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Everything posted by len_mullen
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>>> Official Black Friday 2009 HDTV Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
Just an update for you, Dragon. The PS3 is now selling for $250 and Netflix support is rolling out in November. Right now, I am using a trial of Playon to watch Netflix (also a trial) on my PS3 -- thanks for stirring my interest. I see why you put ondemand movies on your list of features. For $9/month you get as many DVDs as you can ship back and forth and while you're waiting for the next DVD to arrive, you can stream 12,000 'instant' movies from their library. Not sure I'll buy Playon, but Netflix looks like a keeper. -
>>> Official Black Friday 2009 LAPTOP & NETBOOK Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
Evaluating a laptop is a lot more complex than evaluating a desktop, John. With a desktop, all you really have to decide is how much are you willing to pay for -- how much cpu, how much video card, and how much disk space. With a laptop, you are really deciding how little you can live with. The more laptop you buy, the more power you use, and the more battery you need. There are netbooks, desktop replacements, and everything in between. You can't watch a movie or edit documents easily on a netbook and a desktop replacement is no fun on a bus on in the park. So, best first step is to make a list of the things you will do with the laptop. Identify apps that will accomplish those tasks and see what they require for hardware. Think through use cases -- whether you will have power, if you need to put the computer on your lap, how good a keyboard you need, and how small a screen you can live with. I rank these as 1-2-3 (requirement-desire-other). I, for instance, need to edit and encode video on my laptop (1). I maintain my web site on the laptop and that means image editing (1). I do some document editing on my laptop and would like to use openoffice.org -- because that is what I use on my desktop (2). I'd like to be able to watch videos saved on my disk or from a DVD (2). It would be nice if I could rip/edit/burn DVDs and capture from a video source(3). Blu-ray playback would be nice (3). Right away, netbooks are not for me. BUT, nothing here requires a desktop replacement. Portability is a key consideration. Weight is a small factor here -- it's been a long time since I picked up a laptop and thought it was heavy. Portability is the appropriateness of the platform to various environments. A Desktop Replacement is not very portable because 1) you cannot easily use one without a table and power. They are too big for the lap and go through a charge too quickly. Netbooks are not very portable either if you desire an optical media drive, a full size keyboard, or a big screen. My Acer 5516 is a little light on portability because the speakers are soft and the glossy screen is tough in direct sunlight. I want to be able to take the laptop camping (lost two Dell D610s to moisture) (2). I'd like to use it to take notes at meetings (three hour battery life) (2). I'd like to be able to work on it in bed or on my couch (not too fragile since I'll probably fall asleep) (1). It'd be nice to have connectivity cell network connectivity (3). Price matters. $200 - $300 seems to be a very good price for a laptop. Assuming it meets one's needs, the investment will likely be recouped on the next upgrade (present cost of the desired laptop - future cost > $280). So far BF2K9 rumors include... Acer Aspire One 10.1" Netbook for $149.99 Toshiba L505-S5998 T4300 for $399.99 I'd be tempted to grab a couple of the netbooks for portable internet toys, but the satellite is too expensive for me. What do you want to do with your new laptop? -
Is okay to have someone hold your place on Black Friday?
len_mullen replied to lruss71's topic in 2009
No, it's not OK if you are going to be shopping. It's not right for you to grab a laptop or tv someone else stood in line for. Even if the item is not a ticket item, you are still potentially grabbing something someone waited in line for. It shouldn't be necessary anyway. Once the store opens and those in line enter the store, you should be able to find your daughter and join her at the checkout. -
She *did* ask. I guess I should have assured her that there was no risk and that she was heroic for venturing out in her condition. Let me fix my first post.
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It's been cleaned up. Used to be where Chinatown and the Theater District met. I think it was mostly on Washington Street. If you were dining or drinking in Jacob Wirth's, you might see call girls out one window and a family going to a play out the other. Video history here. My youngest sister routinely did things that, to me, escaped the bounds of common sense. When I encouraged her to think about the consequences of the proposed action, she would defiantly insist that she had a right to do anything she wanted and that if she wanted to walk through the combat zone naked waving hundred dollar bills, it was her right to do so (which, of course, it wasn't). I would routinely respond that just because it was her right didn't make it a good idea.
