HTOC Archives

Archive from 03-03-2003

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 12:58 PM EST Monday, March 3, 2003

So we where watching the HGTV channel last night. They had a show on from the CEs and it was about new Plamas and such. The wife was really interested and thought maybe at the end of the year we could get one. She was asking ow it would fit and pricing and real questions.

Then the little one ran up to the RPTV and tried to touch the screen. All thoughts of Plasma's went away. Another 8 months and projecting her soize then, nothing but diaster.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 12:50 PM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
OK... let's liven it up...

RickMTB: I think Sony is making exactly the same mistake as they did with Beta. They are not licensing nearly enough OEM's as the DVD-A camp is. As you know Beta was clearly a better product than VHS, yet Sony only allowed 2 other OEM's to make the machines.

It's the same flawed biz model that all but killed Apple who refused to license their OS. Had they done so, I bet Windows would have never acheived 30% market share.

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 12:47 PM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
OK... let's liven it up...

RickMTB: humm, it depends on the cables used when comparing and whether or not the equipment and speakers are THX certified. ;)

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 12:46 PM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
Speaking of

The price differance betweent he Pioneer 45A and the Yamaha is what $350 or so? What does the yamaha do that or have that is that much better then the Pioneer?

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 12:45 PM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
OK... let's liven it up...

RickMTB: I would say looking at the titles both is the only answer.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 12:34 PM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
wow...

Kieran: Some of us have to get some work done, ya know? ;-)

FYI I'm fairly certain that Ms. Big Al is in law enforcement.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 12:23 PM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
OK... let's liven it up...

DVD-A versus SACD... let's get reaaaaddddy to ruuuuuumble!

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 11:55 AM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
wow...

slow morning!!!

Trav1 ( 192.76.84.196 ) at 9:43 AM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
Watches

Kieran: Gotcha! I was just a little excited there for a minute.

Kieran ( 209.148.114.185 ) at 1:47 AM EST Monday, March 3, 2003

BIG AL: Thanks. Is your wife an EMT/paramedic of some sort?

Kieran ( 209.148.114.185 ) at 1:47 AM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
Watches

Trav1: FYI Joel's email to me was not about pricing yet. Just answering some questions of mine about duty and shipment, etc.

Trav1 ( 4.47.73.87 ) at 1:04 AM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
Watches

Joelc: Noticed your email to kieran. Did you find out the pricing?

Joe ( 152.163.189.201 ) at 12:13 AM EST Monday, March 3, 2003

Oh man she is watcing HGTV about the CES show and Plasmas

Joe ( 152.163.189.201 ) at 12:13 AM EST Monday, March 3, 2003

Well the Toshiba is really starting to turn green. The wife is really starting to notice. At first she was trying the " It's just your imagination" routine. Now it's truning green for 5 minute at a time.

I hope it holds out until after she buys my birthday present. Is that shallow or what :)

Joe ( 152.163.189.201 ) at 12:07 AM EST Monday, March 3, 2003
Great HBO series now in HD tonight- Six Feet Under

Curtis: Yes my brother owns a Funeral home and an EMS (Aumbalance) service. I will have to ask him about the show. Myself I do not pay for HBO.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 11:57 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
Tosh DTV-3000 HD Receiver - world's most expensive cable tuner?

Sheeit - the plasma/ HD tuner gig I did ther other day turned bad - very bad. Suddenly the Toshiba receiver only wants to tune into cable stations, even though it's connected to a Plus dish that's getting 90+ signals on all three (A,B & C) DirecTV sats.

After 3 hours on the phone with DTV we both shook our heads resulting in a service call Tuesday. Any idea WTF I need to do? This only happens with freebie friends installs of course.

BIG AL ( 207.152.79.36 ) at 11:07 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Kieran; I've always been reluctant to help people in serious situations. A friend got sued after trying to help someone. Then I met my wife. She's been in those types of situations more times than us "normal" people can imagine. Like the time she tried to drag a guy out of his burning car, but couldn't get him out. She had to just stand there and watch him burn to death screaming. The truck driver that bled to death while she applied pressure to his gushing artery. I've always said I'd never help anyone at a risk to myself. All talk I guess. I had a guy have a seizure in my store in the middle of a job application. Just keeled over and started flopping around. His head was knocking against a metal display foot, and blood was pouring out his nose, mouth, and a gash in his head. There were 6 other people in the store with me, and they all headed for the exit fast. I grabbed the cordless phone, tossed it to an employee to call 911, and basically leaped on the guy. I held his head so he wouldn't hurt himself more, and laid on top of him till the ambulance arrived. I had blood all over my hands. I must've washed them 100 times, and I had the heebeejeebees for weeks. I pray I never have to do anything like that again!
I'm going to tell you the same thing I tell my wife everytime, and what she said to me. You did a damn fine job, and you should be proud of yourself!

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:48 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
Great HBO series now in HD tonight- Six Feet Under

Season 2 starts tonight. If you're homophobic you'll hate it. Hey Joe - isn't one of your relatives in the undertaking biz? What does he think of the show or does it cut too close to the bone?

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:33 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
Catching up with old topics...

AVB: Damned right - Annie belongs on the A list of great singers. You see? I'm not THAT old school ;-)

PoolDudes Joe and ?: Great advice on cleaning up my green pool H2O. It is now a beautiful bright blue, though a few drops of chlorine got spilled on my dark gray SUV carpeting that is now pale white.

Wild Bill: Are you at liberty to ID the CA firm that offers 2 x HT install choices? email is fine if you don't wish to broadcast the info.

re: "New Music" I try my best to be open to all forms of art, yet the old school stuff was so good it's easy to just live in the past. I have a lot of musician friends who think that real music stopped 10 or 20 years ago. That's simply a depressing thought. My 18 y-o daughter who now plays more instruments than I can recall recently discovered Duke Ellington on her own. "Holy sh*t Dad, this guy REALLY ROCKS!", said she yesterday. I had a sh*teating grin on my face ... that's my girl! ;-)

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 9:49 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
CPR

cai & Ron: Understood. In fact my New Yorker friends are some of the kindest people I know - I never said anything about them ... just the strangers involved in whatever violence one happens to stumble upon. I must say that 99.9% of the time I lived in Manhattan I felt very safe at all hours even in most neighborhoods white boys don't frequent late at night (in the early '70's). My loft did get totally cleaned out by burglers twice but hey - I was a starving student at the time with little of value to take except for good cameras.

My initial reply should have mentioned one of the other cities on my list. Most people tend to either love or hate NY. I'm in the former group. Have you all been getting the distinct impression from NYer's post 9/11 that along with all of the other powerful emotions, the biggest one is for blood? Who can blame them for the true horrors they had to go through, yet the eye for an eye thing rarely leads to any kind of peace.

simm ( 66.56.155.14 ) at 7:12 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
HT Furniture

sorry, that was the model 099 seating.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 6:43 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Wild Bill: I seen that in the news. The whole thing was on video.

simm ( 66.56.155.14 ) at 6:37 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
HT Furniture

Anybody recommend a place on the web to order HT furniture? I'm particularly interested in Berkline HT seating. I was by my local dealer last weekend and they had some in for about $1000 a seat. Leather recliners that can be configured several different ways. I believe it was the model 045 or 047. $1000 is more than I can spend per chair and truthfully my dealer has changed over the last year or so- not as friendly/willing to help. I have bought all my gear from him so not an issue of me looking at his stock and buying elsewhere but this might be the time that I do. I want to get seating for three if I can.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 6:17 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
DVD review... Blue Crush

Yeehaw! Not just becuase of the nubility (humunahumuna) but what they saved in writing and acting they spent on the sound and visuals. Great movie to show off the system...

cai ( 68.100.159.101 ) at 5:35 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
CPR

Kieran: You did a very commendable job. I have taken the first aid course about two or three times, but can not do half of the things you did. I hope never to be in the situation you were since from the experience of a friend of mine in Pittsburgh, it is very stressing and traumatic. He lost a fellow worker that had a heart attack and to whom he gave mouth to mouth.

Curtis: I have to agree with Ron about the New Yorkers I know also. In my close to 30 years in NYC, I saw very little crime first hand, always read about it. I did see some petty crime, but never a murder, or anything similar. I did frequent the Spanish West Side of upper Manhattan throughout the 60s. Lots of parties there, never anything violent.

Wild Bill ( 12.92.110.164 ) at 4:32 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Curtis is right about people not helping. Recently, a man was murdered in Washington, DC at a gas station. Another man was standing next to him. A gunman ran up to the man and shot him and then ran off. The man that was standing next to the victim finished pumping his gas, walked to the cashier and paid and then returned to his car and drove off leaving the victim laying by the gas pumps. Unfortunately it seems that it takes a disaster for us to pull together as people and show courtesy, respect and help to one another.

Kieran ( 64.54.75.96 ) at 3:56 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
DLP competition

http://www.audiorevolution.com/news/0203/27.sony.shtml

Joelc ( 64.229.55.33 ) at 3:55 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Kieran: You have e-mail re: watches and payment method. Please, after reading my responses, let me know what you think and that you are stil onside.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 3:35 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Gents, I didn't mean to single out NYer's at all - you can insert about 4 other major cities around the world where I have seen the same thing. People do not always instinctively help others in dire stress the way Kieran did - especially in bad parts of big cities.

Several of my best friends are from NYC (I know, that sounds like a liberal saying some of my best friends are black while making a racist statement) My example happened in one of the toughest blocks of Spanish Harlem in the '70's where people are too used to seeing human suffering like drug dealers offing each other and they have learned to grow thick skin - for their own survival.

My other same experiences happened in the toughest area of Chicago's South Side, Calcutta, India (bodies are literally floating down the Ganges River daily), tough parts of London, and a gang section of Honolulu. Ski slopes tend to not be populated by dangerous feuding people.

Now do you see what I'm saying?

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 3:03 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
CPR

Ron: Agreed... the NYers did a pretty good job helping each other on 9/11 (and I am not a big NY fan)...

BC ( 67.234.6.126 ) at 12:46 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
CPR

Good morning/afternoon guys.

Kieran: Your a good man!

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 12:26 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
CPR

Curtis: The New Yorkers I know would not walk past someone in need.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 12:19 PM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Morning all

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:34 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
Sony SAT-T60 DirecTivo problem solved?

The damned thing would just reboot once an hour, then hang trying to power up. I had to unplug it for 5 minutes then replug to get it to boot, only to fail again soon after.

My son removed the stack of DVD's/CD's I had piled on top of the Tivo saying "Dad the Tivo gets really hot." It has worked flawlessly since then. Sony must have built-in a thermal protection circuit. There's actually some kind of thermometer in the box - go to the System Info screen and it'll tell you what the internal temp is.

That's my boy ;-)

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 10:23 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Oh, I saw the large "Secrets" article that tested and compared a lot of different DVD players and they aren't big Pioneer fans (and the 45A didn't test well for them). Seems they really liked the now discontinued Panasonic RP82, the (I believe soon to be discontinued XP30.... essentially the RP82 minus the DVD-A ability) and the Denon 1600 (which is supposed to be based on the RP82). I think I can find the XP50 (the XP30 with DVD-A).

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 9:58 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
He was sure the salesman said it would play DVD-A

... my pal who bought the open box Sony 7700 this week. Yeah right, next time do your own research.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 9:32 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Interesting article on tweaking DVD players:

http://www.tweakaudio.com/Players.html

btw, still seem to be leaning towards the Pioneer DV45A. Were there some probs with te deck?

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 5:41 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Kieran,
you did what you could and sometimes medicine (CPR, M2M) can change the outcome, but what you did for him did at least give him a chance.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 2:29 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
CPR

Kieran: You and your GF did 20x what most people would have done to help out. That Eagle Scout training comes in handy, no? I took CPR ages ago but still think I would know what to do. When I lived in NYC I would see stabbed/ shot people on the ground, screaming for help. NYer's can be pretty cold and most would just walk right past. I helped one such guy and he pulled a knife on me!

There's only so much you can do sometimes. When your number is up, it's up..

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 2:04 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Some links.

http://www.pronto.philips.com/index.cfm?id=496

http://www.consumer.philips.com/global/b2c/ce/catalog/assets/downloads/iPronto_Whitepaper.pdf

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 2:02 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

bib=big

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 1:59 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

Another super remote to compete with the bib boys. Internet access from you remote is cool..

Kieran ( 64.54.75.96 ) at 1:30 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
CPR

Hey guys... I had a hell of a day today.

The g/f and I drove up to Tahoe for a day of skiing at Heavenly. We left Friday night/Sat morn at midnight, got in around 3am. Got up and 9am and hit the slopes at 10. Great day of skiing the conditions were just amazing. 4~8" of powder almost everywhere. Landis and I were beat though... both fighting illness, I skied today with a sore throat and a mild fever. She was not feeling well either, so we decided to head home an hour early: 3pm.

