreetPilot c-series... 3.5" screen * c320 = Regional maps. 128Mb SD Card (MSRP: $590) * c330 = National maps (MSRP: $750) * c340 = National maps with Local FM Traffic alerts (MSRP: $860) + Small, portable units. + LI-ion battery + 12V/24V adapter, and suction cup. - Small screen (3.5") Garmin StreetPilot 2xxx Series ... 3.7" Display * 2610 - Regional Maps, 128Mb CompactFlash (MSRP $850) * 2620 - National Maps (MSRP: $1075) * 2650 - Regional Maps, 128Mb CompactFlash + Dead Reckoning (MSRP: $1400) * 2660 - National Maps + Dead Reckoning (MSRP: $1750) * 2720 - National Maps + Local FM Traffic Reports (MSRP: $1075) * 2730 - National Maps + XM Radio + Local XM Traffic (NavTraffic) (MSRP: $1300) + Big unit with remote, and some proper buttons, as well as touch screen + Dash mount installation kit (sticks to the dash pretty well) + Sandbag non-split mount (great for rentals) - Big, bulky unit. - 2650/2660 need professional install, as it has to be connected to the transmission. - 2730 requires XM subscription for the Local Traffic Data. Garmin StreetPilot 7xxx Series ... 7" Display * 7200 = National Maps + MP3 + XM Radio + Local XM Traffic (XM Navtraffic) (MSRP: $1615) * 7500 = National Maps + MP3 + Dead Reckoning + XM Radio + Local XM Taffic (XM Navtraffic) (MSRP: $1940) + BIG screen. + XM Traffic Alerts + XM Radio Recievers + MP3 player (from SD cards) + Great for Big-Rigs or RV's. - EXPENSIVE !!! Magellan Roadmate series ... 3.5" Display * 300 = Regional Maps, 110Mb built in + SD flash cards. (MSRP: $530) * 360 = National Maps (MSRP: $800) * 500 = Regional Maps, 256Mb CF flash cards (MSRP: Unknown) * 700 = National Maps (MSRP: $750) * 760 = National Maps (MSRP: $1150) * 800 = National Maps, MP3, JPG. (MSRP:???) + Simple, intuitive interface + 360,700,760,800 have European maps installed, just needs unlock key + Windshield suction mount (not good for minivans) - not very user-configurable. (bad for BigRigs or RV) OK ... so a quick synopsis of the different options. I haven't seen the Garmin i-series in stores yet ... The Garmin c-series has a prettier interface, but I believe that it has limited configuration options. The Garmin 2xxx series has both an older 2D (satelite) view, and the more modern 3D (birdseye) view. Lots of configuration options. (Vehicle type, U-Turn capability, Avoid roads/intersections, Road Preferences, Speed limits etc) The Garmin 7xxx series is the Top of the Range, including XM Radio and MP3 capabilities. The Garmin 2610/2650 are the oldest of the Garmin models. The Magellans have a more "user friendly" interface - derived from Hertz NeverLost ... Unfortunately, it assumes you are driving a car/SUV, and that you can make a U-Turn anywhere (not good for RV, BigRigs, or Towing). Regional Maps (flash cards) vs National Maps (Built-in) ... The Regional Maps now use non-propreitary flash cards. (either CF, SD or TransFlash) ... 128Mb will get NYC Metropolitan Area (Downstate NY, NJ, LongIsland, and parts of CT). in the mid-west, it'll probably get several states :-). Loading of the Regional Maps will require a PC. (not exactly a problem for readers of this posting). All the GPS's can be updated with more recent maps, although unless the GPS was purchased after the release of a new map, there is usually a cost associated with it. With regard to the Garmin Local Traffic Data ... The FM versions use ... well, FM radio ... which is free ... the XM NavTraffic versions use XM ... which isn't free. In both cases, they are local to large metropolitan areas, so don't buy the feature, unless you have confirmed availability of the service in your area (Obviously, XM is national, but unless they are carrying traffic data for your area, its not going to be relevent.) As for Garmin's Dead Reckoning options, they require installation by a professional, as it needs to know what gear you are in, and what speed you are going ... but it does have the advantage in a city like NY, where buildings obscure the sky, and limit GPS capability significantly. Which would I get? > Well, I've had the 2610 and currently use a 2620 (with the intention of upgrading to the 7200) ... Which would my wife get? > probably the Garmin c-series. Which would I give my kids? >The Garmin i2 (cos its the cheapest). Why would I not get the Magellan? > Well, I tried one ... Unfortunately, when I went off route, it just kept telling me to do a U-Turn... not the easiest thing when driving on a divided highway, with no-U-Turn signs at every set of lights, In a city I'd never been to. The Garmin (27xx at any rate) can be told to give directions equivalent to a U-Turn (ie, drive around a block) ... (yeah, kind of obvious, _BUT_ if you are driving an RV or towing a boat (for example), it's useful to know _which_ block :-D) The 2610 is probably the best value for money, since it is available from online providers for around $500 (refurb) or $600 (new). Anyway, if anyone wants more, PM me ... @