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A better example would be that your husband hadn't worked in thirteen years, you were pregnant with your seventh child in four years, and your boss would fire you if you refused to work on Black Friday. The OP was talking about shopping not feeding her kids and I was talking about reducing the risk of infection not fear of H1N1. Stacy, the original question was... My thoughts were, and are, that it would be a bad idea for a pregnant woman to stand in line close to strangers for hours on end in the cold during flu season. Never mind that these strangers have been known to trample people on occasion. I was a little flip with the OP because 1) she characterized someone carrying the virus who would go shopping on BF as a moron, and 2) she implied that other people should stay home so that standing line would be safer for her baby. I don't think that someone who shops with the sniffles is a moron. I do think that 'at risk' populations should do whatever they can to minimize risk -- especially when the risk is to a third party. My sister thinks she should be able to walk through the combat zone in Boston at three o'clock in the morning naked waving hundred dollar bills. I agree with her but don't think it would be a good idea. Same here. I think pregnant women should be able to drag their toddlers through the stores on BF, but I don't think it's a good idea. Be safe.
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It's not the same. You have sustained contact with more people for a longer time. You may feel fine, but you are *very* likely to be exposed to a virus as you chat with people waiting in line. It's harsh (Encarta defines moron as an offensive term that deliberately insults somebody's intelligence), but I was playing on the words of the original post. While my intent was not to instult, I seriously question the intelligence of someone willing to put the welfare of a baby at risk to save a couple dollars. You are right that your son being in public school is a risk, but to equate the risk associated with getting an education with that of saving a few bucks is irrational. If your son comes home sick, you can take measures to avoid getting sick yourself. What measures can you take to avoid inhaling virus in line at Walmart? Look, I'm not going to pull a pregnant woman out of line and send her home. Someone asked about the risk of being in line with morons who have the virus. There will be people in line who are sick. Some won't even know. If you are at risk -- and pregnant people are -- you should reconsider. I hope you never have to regret waiting in line on BF, but, mark my words, some will. My advice to the OP and others who are at risk is to play it safe. What you do with that advice is up to you.
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>>> Official Black Friday 2009 DESKTOP COMPUTER Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
This forum is about Black Friday and the poster asked if there would Windows 7 computers on sale on that day. The answer is yes. The ad from a vendor who shall not be named had a Compaq Presario Dual-Core Desktop w/ 3GB RAM, 500GB HD, Windows 7 - $239.99. I don't know why mac-o-philes thread crap and pontificate...ok I do (and I've seen treatments for that on late night tv)...but do we need to dilute this important sticky with offtopic drivel? -
No, Jenirvt, but BF is different in that you will be standing in close proximity to lots of strangers for long periods of time. As you move from store to store the number of strangers you are in close proximity to for long periods of time increases. As the number increases, the liklihood of you being exposed to something increases. Being pregnant doesn't mean stop living life, but you should be more careful since your behaviors will be affecting a more delicate creature. So, we eat better, see the doctor more often, lay off drugs and alcohol, curtail physical activity, and minimize exposure to disease. You can do what you, but I think you should be careful.
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that's why I said "sick, elderly, or pregnant." that's why I said "it doesn't matter the crowd or the flu."
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Not the way I meant it. It's just crazy for sick, elderly, or pregnant people to stand out in the cold with lots of people. I'll make it a little less harsh...it doesn't read as well, but it's Christmas, right?
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<del>If you go out into crowds during flu season pregnant -- it doesn't matter the crowd or the flu -- the moron you need to worry about is not the one spreading the flu. You are crazy to put the health of your unborn child at risk (crowds, disease, cold) to save a few bucks. Be smart; stay home. Do your shopping online this year. As for the rest of us, I wouldn't behave any differently than when I stand in any crowd... 1) limit up close talking to strangers -- especially those displaying symptoms 2) keep your hands away from your face 3) wash your hands, but not to excess (chapped hands offer entry to disease) 4) avoid public restrooms and drinking fountains 5) wash and dry hands before and after using a public restroom -- any restroom 6) use a towel or your sleeve to open doors 7) keep sores covered It's just common sense. Your eyes, nose, mouth, fun parts, and any openings in your skin are the doors to infection. Keep these clean and you will be well. Get plenty of rest, drink a lot of liquids, and eat well, too, so your body is strong to fight off infection. This is true for pregnent and sick people. It's just that the consequences of getting sick are so much worse.</del> Don't worry about going out into crowds during the flu season. I'm sure all the sick people will stay home and that those who have behaved badly in the past have learned their lessons.