While making our way to the "way out" trail to the Nevada side base lodge, I saw two skiers on the ground in front of me (this is a very flat, green-level trail, near a mountain top lodge)... a man lieing on his back and the woman bent over him. All of a sudden, she starts screeming, "help, help!!!" I'm about 15 yards from her, closest person. The mini-mountain top lodge is about 100 yds behind me. I hop out of my skis and take a look, she's sobbing, screaming, "help me, somebody help him!" I try to calm her down. Landis skied up behind me by now. The guy, by my judgement is having a pretty hefty seazure (sp?). He's late 30's, slightly overweight. First things first... I got him flat and opened his airway... he was still breathing, but barely... His tounge seems to be blocking his airway, and typical of sezures, he was clamping his jaw muscles firm... I couldn't open his mouth wide, and I wasn't about to put a finger in there, as he occasionally clenched his teeth. Also, I didn't have and couldn't find anything to let him clamp his teeth onto. His arms and legs started spazming so I got a few bystanders to hold him while I continued to try to keep his airway open, which was tough as the spasms were causing him to bring his chin down to his chest. He was still sucking air down though, but very labored... His neck and throat and shoulder muscles were all working against me to keep his head back and airway open. By now, ski patrol arrives, and I back off and start looking for a pulse, as this guy is loosing color quickly... he's not getting enough oxygen and I couldn't find a pulse in his wrists. Landis, who from her work (research assistant at UCSF med center) is used to finding pulses on obese people, found his corroted artery and had a weak pulse. Ski patrol guy (find out later he's also an MD) decides to begin mouth-to-mouth, even though the guy is still sucking air in (albeit not enough). M2M looks promising at first, as the guy took a big breath on his own after the first blow by MD. Then back to weezing and clenching. More ski patrol show up, with a mouth-to-mouth mask. MD applies mask and starts M2M in earnest. His shirt had been cut open by now as I was trying to find pulse from his chest by ear. Landis said she's lost the pulse from the neck. I start chest compressions with the okay of the MD/ski patrol doing M2M. Together we do CPR for somewhere around 5 minutes or so, while the rest of ski patrol arrives with a portable difibrulator, back board, snow mobile, etc. MD and I continue CPR as the team readies victim for defib. CPR stopped, "clear" is called, charge given, no pulse. Continue CPR as defib machine recharges. One more try. No go. MD and I continue CPR as ski patrol team readies him to move him onto the sled to get him down the mountain. Finally a ski partrol guy takes over for me on the compressions as they get victim on the sled, also they get a blow bag for the M2M. They get him on the sled and two other ski patrol continue CPR as they take him down the mountain. He had been without a pulse for several minutes now, and not much oxygen either, as the spasming throat and neck made M2M difficult. His color was almost completely gone.

Wife of victim is a wreck... poor guy just celebrated his 37th birthday the day before. Apparently he has a family history of severe heart desease, is taking meds for high blood pressure and high colestorol, AND had been complaining of chest pains earlier in the day (not to be mean, but I don't know WHY they were still skiing if he had been complaining). They take her down to the base lodge first aid station. MD/ski patrol takes my name and report. He agreed with me that it looked like a seazure at first, not a heart attack. When we lost the pulse and had to start full CPR, I was starting to feel that I had mis-diagnosed the seazure, but MD agreed with me. After calming down and letting the adrenaline subside, Landis and I head down the mountain to the car. We have some gear of the couple to take to the first aid lodge. This is about an hour now after I first came to the guy. We got to our car, and drove over to the first aide area (few miles away from our car). As we are driving down to the lot, we are passed by a VERY slow moving Ambulance, Paramedic SUV, firetruck, and a few civilian cars. "OH F*CK" was the thought on both our minds, even though we didn't say anything. We got to the first aid shack, and head guy welcomed us and gave us the news. The poor fellow died right there, the ambulance was on the way to the coroners office. I nearly lost it... so sad. We drove home after that... long drive home.

What a day.

Please, everyone... if you have not done it, go get your Red Cross First Aid and CPR certification.

Tony C ( 68.20.183.224 ) at 12:25 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003

JJ: I don't think I can do that on my Lex DC-2.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 12:03 AM EST Sunday, March 2, 2003
One Hour Photo

T-Man: You're so humble yet correct ;-) Thanks for the heads-up, I was about to buy it mostly on a review from 1 of the only sources I trust - a writer for Rolling Stone who labeled it "Really, truley frightening."

I'll take your opinion over his as the studio probably stuffed his pockets. Rental it is.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:48 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Checkout AuctionDrop

Now why didn't we think of this? "The easy way to eBay!" www.auctiondrop.com

They have retail storefronts (San Carlos, CA for now, more coming) that allow sellers to drop items to sell off with them - a week or few later the seller gets a check, less the steep commission.

They do all of the micro-managing of photographing, listing, selling/ answering bidders email questions PLUS they pack/ ship everything anywhere on the planet. Heidi Rozien and some other VC backed them

They got a huge front page write-up in today's San Jose Mercury News dead tree. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/5292948.htm

I predict the whole company will make a ton of money. It's just an idea that's so obvious.

T-Man ( 208.40.137.142 ) at 10:48 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
One Hour Photo

Only a renter in my humble yet correct opinion. Not that good as it takes a long time to get where its going and I'm not sure if it even gets there. (huh?) In Joe style, here is the menu for tonight. Herradura (reposado) Margarita, and a deep dish pizza with gorgonzola, onions and mushrooms. No, not from Tony's city, right here from western PA.

Joe ( 152.163.189.201 ) at 9:59 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Gas is only $2.99/ gallon here

AVB: We are about $1.70 here.

JJ ( 69.3.168.35 ) at 7:46 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Tony C: What pre-pro? even the lowly H/K 520 receiver has different settings on the same input. For example, If it gets a DD 2.0 signal, I can say, use DPL II, if it gets a PCM 2channel, I can tell it to use Logic7 or DTS-Neo6 or stereo, etc. whatever...

Tony C ( 68.20.183.224 ) at 6:37 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Panasonic RP-82

This one looks nice. But I don't think Denny can get Panasonic either.
Denon, Sony, HK, Kenwood is all he carries. I think.

Tony C ( 68.20.183.224 ) at 6:10 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

RickMTB: Thanks for the link. After review, I may ask for something else.
It does RGB, but does not have component outs. I also like to use the optical and coax digital outs. One goes to the DVD input the other to the CD input. The pre-pro has different settings for each.

What else was on your short list?

AVB ( 64.41.32.108 ) at 6:06 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Police

Curtis: So when are they bringing Harvey Firestein (sp) in to be the chief in Frisco?

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 5:20 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Broadband test results

Tony C: I ran the tests on 2 x notebooks and 2 x desktops - 1 PC & 1 Mac of each. All came in very close to each other. I think it's how fat your data communications pipe is, not an individual computer.

Nice going on the Gasgeek deal. I just put in a HD reciever at the friends' house who got that 50" Pioneer plasma you saw here last year. No gear, but I think I can ride some very nice polo ponies gratis for a few years.

Be careful what you wish for ... I just might surprise you one of these days. I don't suppose it's clear/ in the lower 70's there today? ;-)

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 4:17 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Tony C: Let us know how you like the Denon 1600. This looks like its oan old review, but it might be of some value:

http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/HardwareReviews/Denon1600/Denon1600.html

Tony C ( 68.20.183.165 ) at 4:00 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Broadband test results

Curtis: thanks. My Download speed is 652kbps and Upload is 136kbps.
Slightly above "Rocks".
I wonder if the laptop would be much different?

Come on out here buddy. We'll have a go at the install thing.

Tony C ( 68.20.183.165 ) at 3:51 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Today's install was kind of a surprise. I did not know that is was a remodle. The whole house was gutted, the guy was putting a second floor on and making the house accessable for his son who is in a wheel chair most of the time.
The house is rather small and the living room, where the display is going is also kind of a main traffic area.
So the guy is using a plazma and in-wall speakers. That will save him at least 30" on that wall. The equipment rack is going in the office closet.

We also ran wire for ceiling speakers (actually one unit with stereo speakers to the kitchen and dining area and also two volume controlers for that. Also ran Cat-5 for the IR controler.

All in all, with all the drilling, and the owner helping, we spent two hours working and we ran 800 feet of wire.
Now compare that to Wild Bill's jobs and you'll see where I'm coming from.

OH, but call me Gasgeek. No wait, don't call me Gasgeek. But my payment for this work and when we come back and finish will be a DVD player.
My friend asked what I wanted. I said a Pioneer 45A. Sorry, can't get Pioneer. I said a Denon 1600. He said, fine. So, I got that coming in about 3 weeks.

Tony C ( 68.20.214.178 ) at 3:43 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Wild Bill: The most "expensive" install I ever did on my own was about $10,000 in equipement. My labor was bartered or free.
And those are the kind of people I was refering to.
I understand that there are some very good custom installers in this area, Think one is ISR? I know that they do only very high end clients.
I just don't think I'm smart enough to pull it off.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 1:34 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Tony

Thanks But I will be at work on Friday night. Are they playing at the Machine Shop? My work is around 6 miles from there. It has become the hot spot in Flint. A lot of bands are playing there. A few weeks ago Kid Rock was in the crowd and jiumped on stage. He did a forty minute show.

We use to have another bar in Flint that alwasy had good rock bands, Contos. Now they have a rainbow flag flying.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 1:31 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Curtis: Don't worry about your daughter getting cold at college. There that thought should put your mind at ease :)

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 1:30 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
The weather

Tony C: I'm going to be a plagerist and copy this and replace "Chicago" with "Minneapolis".

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 12:43 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Tony C and Wild Bill: Judging by the huge number of palaces going up in the past few years and the long parade of large German luxury cars, I can tell you where you should be able to make a nice living in Bill's biz... my hometown of Hinsdale and Oak Brook. They have gone from fairly affordable places to very wealthy and seem as ressession-proof as anywhere because the population is not all in the same professions the way Silicon Valley is.

Go for it. Maybe I'll move back there and we can be partners.

Wild Bill ( 12.92.110.3 ) at 12:28 PM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Tony C: JohnO and I have a running debate about large jobs vs. "small" jobs. Let me define small job. It takes about $10K in business for us to consider a job. A $10K job is usually a pre-wire and a 3 zone distributed audio system. We can bang out the pre-wire in a half-day or day and the install in less than a day. We do very few of these jobs. What we really consider a "small" job is a basic media room or home theater with a dstributed audio system to six zones or a dedicated theater. These jobs start in the highs 20's and go up to about $50K-$75K. The bread and butter jobs are the ones that land betwenn $30-$40K. We can do the pre-wire in a day, and the installation in 2-3 days. There's a nice profit margin and we're in and out fairly quickly.

The large scale jobs are the jobs over $100K. These require much more planning and documentation. We spent the whole month of January wiring a house for a 9 zone Crestron system, plasma in the family room with surround sound and a plasma in the bedroom. We pulled over 3 1/2 miles of wire...*in a finished house!*. This system has now gone over $200K and I suspect that the final price will end up around $275K. These are very complicated jobs that require serious manpower and expertise.

My opinion, if you wanted to do this fulltime, is that there are a TON of the bread and butter jobs out there. You could make a wonderful living doing the $30K jobs. There is a company in California in their third year that only sells two systems. They have a $20,000 system and a $28,000 system. No deviations. They are currently doing about 2 million a year in volume. The installs are always the same so anyone in the company can troubleshoot and they have a very focused product line (less than 150 skus) so they have tremendous support from their manufacturers. It's a solid business model.

I disagree with the statement that the big jobs are becoming scarce. There are plenty of these jobs out there in the right geographical areas. You have to work very hard to make the proper contacts to get referrals for the large jobs. It has taken us a year to get to that level. We are fortunate because we are in one of the wealithiest areas of the country. We also are probably in the area of the country that is the last to feel a bad economy or recession.

Now, back to my debate with JohnO (I seem to be rambling). He would prefer that we do a zillion $35K jobs a year and forego the larger jobs because of the resource requirements. I prefer to take on a limited number of the large jobs and balance it with by picking and choosing the clients we want to work with on smaller AND larger projects. If I have a good balance I don't need as many crews in the field and it is easier for me to tighten my belt in lean times. The other reason that I want to do a number of large jobs is selfish. I DO want our company to achieve industry recognition and awards for our work and I DO want us to be featured in AUdio Video Interiors some day. These are my personal goals and they have nothing to do with money and everything to do with being recognized as one of the best in the business. There's a lot more to it and I could (obviously) post on this subject for hours on end but I'll put the stopper in it here. :-)

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:55 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
So what DVD player did my friend buy?

After all the information about current generation great DVD players I furnished my pal, with the help of y'all, he buys a demo Sony 7700. Why? Because "it used to cost $1,000 and I prefer to have all-Sony gear."

I told him it has the chroma bug but the sales droid assured him it did not. Then they charged him $75 for a component video cable - I give up on him.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:32 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Duh - that test site was intended for Tony C

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:31 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Broadband test results

Curtis: http://www.dslreports.com/stest?loc=2

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:26 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Broadband test results

Just ran my Comcast (was AT&T till last week) cable modem service

Download:1,757 kbps (places it between "Awesome" and "Insane")
Upload: 245 kbps

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:17 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
The weather

Tony C: That last line will never happen. Did you notice the Giants played the Cub's and their former manager yesterday? Bonds hit the 1st pitch he saw out of the park but stop the presses - the Cub's got 2 inside the park homers and won!

Tony C ( 68.20.177.175 ) at 10:36 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Joelc: Here's the thing, and I think Wild Bill would agree that most people who buy mid or low end systems dont' have the money or simply don't want to spend more money after spending a lot on their new system.
So what's left are the $100K plus instals. And I'll admit that I just don't know enough about that high end/whole house stuff. Just enough to get me in trouble. Plus from what my friend tells me those jobs are becoming scarce. THe economy has really hurt the sales of high end instals.

But I've thought about it.

Joelc ( 64.229.55.33 ) at 10:25 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Tony C: Don't know about that job thing as it appears to me that you make a pretty good living as an installer given all the installs that you do. What do you think?

Tony C ( 68.20.177.175 ) at 10:08 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

OK, enough of me.
I'm heading out this morning to do an install with the friend who runs a electroics store. He needed some help.
I'll tell you guys about it when I get back. Have a good day. Stay warm and don't drive.

Tony C ( 68.20.177.175 ) at 10:06 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
The weather

Subject: Chicago - However, the following could be said for any city north of here. Except for the very last line.

Seasonal Differences in the regions of the USA

60 above - Floridians wear coats, gloves, and woolly hats.
Chicago people sunbathe.

50 above - New Yorkers try to turn on the heat.
Chicago people plant gardens.

40 above - Italian cars won't start.
Chicago people drive with the windows down.

32 above - Distilled water freezes.
Lake Michigan's water gets thicker.

20 above - Californians shiver uncontrollably.
Chicago people have the last cookout before it gets cold.

15 above - New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
Chicago people throw on a sweatshirt.

0 degrees - Californians fly away to Mexico.
Chicago people lick the flagpole and throw on a light jacket over their
sweatshirt.

20 below - People in Miami cease to exist.
Chicago people get out their winter coats.

40 below - Hollywood disintegrates.
Chicago's Girl Scouts begin selling cookies door to door.