yeah - kinda pointless if you ask me ... Chances are, if a gun was used in SF is bound to be for illegal activities, so the illegal act of ownership / posession / etc of the gun is probably secondary in the mind of the criminal. And the flip side, is that the criminally inclined will know that law abiding citizens will not be armed ... @

I've gotta add.... "Sex" ??? :-D

given their BF sale starts at Midnight, that would be nice... Not for the stuff in the sale, but because that means I can be inside the store, nice and warm for three hours until the strike of midnight, when I'll rush to the shelf, load the cart with as much Kr@p as I can, and then go checkout, rush over to BB and start the line there ............ @

Funny ... Its the oposite for us ... DW is the one staying in bed ... while I go hit CompUSA and BB ... But equally, I'm not going to bed on Thursday night, else there is no chance I'll be waking up in time ... @ (Ashley on LongIsland )

I've got both the Old Sony PnP, the SkyFi2, and a Roady2, and #2 son has the MyFi ... Personally, I'd get the SkyFi2, unless he wants the 5 hr harddrive (NOT FOR MP3 ... purely for 5 hours of XM) ... Alternatively, get XM2GO (either the Delphi MyFi, the Tao XM2Go, or the Pioneer XM2Go) ... The Delphi MyFi (apparently) has the worst satelite pickup when using it as a portable, but when in the car or home kit, they are all the same. Cheapest place I've seen for the SkyFi2 is : https://espromotions.xmradio.com/xm/ (use the code "xmbbxm03") ... it is not a BF sale, so wait till closer to the time, since it requires 3 months subscription to get the low price. If you do go to the link above, I'd recommend that you get the "Delphi SkyFi 2 BoomBox Bundle" which comes with a 6 month subscription commitment, (3 months paid at time of purchase) ... currently, these are $29 (no rebates etc). you can get home kits and car kits from just about anywhere including WM, BB, CC, etc all for around $50. (That way he can use the Home Kit at home, the Boombox at the office, and the Car kit for the journey between ... ) The also do the Pioneer XM2Go, the Delphi MyFi and the Tao XM2Go ... all $99 inc. both car and home kits. Also, note 1) purchases from the website above are not entitled to the $50 rebate 2) The Roady2 is a nice unit, but it is designed for in-car use, although home kits are available for $50. This is all assuming you want XM Radio and not Sirius. Never ask which is better, XM or Sirius.... Intel or AMD ... PC or Apple ... TiVo or ReplayTV ... you'll get a lot of responses ... most of which come from people who only bought into one technology. @

Unfortunately, the date on the postage machine can be easily changed, so its not exactly proof ... all you are showing is a correctly addressed envelope with a (non USPS generated) postmark. (However, you are showing that you really want to save money, since your employer is picking up your $0.37 stamp costs :-D) (Oh, FYI for those thinking this is a way to avoid late mailing issues ... USPS don't like it if the envelope is not mailed within 24 hrs of the stamp) ... @

I do 200+ rebates a year ($1200 on Presidents Day alone) ... I'll probably not get checks for around 3-4 of them ... if the rebate is small (like $5) then I'm more likely to give in early ... Personally, I believe that you should only do rebates, if (a) you are prepared to make copies etc, ( you understand that it is a numbers game © you are prepared to fight for the rebates (using BBB, FTC and AG if necessary) (d) you can afford to loose the rebate. I've never done Certified Return Reciept, but thats cos I've never had a "failed to be recieved" ... missing UPC, missing reciepts, missing my ass ... I even had an email telling me one was rejected due to lack of email address provided !!! Just remember, when you are fighting a rebate, the person you are talking to is not at fault. Yes they work for the rebate company, but they did not decide to reject it ... Store rebates tend to be more reliable than manufacturer rebates. The store has more to loose, since the chances of you buying 2 plasma screens is fairly low, but the chances of you returning to BB (for example) is high. (also, recent lawsuits (Ohio vs BB, and CompUSA Class Action) have put the responsibility of Rebates squarely on the sholders of the retailer, irrespective of who sponsored the rebate.) Will I be doing rebates this year? hell yeah ... by the looks of things, probably around $500, which will push the total purchase prices into the 0% for 12 months categories ... as soon as the rebates appear, I'll pay down the balances.... (Presidents Day this year, net $1800 after around $1200 rebates ... as the total price was over $3k (or whatever), that gave 3 yrs 0% finance) ... or put another way, $3k+ for only $50/mth :-) @