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>>> Official Black Friday 2009 DESKTOP COMPUTER Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
Because there are SOOOOOOOOOOOO many apple deals on BF ;-) -
>>> Official Black Friday 2009 HDTV Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
My tv came with a 1200w 5.1 speaker system with a five disc upconverting player. It is paired with the tv, so the back speakers power on when a program is encoded to use them. The rear satellites are small and wireless. It sounds good. I'm happy. But I'm not an expert and recommend you read through buyers guides... http://www.hometheatermag.com/buyersguides/ -
The Ghost of Opalina or Nine Lives by Peggy Bacon
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>>> Official Black Friday 2009 HDTV Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
I'm not an expert, but this is what I think I know... There are two issues: image burn in and image retention. Burn in is permanent. It occurs on all displays -- CRTs, LCDs, and Plasmas. It is much less common today than in the past. In fact, few modern displays have this problem under normal use. Image retention is a temporary phenomenon. It is also more common. Most people have this problem because 1) they watch a program all day that has a static image on the screen (a ticker or logo), or 2) they play a game which has a static display (controls area, for instance). New displays have technologies designed to minimize impact including pixel shifting and screensavers. Generally, the retained image will fade over a short time once programming changes (ie., you change the channel) and modern displays have tools to facilitate the process. My PN50A450 is a plasma that has preventitive technologies and corrective tools. We rarely see any hint of image retention. Two exceptions are 1) I left a DVD in the machine that had a moving picture in an otherwise static frame. The screensaver did not kick in and when I returned in six hours, there was an image on the screen. A few minutes of the all white screen, and all was back to normal. 2) Sometimes when we play something that does not fill the screen, you can see the border if you look very carefully when the full screen is very bright. This retention is subtle and short lived. My kids play games on this tv for hours on end. -
>>> Official Black Friday 2009 HDTV Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
Thanks for the insight. I've really been impressed at the verasatility of the console. We bought it to play games and the occasional movie. Now, we have quite a few games and a growing library of movies. My oldest streams music, tv, and video to it from his PC, too. -
>>> Official Black Friday 2009 GPS SYSTEM Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
I hope no one buys a GPS based on others' opinions. Buying a GPS is much more complicated than is it good. It's important to consider all features and price. Here are some features to think about... 1) screen size. yes, size matters. as i get older, i realize that some of us need a 4.3" screen or larger. understand your driver's eyes before selecting a GPS. 2) text-to-speech. this means the GPS will attempt to pronounce the name of the right you have to take in 300 feet. this *is* a big deal in cities and complex intersections. 3) traffic alerts (this applies to any other additional information like gas prices and speed traps). do you need them and how much do they cost. i have found traffic alerts mosly uninteresting, but one time i was tooling towards the airport when my gps alerted me to the fact that a railroad crossing was malfunctioning and offered to re-route me. i did not miss my flight. 4) POIs. it took me to #4 to mention this, but POIs may be more interesting to you. not a big deal if you use your GPS to find a destination, but, if you are on vacation and need a walmart, atm, or restaurant, POIs become very important. 5) other stuff. some GPS devices include blue tooth, some can play music and video, and others can call a nearby restaurant. read through all these and see what makes sense to you. 6) price. cheap is good...especially if someone steals the gps out of your car. once you have considered all the features and have a list of units that have the features which you can afford, ask what people think of the units. i have used two. i got the $99 navigon 2100t at staples a couple BFs back. it has traffic and text-to-speech. my first update was free and i'm hardly ever lost. the 3.5" screen is a little small for my aging eyes, but it was only $100, so i'm good. the POIs are adequate. i find what i need when i travel. i got a couple omnitech units from staples last year for $70. these have a bigger screen, less POIs, and no traffic. they work fine too. one was stolen...glad i didn't pay $400 for it. -
>>> Official Black Friday 2009 LAPTOP & NETBOOK Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
The answer is no. -
>>> Official Black Friday 2009 HDTV Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
Just curious...have you chosen a tv? Size/resolution? I'm looking at TVs for my kids' bedrooms and the Vizio VO320e tops my shopping list. It's a 720p 32" lcd with a good price (as low as $339) and great reviews. Consumer Reports says... This 32-inch 720p (1366x768) Vizio delivers excellent picture quality and a fairly wide viewing angle at an especially low price, making it a CR Best Buy. Its sound was good, unlike its 37-inch sibling's, fine for typical TV programming. ConsumerSearch.com describes it as the bese Budget 32-inch LCD TV. 1greenproduct.com says it only consumes 87 watts of energy (my kids never turn anything off). -
>>> Official Black Friday 2009 HDTV Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
You're welcome. -
>>> Official Black Friday 2009 HDTV Discussion Thread <<<
len_mullen replied to Brad's topic in 2009
I hope you're wrong or anecdotal. My PS3 has been playing movies (db, dvd, and burned) for a year. So far, so good. Of course, we play a lot of games too, but I don't understand how *not* playing games would make matters worse. -
What did you buy from previous BF that you were thrilled with?
len_mullen replied to katkat777's topic in 2009
My Navigon GPS. I haven't been lost since. Great toy. -
Black Friday Appliance Speculation / Discussion [merged]
len_mullen replied to len_mullen's topic in 2009
I posted about that -- hopeful like you. It turns out the premium you'll save running energy star appliances -- a refrigerator, anyway, in my case -- is not what you'll pay up front. Not even close. There are lots of promotions going on right now, so don't wait for BF and Obama to start shopping.