50 below - Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
Chicago people get frustrated when they can't thaw the keg.

60 below - Microbial life survives on dairy products.
Illinois cows complain of farmers with cold hands.

460 below - ALL atomic motion stops.
Chicago people start saying. . ."Cold 'nuff for ya??"

500 below - Hell freezes over.
The Chicago Cubs win the World Series

Tony C ( 68.20.177.175 ) at 10:00 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
JOE - GAR

http://www.fromzero.com/Sorry_E_Card.swf
http://www.fromzero.com/Time_Of_day.mp3

Tony C ( 68.20.177.175 ) at 9:58 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Pacifier

Joe: That band is playing in Detroit tonight at St. Andrews.
I have another band playing in Flint next Friday (3/7). They're name is From Zero. Kind of cool band from Chicago. I could put you on a guest list if you want.

Gar: Pacifier is playing in Madison next Friday. I was going to go, but these bands go on between 10 and midnight and I don't want to spend the night there. But if you want to get put on the list, let me know.

Joelc ( 64.229.55.33 ) at 9:52 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Good morning one and all..

Tony C ( 68.20.177.175 ) at 9:41 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

BIG AL: Give me the link to that test page. I'd like to see how my dsl is doing.

Tony C ( 68.20.177.175 ) at 9:41 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Tony

Robert: LOL! Why do you think I'm so freaked about loosing my job? LIke I told you, the only thing I'm qualified for is armed robbery.

And speaking of which. There has been a rash of bank robberies in the area. I found out from a cop. Nothing really in the papers because they don't want to freak people out and they don't want copy cats. They hit the banks as they are opening. They don't get much money, but about $3K for an hours work aint bad.

T-Man ( 216.151.66.245 ) at 9:13 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
small rant

BAGMAN: He did suck. That makes him a good candidate for the Clowns.

AVB ( 64.41.32.108 ) at 6:37 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Gas is only $2.99/ gallon here

BIG AL: Plain old unleaded 87 Octane is $1.64 at the stations (all 2 of them) in town. Varies from a low of $1.60 to $1.84 in the area for the same.

BIG AL ( 207.152.79.36 ) at 2:36 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Gas is only $2.99/ gallon here

Curtis: I try not to pay attention. I only buy Mobil, or Shell premium for my car/bike. They both need 92 octane minimum, and they have the highest quality gas. I don't care what it costs, because I have to buy it. Luckily I don't have a long commute, and my car gets good gas mileage. (if I can stay off the turbos) :-)

BIG AL ( 207.152.79.36 ) at 2:31 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

I am now surfing at high speed! It's so amazing to connect at 500 kbps after years of 26.4. I think I'm addicted! I had to do some tweaking to get there though. When the guy was done installing, he went to a speed check site, and it showed 495 kbps. He said that was great for my distance, and left it at that. I surfed for a while, and it was faster, but didn't seem that much faster. I checked dslreports.com and I was getting 495 upload, but only 47 download! I followed their tweak suggestions, and bingo! 495 up, and 500 down. The porn loads so fast, it's almost like being there! :-) I'M JUST KIDDING DEAR!

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 1:20 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Gas is only $2.99/ gallon here

What's up with this and how bad is it in the rest of the country? The above price is from dueling corner Chevron and Shell stations in one of the most expensive towns in the Bay Area. Yes it's full serve for premium, yet the self-serve is only about 40 cents cheaper.

I was on fumes stuck in that town today without other options and grilled the station owners. They said they're keeping margins where they have been for years. Their costs are through the roof. A 2 island little station has to pay $17,000 per month in rent alone.

Big V8 SUV's are going to be given away soon.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 12:19 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003

Tony C: I wore a T shirt !!

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 12:18 AM EST Saturday, March 1, 2003
Tony

Joe: It's chief bullshitter

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:53 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

Tony C: 40 degrees and you're wearing shorts?! My kids whine endlessly about how freezing that temp. feels. Just wait until my daughter gets her 1st dose of New England winter next year when she's in North Hampton Mass. All the California kids are easy to spot wearing sandals with socks and WONDERING why they can't get warm.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:50 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

Joe: "...I am pretty much sold on getting the Yamaha"

Good selection. They make beautiful, sleek, very fast motorcycles ;-)

No wait - wrong hobby board.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 11:02 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

As long as I am babbling I am pretty much sold on getting the Yamaha. I might look into the Denon 2900 which is suppsoe to be a good machine. But all things being equal or close I have to go with experiance.

The big thing is if my local dealer will try to get full retail out of me. Waht kind of prices are you guys seeing?

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 10:59 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Tony

So my peer asked me about you. What is your title? If you don't mind

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 10:55 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

The CD

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 10:55 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Tony

I hear that. BTW our studnet who is 21 and my 3rd shift peer who is 25 said they really like CD. JOsh and I quote " They Fu(*^^% rock, just what I like"

I have only heard the first 2 songs so far.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 10:52 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Kieran

I tried the secreats page tonight. I got cut short as my job required my attention. Since you are the wizard, how about some lnks for the Yamaha S2300 reviews.

Tony C ( 68.20.209.19 ) at 10:52 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

Joe: It was close to 40 here today. Wore shorts. :)

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 10:51 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

Evening all

I am home :) It's SciFi Friday. This starts in a few minutes with Stargate, then Farscape. This evening dinner includes Becks bier and General Pao chicken. That is a deadly combo :)

Tony C ( 68.20.209.19 ) at 10:50 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Mits Net Command

Curtis: I needed that bit of vindication. I asked a friend who has it how he likes it. Turns out he still needs two remotes. What's the point?

Tony C ( 68.20.209.19 ) at 10:48 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Tosh TV

Curtis: I'm wondering if they will approve the parts. But if they do, yeah. Everything but the CRTs would be new. That would be fine by me.

Joelc ( 64.229.55.33 ) at 10:08 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

Nothing is as hard as programming a Crestron... nothing!

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 8:45 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

Hey this place is a ghost town tonight. I am telling you it's a heat wave over here. Last night it was 14 when I got out. Today it was all the way up to 23 on the way in. Man I need to start tanning :)

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 8:44 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Tosh TV

Tony C: I guess Kieran's Dad didn't find the warranty extension thing. I'm seeing my dealer tonight or tomorrw and get him to find one. If your guy replaces all the parts you'll have a new RP!

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 8:33 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Mits Net Command

Scott "popcorn": The Net Command I helped a pla setup was a trainwreck. Mits also charges a fortune for it. Just because it has a FireWire interface doesn't make it better than many options at 1/2 the price.

He renamed the thing "Not Command" - should give you an idea of how user unfriendly it is.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 7:54 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Gar

Got your email... thanks for the info. Have fun!

Scott "popcorn" ( 66.138.33.249 ) at 6:50 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Mits Net Command

Tony C: From what I know about Net Command, it's really cool. Never tried to set it up before though. Sounds like it's at least as hard as setting up a Crestron :)

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 6:09 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Shopping

I stopped at the HT store on the way to work today. This store sells Marantz, Pioneer and Yamaha. They only had the Pioneer setup and not the Yamaha or Marantz. When I stared to inquire everyone recommended the Yamaha over the other two units.

However the bad thing is they sold the last Yamaha and the rep screwed up the order. Soinstead of getting new S2300 in stock, they got recievers.

BAGMAN ( 209.26.206.210 ) at 5:54 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
small rant

T-Man: Thankyou so much.... I do feel better. I think I'll celebrate with some Austrailian free range beef delmonicos and some gulf stone crab claws. I see they cut your man Kordell, oh well, he pretty much "sucked" anyway.

cai ( 68.100.159.101 ) at 5:31 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Layoffs

BC: Hang in there and good luck. Let me know how you like the B&K.

T-Man ( 209.166.185.116 ) at 5:30 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
small rant

BAGMAN: So ...., Bagman. You come home on a Friday with this pent up anger at Mr Weapons inspector, and feel compelled to go off on a mini rant on the HTOC? Well, I for one am glad you got that off your chest. Well done old chap!

Tony C ( 65.214.102.5 ) at 5:24 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Tosh TV

I had a guy from Tweeter's Service come out again. Same guy as last time.
He brought a new transistor for the Red gun. The red problem was on Toshibas board, but not the green.
I told him I was really worried about the warranty ending, so he said he would order a bunch of new parts, boards, pots, etc. and just install new stuff.
I thought that was pretty cool. But bottom line is, he didn't know what the problem was. Nobody does. Hopefully changing this stuff out will make it like new. Hopefully.

BAGMAN ( 209.26.206.210 ) at 4:29 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
small rant

I'm not overly gung-ho for this war but Blix is a freakin idiot.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 12:56 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

Tony C: 1000 world wide for Sony? Agilent announced last week that 900 jobs would be cut in Sonoma County ALONE (4000 world wide). At this point, I'm glad I got out when I did... :-P

It seems neverending.... :-(

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 12:09 PM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

BC: I will going to Gartner's IT Expo Spring Symposium in San Diego later in March... Mike Capellas is shceduled to give the keynote there. ya want me to ask him anything? ;-)

Seriously, hope everything works out well for you!

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 11:37 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

Thanks guys, there already finished in our organization so it looks like I made it through another one. I think that makes 4 or 5. jeez.
Now I don't feel so bad about the new B&K stuff I've got coming. Hopefully it will arrive next week! I'm sick of being down and watching the 27" tv in the bedroom.

Joelc ( 216.223.140.58 ) at 11:33 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

BC: Good luck my friend!!

Ron ( 208.195.242.212 ) at 11:02 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

BC: Best wishes.

Tony C ( 68.20.211.96 ) at 10:00 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Mits Net Command

Has any one here tred to figure out Mitsubishi's Net Command?
What a mess.
I worked on one for an hour yesterday. Told the guy to buy a pronto.

Tony C ( 68.20.208.246 ) at 8:44 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

BC: I missed the bullet this week myself. Difference was, there was no warning of it coming. Just a 15 minute conference call with those who still had jobs.
Sony, I understand will be letting 1,000 people go worldwide today.

I feel your anxiety. Really. Best of luck to you.

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 7:49 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

Good morning guys.
Wish me luck, it' D-day at Worldcom today! (layoffs again)

AVB ( 64.41.32.121 ) at 7:46 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
Shoveling snow again

Only 4 inches this time but Maryland is paralized anyway.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 2:53 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
DirecTivo/ Pioneer non-Elite plasmas

Wild Bill: Agreed on both points. I love my Sony SAT-T60 DirecTivo but is currently acting very badly - every hour or so it will reboot and hang on the gray "Powering Up" screen or "Can not load Kernal" message

. I'm 3 weeks from the end of the 1 year parts only warranty and it will cost me 12 business days from the time they recieve it in PA, $62 plus shipping both ways as a flat rate. Had I opened ithe case for any reason including to upgrade the recording time with extra HD's I would have been SOL and owned a boat anchor - even under extended warranty.

WTF was Pioneer thinking of (I don't have to appologize to Robert, as he's no longer there) when they decided to eliminate any option of an external scaler from their Media Center boxes? Like they don't scream for one for EVERYTHING save HD video signals?! Thank goodness my dealer was willing to make me a great deal on the 43" and 50" Elite Pro models.

Not including even a basic table mount stand with the Elite's is a drag. I know they want to allow the customer flexability of mounting options (at a premium price) however if I paid >$12K for a 50" display that could only lay flat on the floor, I wouldn't be terribly happy.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 2:34 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003
From California With Love...

Tony C: I have several east coaster former LA transplant friends who also took YEARS to understand they weren't living in Sin (Cyn) City ;-)

Kieran: I'll address these out of order, sorted by outrageousness:

#17. My ex's family of 5 owns/drives no fewer than the following list of 7. She admits it's simply out of control and wonders why they spend so much on maintenence/ insurance & gasoline that can be found here for $2.99 a gallon. I saved a small fortune by being divorced!

- 1 '01 SUV, 4Runner with Super Charger (his son's HS grad. gift)
- 1 '99 Porsche 911 S4 Carrera (his)
- 1 '02 Audi A6 Turbo Qattro (hers)
- 1 '02 Honda Civic Hybrid (theirs?)
- 1 early 70's VW microbus (his toy)
- 1 '68 Mustang coupe (our 15 y-o son's)
-1 91 Acccord hatchback (our daughter's)

#5 My sister has 2 x of this flavor

#9 I possess an unreal talent for nearly always finding a prime parking space anywhere I happen to be in CA. I will gladly trade this for advance notice of the winning $100 million Super Lotto Plus numbers.

#13 Plus 5" font newspaper front page headlines.

# 16 Sooo true

#19 Damnned straight

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 12:39 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

RickMTB: GAR, btw, I sent it from my wife's account (she may have given me OKs to buy the new stuff, but she isn't THAT into HT to ask all those questions... ;-)

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 12:27 AM EST Friday, February 28, 2003

Gar: Email coming your way (assuming the addy in your bio is correct)

Tony C ( 68.20.179.225 ) at 11:50 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
From California With Love...

Kieran: When I moved to SoCal, the thing that I didn't undertand was Cyn on the street signs. What the hell did Cyn (sin) mean?
Then it was explained. None of those streets looked like a canyon to me. Not even a gully.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:02 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Joe: Go for broke - get the motorcycle ;-) You earned it. Take a bunch of safety classes 1st if you're not a seasone pilot. Get a bike you can master ... unless you can handle anything. In that case there's a certain midwestern regular HTOC'er who has the ultimate in power bikes whom you MIGHT be able to convince him to part with:at a fair price ;-)

I'm totally jealous.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 8:46 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Kieran

Joe: I already have a Yamaha receiver (the RXV793)...

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 7:50 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Wild Bill: It's like me thinking the HT room is mine. I think it has more toys then Toys R Us.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 7:48 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

I seen tha DACS on the Yamaha where 54/12 on the video side. I thought players where at 108/14 these days?

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 7:46 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

I might go look at some players this weekend. My wife wants to drive down to Cabela's. I have to go past Ann Arbor and they have some nice HT stores.