Err ... yeah ... that will be a problem with any unit the combo units usually have two seperate subsystems internally, so will probably still have the restriction (ignoring the Fair Use laws which may or may not apply ... depending on your political persuation) You could look at a box like this (only $70) if it is as good as it says, then it will remove the protection for you. From a legal point, there is an arguement, that as long as you do not sell the originals, then you are making backups of the material. This is legal under the fair use law ... What's less clear, is the legal issue of making a digital backup of a digital source (ie, using a computer to copy a DVD) ... theoretically, as long as you don't sell the original, you are just making a backup. However, if remove the copy protection from a DVD, then you are reverse engineering an encryption system, which is illegal. But since you are wanting to backup your VHS, then you don't have a (significant) legal issue as long as you don't sell/give away the originals. @

If you have a really old (mono) VCR, you could use the RCA Video (yellow)output (and a splitter to convert the mono to stereo) If you have a more recent VCR, then use the SVideo output from your VCR (together with the Left/Right (Red/White) Audio) and hook them into the input on the DVD-Recorder ... Just make a note of the jacks on the back of the VCR, and tell the 1st idiot you find in RadioShack. Personally, I wouldn't bother buying a DVD+VCR combo... I'm assuming that your VHS collection is predominantly recorded TV? if so, where possible, plan on re-recording them from TV. Remember, the DVD copy (of the VHS copy) will be lower quality than the VHS copy. (Digitization of low quality analog sources has a tendency to show highlight the low quality) @shley PS: in case anyone wonders, this is what I do to transfer from TiVo to a LiteOn LVW5005.

Unless you are planning to record just two hours to a DVD, the level of compression means you might as well record the non-HD channels instead? (especially if you have digital cable) the vast majority of TV recording equipment do not support HDTV ... The ones that do, aren't going to be sold for under $100 on BF ........ @

I'm planning on doing my online shopping in the line for BB after I've been to CompUSA So I'll be the one sitting there in Pittsburgh, in the snow, surfin, while waiting to buy a notebook ... @

try rebuilding it ... Most slow machines are fixed by (a) installing more memory and/or ( reinstalling, to get rid of the programs and kr@p that you don't need. @

make a date night ... Your hubby can stand in line in the cold for you, then when the store opens, switch ... he can stay in the car, and warm up, and you get to go shopping ! :-D (tell him thats what happens if he waits 5 years between dates ! :-D Oh, and good luck on the surgery @

Also, given that BoxingDay is after XMas, it combined the New Year Sales with the Post Xmas Clearance ... However, given the temperatures in Canada, I doubt that many people will be lining up at 10pm on Xmas day ... @shley

I'd guess that whoever typed in the list concentrated on the door busters ... the full list should be done once Brad et.al. get copies of the scans. @

Yeah - I'm gonna be outside CompUSA at closing, (sit in the car, using a laptop, and Starbucks wifi) until there are 10 people lined up ... once I've been through CompUSA (about 12:30) I'll head over to BB to repeat ... Hopefully, I shouldn't burn TOO much gas sitting with the engine going :-D @

Yeah - great - thanks for pointing out the weather aspect ... overnight - 29F ... 30% snow showers ... guess it should keep the lines down at BB :-) @

Nope ... only ever ordered online or via telephone for Staples ... never visited them on BF.

If thats the case, then why not get there early, and just sit in your car ... that way, if a line does form early, you are ready ... if not, you keep warm :-) @

Personally, I haven't seen a single thing in _any_ of the flyers, I can't live without :-) (although, if I don't find the wife a christmas present, I probably wont live ) @

Going by last year, yes... Staples is usually good about online and in-store ... (to the extent that I'll probably be shopping from the line at BB :-D) @

quick search found this was asked (and answered) yesterday ... http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=18448