Gar ( 66.222.51.72 ) at 7:45 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Audio Video Interiors April

Derb: Sound and Vision just did a review on the Yamaha and gave it very good rating for it's audio. So who knows? I can't see there being a huge difference in sound quality if there using similar Dacs. I guess the manufactures don' want us having the best of both worlds :)

Gar ( 66.222.51.72 ) at 7:42 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Kieran: At that price I would have bought one. I have called several places and the least expensive was $795 plus shipping. At that price I will play the waiting game.

Derb ( 64.158.47.100 ) at 7:42 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Audio Video Interiors April

Joe: Gave the Marantz DV8300 top billing for "audio" over the Yamaha S2300 & Onkyo SP800. The admitted to not spending much time with the video side, so Kieran's post falls into play. There, I hoped I made it easier :) NOT!!

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 7:37 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
DVD-A SACD

Gar: Woops... must have been some other player I was thinking of that was available for $499...

Gar ( 66.222.51.72 ) at 7:28 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
DVD-A SACD

Kieran: I agree on your recommendation, I am looking for a Yamaha DVD-S2300, but there more like $800 bucks and that is a good price. Most places I have talked to they are selling them for $995.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 7:21 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Joe: I would still recommend the Yamaha 2300 over the Marantz, especially considering its price. The Marantz is basically a re-badged Pioneer:

This player is a "universal" player that plays DVD-video as well as DVD-Audio and SACD. It's based on a Pioneer design similar to the DV-45A and the DV-47Ai. It passed and failed a slightly different set of tests than either of the Pioneers, but core performance was extremely similar to the 47A. (We included 47Ai in shootout 3 not the 47A.)

Deinterlacing

Like the Pioneer it is based on, at its core this is a flag-reading player, though it does have a cadence-reading solution internally that it falls back on when the progressive flag is set to "false." It doesn't seem to have much, if any bad edit detection at all, as its performance on our test was just terrible.

The Basics

Just like the Onkyo and Pioneers, this player suffers from the Chroma Upsampling Error (CUE) in all cases. The visibility of the error is fairly severe compared to some other players like the latest Toshibas.

Also like the Onkyo and Pioneers, the white level is incorrect. However while the Onkyo is too high the Marantz is too low. (Interestingly, it is at exactly the same level as the Pioneer DV-45A.)

The frequency response looks pretty decent on this player. It has just a slight roll-off.

The component timing is also within spec for both Y-Pb and Y-Pr. The player is also capable of reproducing below black picture information.

There appears to be 4 pixels cropped from the bottom of the image. We feel that any amount of pixel cropping from the top or bottom is unacceptable. There is no technical reason for it - the 480p spec allows for 480 visible lines.

The layer change takes around 1.25 seconds to complete under the worst case scenario. We rated the overall response time of the player a 2.5, which is below average.

Overall, we were unimpressed with this player for video playback. There are just too many things wrong or below average in performance. That it is THX certified reduces further the credibility of THX as a certification standard.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 7:12 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
From California With Love...

To those who have lived here, this is a good laugh...
To those who don't live here... welcome to our world!

HOW TO TELL IF YOU LIVE IN CALIFORNIA:

1. You make over $250,000 a year and still can't afford a house.
2. It's drizzling outside, so you leave for work an hour early to avoid
all the weather-related accidents.
3. Your child's third grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is
named "Breeze".
4. You can't remember ... is pot legal?
5. You've been to a baby shower for an infant who has two mothers and a
sperm donor.
6. You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans must be
grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian
beans.
7. You know which restaurant serves the freshest arugula.
8. You can't remember... is pot legal?
9 . A great parking space can move you to tears.
10. The guy in line at Starbucks wearing the baseball cap, sunglasses,
and looking like George Clooney really IS George Clooney.
11. Your car insurance costs as much as your rent.
12. Your hairdresser is straight, your plumber is gay, and your Mary Kay
rep is a guy in drag.
13. It's sprinkling out, and there's a report on every news channel
about "STORM WATCH 2003"
14. Hey... is pot legal?
15. Over 85% of the cities, towns, and streets start with San, Los, El,
La, Santa, De La, or De Los.
16. You whine when there are 2 overcast days in a row.
17. A family of 6 owns 4 vehicles, 2 of which are SUVs.
18. Even if the store is across the street, you drive there. If you live
in Southern California, it will take you 30 minutes to get there.
19. Everyone knows that hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and snowstorms are
way worse than earthquakes, which are over almost as soon as you realize
what's happening.
20. Yeah, you're sure... pot is legal.
21. You know the answer to this riddle: How many Californians does it
take to screw in a light bulb?
22. Answer: It doesn't matter. Californians can't afford to turn on the
lights anyway.

Wild Bill ( 12.92.111.91 ) at 7:05 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Joe: TIVO is great but don't kid yourself. If you get one it will become your wifes. BTW, get a DirecTivo. Do NOT get one of the units that controls a settop box that you already have. They defeat the true purpose and don't work well.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 6:48 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

One more thing is the local store that has Yamaha and Marantz is having a sale.

Uhhhmmm I almost have myself talked into it.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 6:40 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

What really makes things hard is my bonus check is coming on the 15th. For those of you that bought a GM product this year, Thanks :
)

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 6:38 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

http://www.marantz.com/hifi/america/main.html

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 6:37 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Marantz DV-8300

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 6:36 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Joelc: I thought about that. Tonight for instance my wife will tape CBS and NBC. Then again I thought I should go for the expensive one now and just buy the PVR later.

But I hate to drop a grand on a DVD-A SACD and have digital outputs come out in 6 months.

But that Faith Hill sounded nice today on my old DVD player. So it must sound great on a DVD-A player. This is why I am a impulse buyer.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 6:35 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Joe: which Marantz is that?

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 6:33 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

I must say of all the reviews I have read the Marantz seems to be everyones favorite.

Joelc ( 64.229.53.8 ) at 6:30 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Joe: Easy... get all three!!! Just kidding!

Seriously though I personally would opt for the PVR as I have heard nothing but great things aboutthem especially for you... given that you are up at weird hours you will be able to enjoy your HT no matter what time of the day it is.

Joelc ( 64.229.53.8 ) at 6:28 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

AVB: Feeling any better?

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 6:26 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

I just can't make up my mind. Do I want a PVR, DVDA SACD or a new rifle. I really really want a motorcycle, but the wife is not giving in on that one.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 6:24 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Kieran

I have the Anthem AVM-20 Pre/Pro with a Rotel RMB-1095 for power. I mentioned the Yamaha recivers to Rick as I have owned several Yamaha products over the past 17 years.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 5:59 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
DVD-A SACD

Joe: What receiver do you have that includes bass management for DVD-A/SACD?

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 5:50 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
DVD-A SACD

Joe: The Yamaha 2300 is my recommendation. Same price as the Pioneer ($499) and a better dvd video picture (IMO).

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 5:33 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
DVD-A SACD

RickMTB: I have that one on my short list. The thing about presents, is I am the only one that works in the house. So it's more like how much do I spend on myself :)
)

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 5:27 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

BC: Okey dokey... hopefully by that time you will either have a Swift to demo or a customer who wouldn't mind me and my CD collection come visit them (Rickie Lee Jones, Holly Cole, Norah Jones, and The Commitments... hey, have to listen to at least one loud set... ;-)

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 5:24 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
DVD-A SACD

Joe: I think the Pioneer Elite DV45 does both DVD-A and SACD. Plus it looks purty. I think it goes for $499. If your wife is in an especially giving mood my birthday is in July... ;-)

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 5:23 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

BC: So what kind of price on Yamaha 2300 and Denon 2900? Joseph.e.hansen@gm.com

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 4:06 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: Unfortunately, since they cater to custom installs, they don't have alot of different product to actually show.
They just picked up Meadowlark a few months ago, but haven't brought anything in to the showroom.
Currently in the showroom, they have EAD (pre/pro, amp, dvd, surge/power, all "pro") up front, Thiel MCS's across the front, powerpoints in the rear, a couple Thiel subs, an aerial sub, some aerial 7b's, toshiba mt8 dlp, panasonic 50" plasma, denon 3803, some monitor audio silver 6's, some in-walls, some small snell towers, etc. We're waiting on the Halo C1 to arrive also.

Denon is the main receiver line, but we can also get most of the other mainstream lines (sony, pioneer, toshiba, panasonic). Same for DVD players.

They usually take customers to client's houses if they want to see something we don't have. Plus, most of the sales guys have pretty nice systems too (One guy has aerial 10T's and some of the new Halo stuff, another has all EAD "pro" and aerial 20T's, etc.)

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 3:57 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Rick

My vote is for Yamaha. I have always had good luck with them.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 3:55 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
DVD-A SACD

Ok men, lets spend some of Joe's money. I was going to wait but the wife wants to buy me a present. I do not have the means or the time to go and try a bunch of players.

I want to have both DVD-A & SACD. I have bass management with the Pre/Pro I have, so that is no big deal. I only have a analog RPTV, but I see that getting replaced in 6-8 months. I would like to play .JPEG files on the DVD. I would like to stay around 1k.

So which player and why?

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 3:05 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

BC: Eeeeeek, my typing and spelling is worse than I thought... let me try that again. Which receivers do you carry? While I am asking, which DVD players?

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 2:45 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

BC: As a caual aside, what sort of receivers do y'all carry?

Derb ( 207.70.162.160 ) at 2:41 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

BC: Man, you have all the good stuff :) You need to talk them into a mobile unit and bring all that fine fancy stuff on tour to Houston.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 2:28 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

BC: Buddddddddy! Once you sguys crape the snow off the ground I may have to talk derb into a slightly longer road trip... ;-)

I better get crackin' on my tax return too.

Gar ( 66.222.50.184 ) at 2:22 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

BC: What is a good number I can reach you at? garman1@mac.com

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 1:59 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: Did I mention were a Theil dealer too! lol

Gar ( 66.222.50.184 ) at 1:24 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Some funny quotes

"France wants more evidence," David Letterman wisecracked. "The last time France wanted more evidence, it rolled right through France with a German flag."

Comedian Dennis Miller quipped: "The only way the French are going in is if we tell them we found truffles in Iraq."

Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, warmed up a crowd of GOP leaders in Missouri last week by saying, "Do you know how many Frenchmen it takes to defend Paris? It's not known, it's never tried"

And this: "Somebody was telling me about the French Army rifle that was being advertised on eBay the other day -- the description was, `Never shot. Dropped once."'

And this, too: "Going to war without the French is like going deer hunting without your accordion."

Gar ( 66.222.50.184 ) at 12:58 PM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Some sad news!

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news/package.jsp?name=news/obits/fredrogers

Derb ( 207.70.162.160 ) at 11:55 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: HI TECH AUDIO 11526 BELLAIRE BLVD#5 HOUSTON,TX 77072

Derb ( 207.70.162.160 ) at 11:50 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: btw, I could see a ML fan liking the Thiels... very precise speaker.
For all the ML fans I'll take that as a compliment I think :)
They have changed a lot of the materials used in the Thiels, it may be a good idea to give them another listen. I think there is a place in Houston over in little vietnam. I have never been over to the location but had a hard time understanding them when I called. I was looking to audition some Calsse' amps and I asked what they had them hooked up to, Thiels!!

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 9:49 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

Scott "popcorn": thanks for the info. My HT setup is so old that I can't even guess as to what the benefits of the conversion you were describing (looks like I have a lot of stuff to learn about current HT!). While I have an old Denon CD player (1520) sitting in a closet and know that Denon builds great quality products I haven't been a big fan of their receivers. know lots of folks rave about them though... thanks again for the advice!

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 9:44 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Winter Wonderland

Curtis: 'stros first exhibition game is tomorrow...

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 9:36 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Winter Wonderland

Hard to imagine that pro baseball season begins in 5 weeks. Hang in there guys, with any luck this may be the last of the storms/ bitter cold.

Joelc ( 216.223.140.14 ) at 9:16 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Nothing... just wanted to make sure that you were ok as we had not heard from you.

Sorry that you are under the weather. Get some rest and get well.

AVB ( 64.41.33.214 ) at 9:15 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Anthem AVM20

Wild Bill: I won't swear it was AC as the third company but the units look pretty close on the backside. Marsh did some of their own tweeks and uped the price a grand over Cinepro, maybe AC has done the same or I could be totally wrong.

AVB ( 64.41.33.214 ) at 9:13 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Joelc: Not feeling to well so I slept in. What can I do for you?

Ron ( 208.195.242.212 ) at 8:54 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Chroma bug...

Kieran:The 3800 does not have it either. It was fixed either as a firmware upgrade to earlier models. A CD was sent to play that fixed the problem.

I returned my original for a later model that had the change from the factory.

Wild Bill ( 216.151.233.16 ) at 8:35 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
Anthem AVM20

AVB: That's interesting news. AudioControl has an open retail policy. Judging by my cost we will sell it for around $6000.

Joelc ( 216.223.140.58 ) at 8:22 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Good morning gang...

AVB, where aer you?

Tony C ( 68.20.183.185 ) at 8:10 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

Robert: Sure! And good luck. But I know it will go great.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 3:55 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003

Good night or is it good morning to some of you! I just got back in, hit the emails and off to get 3 1/2 hours of sleep. It's all set up. we wnet with only one 50" plasma, but 6 30" computer monitors. Let's just say, I WANT ONE!!
Wish me luck tomorrow. See you all Friday or Saturday.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 3:53 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

Tony C: You want me to introdcue you to the Denon rep when you are out here?

Scott "popcorn" ( 66.137.72.187 ) at 2:22 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: Actually, if I recall correctly, Pioneer rates their amps into 6 ohms, not the usual 8 ohms... so, 100wpc into 6 ohms isn't necessarily better than (or maybe as good) as HK's 80wpc. (sorry Robert).... Anyway, having said that, I would like to suggest that you look at the Denon AVR-3803 I believe it is the first "mainstream priced" receiver that will convert composite and S-video to component (if that kind of conversion is acceptable to you)

Tony C ( 68.20.215.215 ) at 12:51 AM EST Thursday, February 27, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: If could afford them, I would have bought B&W speakers.

Several of my friends have bought various Denon receivers. Since I'm the guy who hooks up everything, I can say I'm not very fond of them. I don't think that they are very user friendly. I like the HK receivers for ease of use. I also like Yamaha receivers, but some of the newer models are looking "cheap".

Joe ( 64.12.96.9 ) at 11:01 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Would..see I can spell :)

Joe ( 64.12.96.9 ) at 11:00 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Anthem AVM20

Wild Bill: I have to admit the Intellipads are still in the box. Rich wuld be proud of me.

I was going to get to them next weekend and before I knew what happened it was 11 months later. But I am so sickof running from the bath to the HT to change a CD I will get it done soon.

AVB ( 64.41.33.33 ) at 10:29 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Anthem AVM20

Wild Bill: I'm pretty certain that Cinepro, Marsh and AudioControl were all tied together on the Processor. None of the 3 were large enough to do it on their own. I would guess that the Maestro is $4-4.5K at most. Pretty close to the Anthem if it is $4K.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 9:51 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Anthem AVM20

Wild Bill: Interesting decision to single out the NAD receivers for the budget (eg me) customers. Way back when I used to really like their stereo receivers (I think they all had PE in their model numbers... stood for Power Envelop I believe). They also had a power amp (2600, I vaguely recall) that along with the B&K and Sumo amps were among the best values.

Seems NAD kinda faded away for a bit... but I bet their sound is pretty good (and they also offered more oomph per watt).

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 9:47 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
What, me upgrade?

Derb: The Outlaw is supposed to be a nice $500 receiver. I reckon I will consider it, but I sure wish they offered two receivers... one at the $1k level. Probably would eat some of their separates biz tho.

The Thiels have always sounded too dry and sterile for my taste. I gave them a listen way back when I was shopping for (and purchased) the Vandersteens. Prefer my speakers to be warmer sounding.

btw, I could see a ML fan liking the Thiels... very precise speaker.

Derb ( 65.59.62.26 ) at 9:03 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: What about the OutLaw gear? I have not seen or heard it, but looks good on paper, and costs less paper.
Don't forget Thiel for funiture grade speaker finishes. I like the sound, has the time alinement/sloped baffel and match vineers(sp)
JM Lab would be another

Wild Bill ( 12.92.125.214 ) at 8:21 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Anthem AVM20

Joe: You asked about my impressions since the upgrade. I performed the upgrade in September. It was nice to have the additional modes and I had no problem with glitches or bugs. But then, I don't tend to press buttons in weird combinations just to see if I can find a bug. I also program the units for clients in custom installations so that they always perform the same actions. I continue to be amazed at the flexibility and functionality of the AVM20. It's a great custom installation product. BTW, have you programmed your Intellipads yet? It's really quite simple and I'll be glad to take a call from you and help.

All that said, I now have the Tag McLaren back in my rack. I simply *love* the sound of the Tag McLaren piece. It is so smooth and the imaging and dimensionality that it gives to music gets me every time I listen to it. I had a Krell Showcase in my rack for awhile and I took it out.

Next, I'll be demoing an AudioControl Maestro processor. AudioControl may be the best high-end company that you've never heard of. They make THE products to buy for room eq'ing and correction and we're considering them as a complete solution for the high-end room.

Our top-of-the-line product will probably boil down to AudioControl or Tag McLaren. I love the Tag processors but the price of some of their other gear is stratospheric. Anthem will be for our midlevel theaters and media rooms with a couple of local zones. We are going exclusively with NAD for budget theaters with receivers. We'll probably only sell the T762 and a T752 here or there. The biggest problem we're having now is choosing plasmas. I want displays that give us the ability to control them properly. Pioneer has made a HUGE mistake in their broadline product by using proprietary cabling and requiring that their "Media Center" be involved in the chain. It doesn't allow a scaler in the video chain. A very bad decision IMHO. I guess that's enough rambling thoughts for one evening.

Wild Bill ( 12.92.125.214 ) at 7:58 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Kids, winter, etc.

Joe: You'll appreciate this one. My son and I were listening to The Wall a few minutes ago and "Mother" came on. I thoght he was going to pee himself when he heard the line "Mother, do you think they'll break my balls?". Oh, to be amused at the little things the way a nine year old is.

Kieran: {Dripping with sarcasm} Oh, I feel your pain. 50 degrees? I was videotaping a pre-wire this morning in a home that was about 15 degrees for an hour.

Joe: I don't know how you guys handle that seriously cold weather up there. If it gets to 15 degrees or below I simply freeze my ass off. I actually gained a few pounds back in January on purpose so I wouldn't be so freaking cold.

Tony C: Yeah, I shoveled it where it was supposed to go but it wasn't fun. Particularly breaking up and shoveling/throwing the huge block of ice.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 7:42 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Winter

Boy it was cold today here also! Took a good 10~15 minutes for my fingers to warm up today on my lunch time bike ride... must have been around 50F!!!

;-)

Tony C ( 68.20.214.10 ) at 7:37 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Winter

Wild Bill: In my town, it's illegal to push that snow back into the street. You get get so pissed at those guys. And that's the kind of stuff that the snow blower can't handle. You're forced to shovel.

Tony C ( 68.20.214.10 ) at 7:34 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Tony

Joe: Not new in New Zealand, but new to the states. Just thought you might like it.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 6:59 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Bill

It's just plain cold here. Last night was -5 (airtemp) when I got out of work. I just went out and moved my truck closer to the plant doors. We are at 2 now. It was so cold last night as much as I wanted to get a beer for the ride home. I wanted to get out of the truck less.

Joelc ( 64.229.59.45 ) at 6:55 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Later guys... gotta chow down before Saddam hits the airways as I might fell the strong need to puke!

That said, it should be an interesting interview.

Wild Bill ( 12.92.110.173 ) at 6:21 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

Kieran: No, he's not talking about "Twister". The beginning of Star Trek:Insurrection has a kid poking his head out of a bale of hay. There are tough vertical pans and very difficult material at the beginning. CAI is right that it is a torture test for scalers and line doublers.

Wild Bill ( 12.92.110.173 ) at 6:18 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Sorry for the poor spelling and grammer. My fingers are numb.

Wild Bill ( 12.92.110.173 ) at 6:18 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Winter

You guys that poem about winter and snow? The one where the snow is so pretty and then it continues and finally the guy is ready to rip someones head off if he has to shovel anymore? I think I'm at that point.

It's been snowing all day, we'll get another 2-4" tonight and God-knows-what tomorrow afternoon and night. We expecting up to or over another foot by Friday morning.

Ironically, I began this post about 15 minutes ago. My son called up that my wife needed help. I went outside4 and the freaking plow had just gone by and dumped an 8' X 3' chunk of snow packed into ice at our driveway opening and he plowed the rest of the driveway in. This after, we shoveled after I got home from work this evening. I'm ready to buy heat lamps and fill the basement with sand until May. :-(

AVB ( 64.41.33.33 ) at 6:12 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
DVD-A SACD and Digital Connections

Joe: Meridian but it is DVD-A only and will set you back over $35K for the player and Pre.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 6:02 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
DVD-A SACD and Digital Connections

Joe: Meant to add that, other than Denon's solution, (proprietary) I don't think there is anything out there yet.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 6:00 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
DVD-A SACD and Digital Connections

Joe: I believe that Denon has a solution, but you have to own the AVR-5803 receiver, AND their top-end dvd player (which, going back to the chroma thread, is does not have the best picture of their players).

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 5:43 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
DVD-A SACD and Digital Connections

IS there any news on digital connections yet? I am really trying to hold off until there are machines available.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 5:41 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Tony

I got the package lastnight, thank you. Is that a new band?

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 4:30 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

cai:

Is that DVD the one with the straw and the rooftops where Data goes AWOL.

Is that a question? If so, I think you're talking about "Twister". The straw/hay scene that was a torture test for dvd players back in the early days of the format, was not an example of the chroma error. That was an example of maxing out the capabilities of early MPEG decoders. Most modern 10+bit MPEG decoders can handle that scene now without pixelating.

Gar ( 66.222.49.12 ) at 4:15 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

cai: Your eyes aren't tired, your just not looking for it. Your actually enjoying the movie ;) Sometimes when you look for flaws you find them and are disappointed with what you see. I would have been fine if I never read that Secrets to Home Theater shootout. hahahahahaha But one thing it did bring to light is manufactuers need to do a better job at making things work and look better. If the consumer demands it, it will come!! Hopefully other manufactuers will change there ways like Denon is doing.

Gar ( 66.222.49.12 ) at 4:09 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: The problem was with some 520 and 320 Receiver, for some reason they would not do 7 logic if you used an external Amps for the 7th channel. I would have never known this because I don't plan on using a 7 channel setup because the size of my room. But I tried it and sure enough it didn't work, so they replaced it with the 525. It has has more than enough punch for everything with exceptions to large or very large rooms. Currenly I have a B&K Amp hooked up to it for a little extra power, but I really didn't notice too much of an improvement. HK are conservative in there power rating. Pioneer Elite line is very nice, but twice and sometimes 3 times expensive. Hell you can still get HK 8000 which is about $1200 bucks on sale now, it was $2800, now that receiver has 125wpc and really puts out some dynamic punch. Remember there isn't much difference between 70wpc and 100wpc. I would check out the Pioneer Elite line and HK and even Rotel. All have good things about them, it all depends on what you want. I chose the HK, because I thought it was just as good as the Rotel receiver for allot less, plus it had hookups on the front for other equipment which I like.

cai ( 205.254.147.8 ) at 4:08 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

Wild Billand Kieran: Thank you for your responses.

Is that DVD the one with the straw and the rooftops where Data goes AWOL. I remember we watched that scene one night at JohnO's house about ten times. I do not have that DVD, but have been aiming to buy it. I happen to like that movie. Am I right in thinking that I am not looking for the shimmering that is apparent on the hay and the diagonal lines of the bridges and roofs? I thought those were caused by poor scaling.

I am printing the acticle for the site Kieran posted. I looked at the pictures and I need more time to see differences. Must be my tired old eyes. However, this seems to be a very interesting problem and I will try and see if my Kenwood has the exhibits it.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 3:00 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
What, me upgrade?

Gar: hanks for the feedback on the H&K. One thing I have seen on various "other" HT and audio discussion boards is that there were reports of various problems with the H&K (I don't know if they were the same or reated to whatever prob you had with yours) and thus reliability was questioned. Superficially, the lower power 80wpc vs 100wpc seems to favor the Pioneer but I also seem to recall you saying the H&K is very conservative in their specs?

Joelc ( 64.229.59.45 ) at 2:53 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: Congrats on getting approval.

As far as receivers go... go for the Rotel. Speakers with furniture grade finish... let me see... how about Monitor Audio (although I have not heard these).

Gar ( 66.222.49.12 ) at 2:50 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: The 525 is an excellent reciever on 2 channel and HT of course. I would rank it
one of the best 2 channel receiver I have heard. The Rotel unit you mentioned would be another and B&K. But those models are 3 times more expensive. What I like is there using allot of Lexicons technology in the new HK line of receivers, in fact they had some of the guys from Lexicon help redesign the HK receiver line from what Lexicon told me. Another point I like is it has hook up on the front for Toslink/Coax and S-Video and RCA Audio inputes, makes it very easy to hook a game console up to the front along with my Ipod.
Since there Customer Services was so good, I bought a 225 for my office which I have both my PC and Mac hooked up too.

Here is a link also for some MeadowLarks:

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?spkrfull&1051419479&class&3&4&

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?spkrfull&1051075353&class&3&4&

There was a pair of Swifts on there but sold a few hours ago. I would stick most of your money into your speakers.

Gar ( 66.222.49.12 ) at 2:37 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

Kieran: Wild Bill: Thanks for the info on the players that don't have this bug and the ones that do. Again most of the general public really doesn't get it yet. Guys like you and the Secrets page that should keep the manufactuers on there toe's to strive for something better espeically in there MPEG decoders in most of the DVD players out there. My RP-56 Panasonic doesn't have the problem and I am having a hard time finding it on my Sony DVD Changer. That being said the Denon 1600.. Yamaha DVD-S2300 and Panasonic 82 and 72 seem like good choices. I notice the problem allot on big screens but not so much on Direct views.

Wild Bill ( 216.151.233.16 ) at 1:52 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

cai: BTW, if you want to get into errors just use Star Trek:Insurrection as your test DVD. The opening 5 minutes are a torture test for any player. After awhile, you won't even watch movies anymore, you'll just sit there looking for errors. ;-)

Wild Bill ( 216.151.233.16 ) at 1:50 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

cai: Kieran is right on. I've been bothered by chroma errors for years. Pioneer Elite players (sorry Robert) are possibly the worst. As the article states, solid reds and red borders are most noticeable. At this point, I only sell Denon DVD 1600 players, even in my higher priced installations. It simply gives an outstanding image and is worthy of any system.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 1:36 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
What, me upgrade?

RickMTB: What, Yamaha not good enough for you anymore? ;-) I like a lot of the new Yammy receivers...

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 1:29 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

Ron: Denon has ONE model dvd player that does not have the chroma upsampling error, and that is the DVD-1600. The reason this player lacks the CUE? -- It is essentially a re-badged Panasonic RP82. Which is fine... cudos to Denon for recognizing a good platform and using it for their product.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 1:23 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

Quoted from the Secrets site:

What�s amazing about this problem is that it�s been right under everyone�s nose for years. Lots of different DVD players have the problem, and it�s not limited to progressive players. We have been able to see the problem even on interlaced displays. We can only speculate as to why it has gone largely unnoticed until now. For one thing, it�s harder to see on an interlaced display. For another, the eye is less sensitive to chroma (which is why DVDs can get away with one quarter the resolution for the chroma channel). Several popular deinterlacers hide the problem, like Sony�s DRC and the Genesis (Faroudja) units, probably by smoothing the chroma channel (which is not fixing the problem, it�s just papering over it). And last, unless you know what the picture is supposed to look like, it would be easy to assume the artifact is in the DVD. Since most people have only one DVD player, they can�t switch back and forth and really see the differences.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 1:08 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

Gar: I should clarify my last statement. The chroma bug exists because of improper decoding by the MPEG decoder. The Faroudja/Sage/Genesis chip that is so common (e.g. my Panasonic player has it) is not the source of, nor the solution to, the problem. It DOES however help mask the problem, similar to what I said earlier about some scalers.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.184 ) at 12:58 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
What, me upgrade?

So, at least a tacit approval (albeit conditional), to re-enter the modern world of HT has been begrudgingly given. As a result I will start my quest for good sound on a budget... beginning with replacement to my main source (currently a Yamaha RXV793... 5.1, no dts, 80wt/ch) and my main speakers (since the Vandersteen 2cs returned to their boxes, my mains are front wall mounted Mirage AVS 200s (3.5" woofer, 1" tweeter).

My initial candidates on the speakers... Meadowlark Audio Swifts and Vienna Acoustic Bachs. needs to have extremely high WAF, meaning tall narrow floorstanders get preferential treatment. Furniture-grade cabinetry is a plus. I prefer a sound that is best described as "mellow"... plus I favor speakers that image well and at least have some ability to reach down into the nether regions.

The source... a receiver again (ease of use is a factor, as is limited space), and I would like something that is as good on two channel as it is for HT. I would love to get the Rotel 1055 but its probably out of my range. So leading candidates are the Pioneer Elite 45TX (100x7, dts-ex, thx beginner, whatever). Has a cool setup capability. The other is less expensive... the H&K 525 that I believe Gar has and likes.

OK guys, commence arguing about the best way for me to go into debt! :-)

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 12:57 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

Gar: The Faroudja chip has absolutely nothing to do with the presence (or lack thereof) of the chroma upsampling error.

Panasonic (and Yamaha because they use panasonic OEM guts for their players) dvd players lack the chroma bug because their MPEG2 decoders decode the MPEG2 stream properly. The Faroudja chip does line doubling, which in and of itself will not affect the existance of the chroma bug, or how visible it is in the final image.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 12:53 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

cai: The best way I can describe it is this: On brightly colored objects, it looks like a blurring of scan lines off the edge of the colored object... except the scan lines are not scan lines, they're much thicker, therefore quite noticeable. This adds a "jaggy" look to the edges of these brightly colored objects. In bad cases, you can see the streaks all the way through the colored area, not just at the edges. The best way to see what I'm talking about is to go to the Secrets of Hometheater and Hi Fi web site and read their coverage of the chroma bug. The article is VERY long, but you can scan it for the pictures and get an idea of how the bug manifests itself. The pictures at the end of the article are excellent examples of how subtle the problem really is, but upon seeing it, and seeing how it SHOULD look, you might agree that it's not "insignificant".

As much money as people spend on video systems, it boggles my mind that so many of these people argue that the chroma bug is insignificant. I've seen people spend literally 10's of thousands of dollars for video improvements that are less apparent than getting rid of the chroma bug, which costs nothing, and in some cases saves you money (because a chroma bug-free dvd player might cost less and have a better picture than a player with the bug.) Some video processors mask the problem because they sample, upconvert, and re-decode the image in higher resolution, with proper decoding. But again, how about just not having the problem in the first place??? :^)

Gar ( 66.222.49.12 ) at 12:45 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
iPod

Man there are a ton of new MP3 players out now. I currently have a Sony Music clip about the size of a large pen, and it hold about 2.5 hours of music. Problem is the software royally sucks. That being said I like it for running and biking because it is so small. The Ipod is great for in the car and gym and just on the go, the thing I love about this thing it is very easy for iTunes to organize your music for you. I have about 500 CDs loaded on my Computer and it organizes them by Artist / Song name/Abum/Sampling rate etc... You can customize it to fit your needs, The iPod also has PDA functions through ICal which I also like, a very simple PDA, but I hear Apple is working on a better version of the iPod with a colored screen and full PDA functions. Now that would be something I would look forward too.

Gar ( 66.222.49.12 ) at 12:35 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

cai: You would be better off not looking for it. Trust me. Panasonic players some Yamaha players and Philips etc... Use the new Faroudja chip set, which does allot better job of MPEG decoding. I have a Sony Mega DVD Changer and I have a really hard time producing what they see on the Secrets page, and this is on a 92" screen.

Gar ( 66.222.49.12 ) at 12:32 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
MP3

Trav1: Trav, thats for listing that site. I think eventually most MP3 players will go to flash instead of hardrives. Reason being I just saw a KanguruMicro device that stores up to 1GB, very expensive and small but I see the price coming down. One thing I like about the iPod though you can record CD quality songs on it also it allows you to choose kbps rate you burn at and the sampling rate etc.....

JJ ( 209.208.201.146 ) at 12:14 PM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
MP3

Trav1: thanks for the tip!

Tony C ( 65.214.102.5 ) at 11:48 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Checkout a local all girl rock group on SNL

AVB: I was going to paste a picture I took of the Donnas here.
Won't work.
Anyway, I agree. Good band.

Trav1 ( 192.76.84.196 ) at 9:27 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
MP3

JJ: If you are going this route I highly recommend the iriver cd/mp3 player. I have two of them and they are firmware upgradeable as well. I have the imp-350 which you can pick up all over the place. They have just replaced it with the imp-400, but they are charging an additional $50 just for it and I can't seem to see a difference other than it is newer. You can check it out at www.iriveramerica.com

Ron ( 208.195.242.212 ) at 9:23 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

Kieran: Denon has fixed theirs.

Joelc ( 64.229.59.45 ) at 9:20 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Watches..

yes, I do have an update.

It seems that some of the TAG watches selected, although on their website, are no longer in production as TAG is updating their line -- saw the new Ayrton Senna Monza Chrono yesterday -- sweeeeeet!

Anyways, to make a long story short my guy is trying to get his hands on these before quoting prices as he does not want to dissappoint. I will keep you posted.

Joelc ( 64.229.59.45 ) at 9:17 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003

Good morning gang..

cai ( 205.254.147.8 ) at 9:10 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Chroma bug...

Kieran: How does the chroma bug manifest itself? What does one see or not see?

JJ ( 209.208.201.146 ) at 8:40 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Defrag

Also from explorer, right-click on your C drive - properties, Tools.

JJ ( 209.208.201.146 ) at 8:39 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
MP3

I see there is also another flavor, a combo CD/MP3 player. It can play regular CDs or MP3s burned to CD-R or CD-RW. Most use regular 5inch discs some the smaller 8cm discs.

AVB ( 64.41.32.138 ) at 6:17 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Checkout a local all girl rock group on SNL

Curtis: They played in D.C. last year, more rock then the Graces (remember them?) but the vocals weren't as good. JMHO

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 5:20 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Tosh RP problems

Man, I never had the least hickup with both my 65' and 57". They obvioulsy have some real problems or perhaps you guys are the minority. it sucks to worry about replacing expensive parts/labor out of warranty. If you can get to the higher-ups in their US marketing group they will take care of you because they know that bad news on the 'net travels much faster than good news. Good luck getting things back to perfection.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 5:02 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Checkout a local all girl rock group on SNL

The Donna's play this week. Palo Alto wimmen who can really rock and have played together for quite a while. Eye candy too of course (anyone recall Chrissie H.'s quote of what R&R is all about? It's very funny but not printable on a family site.)

I met the lead singer, actually sold her something. Great people and you have to like the whole all-girl band idea as it's still pretty rare to find one with real talent all around.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 4:54 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Help a pal select a DVD player

Kieran and everyone else who replied:Thanks. I'll digest all your advice. I also see the bug problem vividly on some discs and agree there's no excuse for the manufacturers correcting the problem. We shop on Thursday with his DVD-R DVD+R recordings in hand. He will never use MP3 as he has a pro recording studio in his home. 24 bit everything. To him MP3 is like a $19 am radio.

Wild Bill: I hear you on the midnight oil wall mounting of big plasmas. 3 of the people I'm helping out INSIST upon placing theirs on brick over fireplaces. I have broken a dozen expensive drill bits already.

Robert & MP3 player posters:The iPod works much more elegantly on a Mac vs. the PC flavor. Firewire also delivers AC to the unit - one wire/ you're done. The software needs no mouseclicks or typed instructions to auto-magically sync everything. Great to use as a data HD. The downside is if a friend plugs their iPod into my Mac, it'll write over everything in their playlist with mine. The no moving parts jogwheel (20MB version)make it great for the beach or anywhere and no f*&cking AC wall wart.

Pas the Advil:I have been helping a friend move out of a big house for the past 6 days. Right now 'please pass the morphine' is how I feel. Tweeked my middle back pretty bad. Tonight the very heavy/large sofas could only go out the 2nd story windows. The 1950's style with cranks had to be completely removed and replaced. Three fairly smart guys could not for the life of us figure out how the hell the dealers ever delivered them new 3 years ago - a total comedy going through 4 too narrow doorways!

Kieran ( 209.204.144.50 ) at 3:20 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Splinter Cell

Just picked this game up for the PC. Oh, WOW this is COOL. I could spend WAY too many hours on this...

Gar ( 66.222.126.43 ) at 3:20 AM EST Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Thank God for Gigabyte

Kieran: Thanks, we think alike. First thing I did. I like the disk defrag better in Windows 98.

Kieran ( 209.204.144.50 ) at 11:52 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Thank God for Gigabyte

Gar: Your HDD may be fragmented. Are you running winXP? If so, go to START > ALL PROGRAMS > ACCESSORIES > SYSTEM TOOLS > DISK DEFRAGMENTER. And defrag your HDD. Not sure if this will help, but it won't hurt.

Gar ( 66.222.49.121 ) at 11:39 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Thank God for Gigabyte

Kieran: Good to hear your system is golden. My piece of crap windows machine keeps on wanting to do a Check disc every time it is turned on or rebooted. Have no idea, just started doing this out of the blue. :(

Kieran ( 209.204.144.50 ) at 10:50 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Thank God for Gigabyte

Gigabyte being the brand of my motherboard... they have this thing called "Dual BIOS" basically they include two BIOS chips on the mobo, and in a pinch you can boot from the backup. I tried to flash my BIOS to the latest version, and it didn't take. NO BOOT... big time "OH SH*T". I went into the bios utility, switched to boot from the backup bios, and I'm golden. Neat-o.

Tony C ( 68.20.213.17 ) at 8:02 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
More Layoffs

I missed another bullet today. The company went through some layoffs. I'm not sure how many people total, but my department lost two.

It's getting very scary out there kids. It's hard to predict how long the industry will stay affloat. I'd like to get 5 more years in, but two may be more realistic.

Tony C ( 68.20.213.17 ) at 7:57 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
MP3 Player

Robert: Well done! Kinda like you really know what you're talking about.
So the Zen is bigger than the iPod? I would really like small and light but with a big enough screen to see what's playing and the ability to make song lists. (Not necessarily on the fly).

AVB ( 64.41.32.81 ) at 7:39 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
When you are serious, really serious about your vinyl

http://www.elpj.com./

AVB ( 64.41.32.81 ) at 7:18 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
San Diego speaker deal

I own the big brother to these. Even at a grand they are a pretty good deal. If you get them for lessit's even better. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3010241476&category=14993

BC ( 67.234.83.250 ) at 7:12 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Clicks and Pops

Joe: But don't you know, clicks and pops mean it's a better machine! ;)

Gar ( 66.222.50.106 ) at 6:31 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Robert

On the Zen unit, how is the software? I haven't seen a good intergrated MP3 player that has good software with a PC. Hopefully Creative Labs has created something that is easy to use and fast. The cheapest price I found was $270 and at that price it is a strong contender.

Gar ( 66.222.50.106 ) at 6:25 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Robert: The iPod battery life is about 10 hours, and Nomad according to there website is about 12 hours. I get slightly over 10 with my Ipod, I wouldn't call that 3 times more battery life though. What I like about the new Nomad is it's price, I just saw it on Gateways site for $270, not bad.

Gar ( 66.222.50.106 ) at 6:17 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
MP3 Players

Here is a price check on the player Robert is talking about. Good player for the money. As far as larger MP3s go, I still like the Ipod the best, does the best overall job of organizing songs etc....... But I haven't had a chance to compare it to the new Nomad Zen Player.
http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=610937/mode=looksmart/ut=42de326a74bc3a64

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 5:54 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
MP3 Player

Joe: I think I can help on this one Joe. MP3's are great for listening while working out or riding a bike or background music. There are two types of MP3 players, Flash based and hard drive based players. Starting with the hard drive based players, they use a laptop size hard drive in various capacities ranging from 5gb (typically the starting point today is 10GB) to 20GB (popular size) or even 40 GB (More $$) and range in price from $179 w/rebate to $499. Several Hard Drive players will also do double duty as a back up hard drive. Quite frankly the only difference between the Hard Drive and flash based players is capacity and physical size. The flash based players do run smaller in size and they will have internal memory ranging from 32MB to 256MB and usually have the ability to add additional 128mb memory through a smart media card or similar. Typically an hour's worth of music takes up 64MB. WARNING : I AM BIASED since I work for a company that makes MP3 players, but I have two players I use regularly, the Nomad MuVo 128MB MP3 player which also does double duty as a USB thumbdrive. Currently no other player has that functionality. This means I can load music and powerpoint files on the same machine and take it wherever I go. The DELL CFO wears his around his neck on a regular basis. The other player I us right now is the Nomad ZEN 20GB player. It serves as my MP3 storage and laptop backup. The cool thing I like this over the iPOD is the ability to make playlists on the fly and the battery life is about three times longer. The iPOD has a phenominal display/info screen and is a bit smaller/lighter, but after playing with both, I understand now the advantages of the Zen and wouldn't trade it.
IF you are looking for an active lifestyle use, I recommend a flash based player, they run from $59-199 typically.
As far a getting the music from the discs to the device, most come with software that will enable you to rip your CD's to MP3 via your main computer. then it's a simple drag and drop from PC to MP3 device via a USB connection. There are several players that would allow you to rip directly form CD player to MP3 player such as the Nomad Jukebox 3, but most people use the PC as an intermideary and main MP3 storage.

Gar ( 66.222.49.188 ) at 5:38 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Dislexic today also. qoute should be "quote"

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 5:27 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Diversion

Wild Bill: We've got some beefy credenzas available to use, so we'll go with table stands.
JUst took the last load for the day over to the house, my arms are burning! Time for some advil.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 5:20 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Toshiba

Tony I have had problems with my Toshiba turning green. The tech replaced a screen grid last year, but it's going again.

I am hoping that it dies or my daughter throws a ball though it. Then I wuld have to buy a new one :)

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 5:18 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Wild Bill

Hey Bill, now that the upgrade for the Anthem has been out for awhile how is it? I stopped reading the thread over at HTF, it got to long. Did all the bugs get worked out?

Gar ( 66.222.49.188 ) at 4:52 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Col House

AVB: That's too bad, I sent my order in around the sametime and haven't heard anything yet. I however do have a confirmation number via e-mail that should get there attention if they don't send my DVDs.

Gar ( 66.222.49.188 ) at 4:50 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Chroma bug...

Kieran: Didn't know there was a right way to qoute slang? ;) Whatever! Man, you are making it difficult even to agree with you. If you read reviews in most magazines they don't even mention the problems with the MPEG decoder let alone most DVD customers. I agree most should be using better decoders but I don't think they will unless this is addressed more by the mass market Magazines and talked about in more mainstream reviews..

AVB ( 64.41.32.163 ) at 4:22 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Col House

Tony C: I called Columbia house and they have no record of mine or my wife's order. I wonder what happened to all the info I entered on their website? What a pisser.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 4:20 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

# that is a capital 3

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 4:19 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
MP# Player

Well I have not even given one of these a look. I bet they are good for listening to when riding a bike. So what features and price range should I be looking in? How do I burn or rip or whatever the music to the player?

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 4:17 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Clicks and Pops

I do not hear any clicks or pops. Maybe you guys should try the Anthem :)

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 4:16 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Chroma bug...

Besides, since when was "good enough" the motto of this hobby??? ;^)

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 4:15 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Chroma bug...

Gar: Or course I've heard people say "I could care less." That doesn't mean it's correct. The expression is really "I couldn't care less". Just bringing it to your attention. Many people don't even realize they're saying it wrong.

As for the chroma bug...

Just because the customer probably won't notice the difference isn't a valid reason for not doing something right. That's just poor engineering. MPEG-2 decoders with the chroma bug are not decoding the MPEG-2 bitstream according to the MPEG specifications. They should be replaced or fixed. It's an easy thing to do, and MANY customers DO notice the errors in the picture.

On the other hand, just because doing something may seem like an improvement to the customer (e.g. solid machined metal chassis for a dvd player) is no reason to implement it if it doesn't actually yield improved results. This is especially true if the change would cost an inordinate amount of money, for little to no improvement.

The chroma bug though, is an easy, inexpensive fix that will yield noticeable improvements. It should be done.

Wild Bill ( 12.92.112.12 ) at 4:00 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Diversion

Robert: Are you hanging all those plasmas? If so, you'll be burning some serious midnight oil if everything is supposed to look "pretty" like it would in a home.

Gar ( 66.222.49.188 ) at 3:28 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Chroma bug...

Kieran: I agree the four DVD Manufactuers you talked about need to correct the problem. They won't correct the problem because they don't see it as one yet. Why? Because the General Public really doesn't see it as a problem, most don't see any flaw with the players.

Gar ( 66.222.49.188 ) at 3:19 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Chroma bug...

Kieran: I guess you never heard the expression " I could care less" :) Geez you are starting to get like people on the AVS forum. :)

Trav1 ( 4.47.68.18 ) at 2:27 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Clicks...

Joelc: Any word on the watches yet?

Tony C ( 65.214.102.5 ) at 2:15 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Col House

I got
Leon The Proffessional
Spy Game (which I already owned, so now I have three)
Autin Powers, Goldmember
The Green Mile
Nat. Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 1:42 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Chroma bug...

Gar: The expression you are looking for is "couldN'T care less" by the way. If one COULD care less, then they actually do care. If you could NOT care less, then that means you don't care.

I notice the chroma error on several DVD's. I used to see it ALL THE F'ING TIME on my Dad's old el-cheapo Dish Network DSS box... (it's not limited to dvd players... anything that does MPEG-2 decoding can have it).

My main beef with the industry is that it is EASY to fix the problem, and HUGE electronics companies like Sony, Pioneer, and Toshiba refuse to fix the problem. The thing is, an MPEG-2 decoder chip that has the problem is just not decoding the MPEG stream correctly. To me, it's more a matter of principle than actually beeing bothered by the image problems. However, I *DO* see the image anomalies associated with the chroma error on many dvd's (not all) when using a dvd player that has the problem. But, even though I can't always see it, and if I don't think about it, it doesn't bother me, I *still* refuse to buy or use a player that has the problem, based on principle. These manufacturers should fix the problem, plain and simple. Panasonic has done so, why can't Tosh, Sony, and Pioneer? These four brands are the big four, IMO, because they make their own players, and supply the guts to many other brands, like Denon and Yamaha, etc. If these four would fix their mpeg chips or buy ones that don't have the error, I'd be happy. :-)

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 1:35 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Watches

I just called the SF US Customs Port. They said that standard duty for watches is 10% of the value of the watch, payable at the post office when you receive the package.

Gar ( 66.222.49.150 ) at 1:34 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Chroma bug...

Kieran: Bug or no bug the general public could care less. I have a Pioneer-DVD36 changer and I have a very hard time reproducing what they are seeing on the Secrets Page. Of course this was on a 36" TV, but then again if most people never read the reviews on that page, they most likely would never see them. I agree with you, personally I would like a player that doesn't have the bug. I don't have it on my RP-56 Panasonic player. However on my Sony DVD mega changer I don't see it there either, but I am not looking for it.

Joelc ( 216.223.140.14 ) at 1:02 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Clicks...

In the "For Whatever It Is Worth" category my TAG McLaren stuff not only clicks but also has an option between using relays (which click) and not using relays (which obviously do not click).

The choices are described in the user manual which is posted on their website. I once knew, buthave now forgotten, that the use of relays is the preferred approach.

Hope that helps.

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 1:01 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Diversion

Robert: Even though it's not your house, the concept of renting a house and setting up emerging technologies is very cool!

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 12:28 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Diversion

Curtis/AVB/BC: Unfortunately not going into my house. I've rented a house closer to my client to showcase some new technologies. We've got several themes going, HT, home office, Kid's game room, etc, and the gear is getting set up there. We have a full days's worth of presentations later this week.
Tomorrow I get the latest and greatest in Cambridge Soundworks speakers sent.
There are a couple of pcs I'm trying to keep for a few days afterwards though.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 12:27 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Chroma bug...

Gar: You can look as hard as you want, but you won't see the chroma error on any dvd using a player that doesn't have the bug.

Gar ( 66.222.49.150 ) at 12:24 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Placed = Places

Gar ( 66.222.49.150 ) at 12:23 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Also anythiing over a 36" if you look hard enough you can see the Croma bug on some DVDs.

Gar ( 66.222.49.150 ) at 12:22 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Help a pal select a DVD player

Kieran: The RP 91 is discontinued, but there allot more out there verses the DVD-CP72 or 82. Most placed don't have either of these units anymore, in fact the only place online that has them is PriceRite and Crazy Eddies has them in Silver. I was going to buy the 72 but have opted to wait for the price of the Yamaha to come down. I think the 72 and 82 where just replaced by new models.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 12:10 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Help a pal select a DVD player

Curtis: Correction, your dvp-s7000 did not have the chroma bug, nor did the original dvp-s3000.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 12:09 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Help a pal select a DVD player

Curtis: The Panny 82 and 72 also play mp3 and WMA files. They also do not have the chroma bug, which to my eye is very noticeable on some dvd's. All Sony players have the bug.

Derb ( 207.70.162.160 ) at 12:04 PM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
it aint snow but...

Derb: What is a "Swutch" ? :) = switch

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 11:57 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Help a pal select a DVD player

Curtis: First, the RP91 is discontinued. Second, there's no reason to buy the RP91 any more even if it weren't discontinued... the newer lower end models put up as good (better in some ways) of a picture and cost much less.

Second, Panasonic players won't read DVD+R, but almost any DVD player will read DVD-R, and most new pannys will play DVD-RAM. If he can get by with playback of DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, Video CD, CD, CD-R, CD-RW then a panny will do just fine, and several great 480p players are available from them for less than $250. I have the dvd-cp72 and really like it a lot. The rp82 is also very good, but also hard to find. The cp67 and rp62 are a step below the 72 and 82, but aren't bad, and can be had for much less than $200.

Derb ( 207.70.162.160 ) at 11:55 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
it aint snow but...

Wild Bill: BC: My EAD pops & clicks I think it uses mechanical swutches/relays also.

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 11:48 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Diversion

Robert: Wow, tell me this is stuff for work and not add on's for your system?

We got an ice storm last night. I call in to work and the message says we are still opening, but at 10. So I drive over an hour on 1.5" of ice, get here, and they're like, oh, you didn't get the revised message, you didn't need to come in. greaaattttttttt. :)

AVB ( 64.41.32.124 ) at 11:47 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Diversion

Robert: I guess the next question is why and what are you going to do with all that stuff?

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:37 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Diversion

Robert: I would be glad to take any one of those plasmas - thank you very much ;-) Can''t wait to see your power bill.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 11:27 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Diversion

Arriving today to my house are three 50" and one 60" Plasma, enough computers to open a store, 6 30" NEC PC Monitors, and enough new technology to make area 51/Groom Lake go on alert.

Funny thing about "convergance" it's closer than you realize.........

mic ( 166.68.134.175 ) at 11:01 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Help a pal select a DVD player

Curtis: SON DVPNS715P DVD, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3 40-Disc Multi-Disc Resume, Twin Laser Pick Up, Instant Replay, Progressive Video Output with 3-2 Pulldown, Precision Drive 2 Dynamic Tilt Compensation, Digital Video Equalizer It features a Progressive Scan output $149

JJ ( 209.208.201.146 ) at 10:45 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Help a pal select a DVD player

Curtis: try www.dvdrhelp.com

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:29 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Help a pal select a DVD player

He burns his own DVD's from a very fast Mac G4 and is a prosumer recording artist who needs to read many file types. His display is a 32" Sony Wega that has component video ins and will take a progressive signal (I think, will double check).

I'm thinking something like my Panny RP91 but they seem to be out of stock or discontinued. His parameters are:

- Single disc player
- 480p
- ~$250
- read DVD-R and DVD+R

Who posted that table of DVD players with formats covered? I can't find it. TIA guys.

Gar ( 66.222.49.150 ) at 10:26 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Curtis: Hey if you seen some of my other post I agree with you!! This is her first CD, and I don't think she should have won 5 grammys maybe 1 at best. She has substance, and is young, and your right about being reward for style points. But lets face it Krall has both, and some nice legs to boot. "Sleep is like little slices of Death" Edgar Allen Poe...........

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 10:19 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Col House

Tony C: Which ones did you get?

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:17 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Col House

Tony C: That iis strange. AVB who told us about the deal has nothing yet you get a double order. Count me in for buying your duplicates.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:16 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Tosh TV

Tony C: I can tell you that I never had the slightest problem with K's Dad's RP for the x months I owned it ... and I will find the least tiny flaw on most displays.

Gar: I'll rest when I'm dead ;-)

Joelc ( 216.223.140.58 ) at 10:13 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Good morning gang!!

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:09 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Gar: Understood. My point - and I do have one - is one is an OK very young pop star with good potential who got far more attention than I believe she ever deserved. She looked shocked for good reason. Don't get me wrong, I wish her well but America seems to reward style over substance every day.

The other musician is a very hard working professional with many more years of experience under her belt. and the best artists (who don't have to work at all) behind her. DK is now working on original material rather than 100% covers. It's a tricky transition so we'll have to wait and see what kind of a songwriter she is.

Jazz never has been mainstream and never will, even 'mainstream jazz'

Tony C ( 68.20.210.231 ) at 10:08 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Col House

This is odd. Yesterday I got another package from Columbia House with the same DVDs in it. They double shipped me. I'll look at the paper work to see if I was also double billed. In which case, I'll send them back or sell them at my cost to you guys. :)

Tony C ( 68.20.210.231 ) at 10:07 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Tosh TV

Kieran: I got your eamil. I'll make the copy tonight.
I'm curious if your dad has seen any of the anomalies that I have on my TV. The red or green flickering or the starburst at shut off.

Gar ( 66.222.49.150 ) at 10:03 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Curtis

Tony C: understood my wacky post, maybe you need sleep also Curtis. JK! ;)

Tony that clarifies allot.

Gar ( 66.222.49.150 ) at 10:00 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Krall v Jones

RickMTB: Ah, I posted stuff about Norah Jones years ago. That link you just put up has a sexy women on it with a good voice also. Who knows she could be the next thing in Pop etc......

Gar ( 66.222.49.150 ) at 9:58 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Curtis: Dude, late night and little sleep. But the post was explaining the differences between DK and Jones. Which are many.

Gar ( 66.222.49.150 ) at 9:54 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Computer Help

Got the Blue Screen of Death with my Windblows machine. Goes through checking file systems on C : Says The type of File System is FAT32. Says Windows is now checking disk, does this and takes forever and when its done computer stays in this mode. Go figure this always happens when wife touches it!! ;)

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 9:46 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
PSA Warning: Adrian WILL rip you off

Kieran: He used to lurk here and hopefully still does. Until I see my $ thousands back or same equipment value - you should all avoid Adrian Alexander formerly with Fusion Media in Salt Lake City like thhe plague.

I mention this now because your dad wanted a copy of my original receipt for the RP I bought new from ScumBag ... er, I mean Adrian. No such document ever existed even though A. kept saying he would furnish one. He demanded payment via wire transfer into his personal credit union account. I and many others had bought tons of stuff from him in the past, so like a fool I trusted him.

He owes Areil Acoustics 6 figures, according to my local dealer who also has 4 other regular customers that Adrian totally ripped off. I hope he can not sleep nights knowing that he screwed so many people. - F*&cker!

There - I feel much better now ;-)

AVB ( 64.41.32.33 ) at 9:38 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Cigs

Curtis: 720p is a walk in the park for the Leeza.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 9:31 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Tosh TV

Scott "popcorn": I forgot to add a smilie after my 'feed the kitty' line. Share away gents. It's a great CD/ROM and some of the best printed schematics ever. ;-)

Kieran: I triple-checked the docs that came new in the box. You have everything I got. That form was inserted in thhe middle of the owners manual originally. If your dad doesn't have it then I'll find another way to help out Tony. $5 says dad has it ;-)

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 9:26 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Cigs

AVB: Good for you - literally. Watch 'A Hard Day's Night' sometime and those who can't fathom how on earth anyone would ever pick up the habbit in the first place might get the attraction. When I went cold turkey I clearly recall hanging around ashtrays with lust for the 1st few months ... after that the smell of cigs was repulsive. There's nobody worse than an ex smoker when it comes to giving current smokers sh*t. I like you attitude.

You'll laugh at this one. I delivered some equipment last week to a military base. A group of off duty guys were playing softball ... the outfielders were chain smoking ;-)

re: Leeza: One of the people I'm getting plasmas for will no doubt want yours once I tell them the price tag for a new Faroudja NRS. They simply don't know it yet because I need to show them how bad things look without a scaler. It'll do 720P, right?

re: "You Guys": Sorry, you're right - I hate it when people lump me in with a crowd I was never part of.

Wild Bill ( 216.151.233.16 ) at 9:04 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
it aint snow but...

BC: Krell uses mechanical switches that click and pop. They claim that the mechanical switches are of much higher quality and maintain the purity of the signal. I wouldn't put a units that pops and burps in a customers home but for personal use? If it doesn't bother you I wouldn't worry about it.

Sorry ti hear about the ice storm. I'm told that we'll have light snow tomorrow with accumulating snow on Thursday. Early reports are saying 8-10". Where is Spring when you need it?

AVB ( 64.41.32.100 ) at 5:57 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Video Processor

No interest in the Leeza? I know a bunch of you have FP's. DLP, CRT or DILA.

AVB ( 64.41.32.100 ) at 5:56 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Cigs

Curtis: Smoked for 35 years, started with Camels @ 2 packs a day. When I went in the Corps we still got cigs in our rations and they were $1 a carton. Of course, I only made $78 every two weeks then too. Told the wife I would quit when we got married but it just took a while to do. Went cold Turkey on July 10th last year. Still have the urge but a good cigar every once in a while helps. You can do it too big guy.

Kieran ( 209.204.144.50 ) at 3:04 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Tony C: email coming your way, assuming the one in the members' section is still up-to-date.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 2:40 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Tosh TV

Scott "popcorn": The answer depends on what your parents are willing to pay for such valuable informnation ! ;-) You may be a starving student but I hope certainly they aren't. !!

Feed the kitty, man.

Scott "popcorn" ( 65.71.191.140 ) at 2:00 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Tosh TV

Curtis: so is that the H81 series?

Tony C ( 68.20.181.91 ) at 12:47 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Robert: But I can't wait to see your HT. I guess I'm the only one who's seen just about every stage of progress.

Tony C ( 68.20.181.91 ) at 12:46 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Robert: Not the 10th..the 11th or Wednesday lunch-time Little Theater. I have a show at Glam-Slam (what's the new name again) Monday night.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 12:33 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003

So after several months of being 80-90% completed in the HT, I decied to put up the double doors leading into the room. Let's just say I'm cursing the tool that framed the opening !! Talk about not square !! no wonder I had trouble earlier putting it up and "gave up" for a while. The contractor was the same one who had my office wall out of square as well! Anyhow, the double doors are up and functional. I put together one of the upper bar area cabinets and will prbably buy the other two this weekend.

My wife is out of town next week adn int eh week after, $5 says I get more done in 5 days than I have in the past 5 months !!

Anyhow, the door trim and baseboards are going on this week.

Tony, Movie night on the 10th?

JT, you up for movie night on the 6th or 10th?

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 12:33 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Think Different

I hate that Apple Ad campaign, But here it fits. It meams to thinkk way, way outside the box for a fresh perspictive.

I put up DK vs. Norah as a simple example. I can list 2 dozen other other artists as examples but DK was a perfect one. Sure she has a limited vocal range - but she is honest and makes the mosrt of what she can do, Sotrta a "makimg the most of what I have to work with" thing.

Living life is all about knowning that there real are limitations to developing your VERY best talents, period. Making the best of anyone's innate talent is the best one possibly�can hope for. That great painters lthat ive in

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 12:27 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Tony

Are you watching Letterman? He had a clip Stupid made up Grammy word...Yes there he was Fred Durst.

Tony C ( 68.20.181.114 ) at 12:21 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Krall v Jones

Gar: Jones won her awards in a POP catagory. Krall is still listed as Jazz. That alone speaks volumes.

Tony C ( 68.20.181.114 ) at 12:19 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Tosh TV

Curtis: I'll tell you what...I'll charge everyone and you will get...5%. How's that for a "generous fool"?

Karma, Curtis. The world works on karma.

Tony C ( 68.20.181.114 ) at 12:17 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Tosh TV

Scott "popcorn": I don't know. I never looked at it. But I'll make a copy.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 12:01 AM EST Tuesday, February 25, 2003
Tosh TV

Scott "popcorn": Every single product that Tosh made that model year. I really should charge my friends that I paid US $150 for, but being a generous fool I won't.

Scott "popcorn" ( 65.71.191.140 ) at 11:57 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Tosh TV

Tony C: What TV's does that Toshiba CD cover? I might want a copy sometime in the future...

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 11:48 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Krall v Jones

Gar: I keep telling ya folks that now that Norah has gone big time its time for me to pick out the next great thing. And I pick Avril... um, no, she is big time too (plus, my daughter is all over Avril).

The next big thing will be Patricia Vonne. Write next year's Emmy list down now...

http://www.patriciavonne.com/
http://www.acclaimtalent.com/html/vonne_p/vonne_p_ap1.htm

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:47 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003

Gar: Dude, you need to speak english please. What did your last post actully have to SAY?! ;-)

Gar ( 66.222.49.29 ) at 11:36 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Toshiba service CD

Curtis: Hooked you up? I just stated I saw one cheap on Audiogon or Audioreview. How is that thing by the way?

Gar ( 66.222.49.29 ) at 11:35 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Krall v Jones

Curtis: Ah, it is actually Norah? hahaha jk! Well for one you really can't compare the two, Jones is just starting in the business and Krall been doing it for sometime now. Actually Norah Jones Album won the awards, and so did she, but from what I remember she didn't write any of her own music, if she did it was only a few songs. Krall and Jones are at two different points, who knows where either will go, but both are good singers. I think she is good, but lets not forget she didn't really get all the Grammys, people who where involved with the Album(CD) got them too. Both Krall and Jones are pretty mellow music, I like it because it is good and relaxing so I can see how it could put you to sleep, doesn't mean its bad though.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 11:30 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy Party

Tony C: Great... my daughter's name is R I C K... um, no, that's not correct. ;-) My daughter's name is Marisa, and let me know if you need an a snail mail address. btw, Avril is appearing in Houston (in case she would like to sit next to Marisa at lunch... we will send extra Mac and cheese that day)...

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:26 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Toshiba service CD

Kieran: Yes, you should have that for your old man + the elegant/amazing printed schemadics Damn, I wish I had not sold that 57" new RP for so cheap vs. this postage stamp sized 34" Shampoo wonder that Gar hooked me up with. Oh well ... live & learn.

Tony C ( 68.20.183.136 ) at 11:08 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003

Joe: speaking of discs, yours went out today U.P.S.
Remember that it was made from a cassette and believe me, you can tell.

Tony C ( 68.20.183.136 ) at 11:07 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Tosh TV

Yes, there is definately a problem. Again.
The guy comes out again on Friday.
On the Home Theater Spot there is a 72 page thread on similar problems with Tosh TVs. I'm going to mail highlights of it to the Tweeter tweakers tomorrow with the foolish hope that they might read it and talk to Toshiba about it.

Kieran: Where shall I send that disc?

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:03 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Krall v Jones

cai: LOL!!! I post a "Nora is a whimp of a musician who really does NOT deserve 5 Grammy's" thing and guess what ... we have a friendly flame war happening.

She's Okay in my book, yet to be perfectly honest with y'all - her music literally puts me to sleep. Smokey voice ( I heard that she smokes 2 packs a day like a lot of "rebels" her age. An example: my 24 y-o son is now living the life in Manhattan. at age 24. He's 6' 3" Eurasion killer looks/ great attitude, but now juggling 2 GF's; a pro tennis player and a model!! Hey I'm ashamed to admit that I too smoke, as those of you who have met me in the flesh know, yet the last time I went cold turkey it lasted 10 years so I KNOW I can drop the bad habit in a NY minute when I decide to - used stress as an excuse to start back again - there are other smokers amoung the HTOC group, deal with it!) As Ozzie O said "I had many drug addictions (duh - really?) but easily the hardest one to kick was the cigs - total addiction.

Tony C ( 68.20.183.136 ) at 11:02 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy Party

RickMTB: OK

BC ( 67.234.6.143 ) at 10:55 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
it aint snow but...

Well, Dallas is getting iced over right now. Looks like I'll be going in late tomorrow, if at all. There is a good 1/2" of ice/sleet on every sq. inch of concrete.

Cai - I've seen the comments about a clicking/popping when changing inputs on the ref 50. All I can say is no piece is perfect. ;) And for the price I am paying, I'll still be smiling through every pop!

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 9:11 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy Party

Tony C: Told my eight year old I knew someone that works for Avril's record company. She now wants an autograph (scaled back from meeting her and having Avril go to her school and sit next to her at lunch). :-) Um, can you get working on that autograph? :-)

T-Man ( 208.40.136.33 ) at 9:02 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Krall v Jones

Joe: lol

Gar ( 66.222.49.248 ) at 7:50 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003

cai: Thanks for posting that link. I bought my screen and Projector from Tom and kpd. Tom called me and said he would better any price for a trade on my screen and Projector.

AVB ( 64.41.34.85 ) at 7:48 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003

cai: I think you scared everyone off.

cai ( 205.254.147.8 ) at 4:27 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Krall v Jones

Kieran: I think that Curtis needs to start listening to Krall with his pair of ears, instead of with the pair that produce testosterone. :)

cai ( 205.254.147.8 ) at 4:20 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
New B&K Equipment Warning

BC: The new B&K 50 series a/v processor that I saw at Tweeters, emits a click when changing modes and some other functions. I think this is what was alluded to in a thread at the AVS forum. The 200.7 amplifier gets fairly hot, so make sure you have enough free space on top of it to help in the cooling. It is nothing like the 202 that I have, if I recall correctly, one cannot leave ones hand on top of it for too long.

The sound, though, outstanding.

Tony C ( 65.214.102.5 ) at 4:15 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003

cai: i'd say those are pretty good prices too.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 3:57 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Krall v Jones

T-Man: So I stop in to read the posts. I walk out of my office, rolling my earplugs to put in, and start humming Going to the City got you on my mind...

I will probably have Foghat in my head for the rest of the night. I might need thearpy :)

Gar ( 66.222.126.206 ) at 3:57 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

cai: A very good singer that is making her way up the ladder is Susan Tedeschi, and boy for a small package she sure has range!

cai ( 205.254.147.8 ) at 3:54 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003

Received an e-mail from these people and thought about passing it on to the group:

1) Barco 808 Video Projector. http://www.cinemasource.com/specials.html This is our last one. These projectors make excellent home theater projectors with 8" magnetically-focused CRTs and complete digital setup. You can have this one for $3500 with new tubes or $2000 as-is. (tubes with some 4000 hours).
2) Infocus 7200. We have one returned Infocus 7200 DLP projector. It is unopened and comes with a full warranty. This is considered the best buy in single chip DLP projectors. New $9998, This one $6800
3) B&K Reference 50 A/V processor. This is B&K's top of the line A/V processor. Retail: $2998, we have two returned black units for $2100 each. It has a full warranty from the manufacturer.
4) B&K 200.7 Amplifier. With 200W x 7 channels, this is B&K's top of the line amplifier. Retail: $3498, we have one returned unit for $2400. It has a full warranty from the manufacturer (5 years).
5) B&K AVR 507 Receiver. This is the best home theater receiver you can buy. Retail: $3498, we have two returned units, $2400 for black, $2475 for silver. These have full warranties from the manufacturer.
6) Sharp XV-Z9000 DLP Projector. Last years model but brand new with full warranty. New was $9999, we have two for $6200.

In my opinion, these are very good prices.

AVB ( 64.41.33.57 ) at 3:52 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Digital Leeza HTOC sale

Just in time to spend your refund I have my Digital Leeza available as of April 15th. My asking price for the Leeza, SDI modified DVD player and custom rackmount for the player is going to be $2500. However, for my HT buds here you can have it for $2K plus shipping, a 20% discount. Maybe not a Gasgeek deal but 2 grand for $7,500 worth of equipment is pretty good. If you have a projector you need this scaler.

cai ( 205.254.147.8 ) at 3:40 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Mail

AVB: Answered.

cai ( 205.254.147.8 ) at 3:39 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Kieran: I am with you on this one. I have often said that Krall is a good arranger but a mediocre singer. Her arrangements suit her singing style in that she does not have to show much of a range or depth in her voice. Having said that, every time I think of her I say that I have to buy her Paris concert DVD, that woman exudes sensuality. My recollection is that she is 38 years old now - "Date of Birth November 16, 1965 Nationality Canadian Listed in Category Musicians Singers".

About the other singers mentioned for Grammys, well, all I can say is that I do not get out much - I had never heard of them. I am an old foggie, like Curtis, and recall those Sarahs, Ellas, and Billies, among others.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 2:55 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Star Wars news

CLONE WARS SHORTS AT CARTOON NETWORK

Picking up where Episode II left off, the saga of the Clone
Wars will continue through animated shorts premiering this
year from the Cartoon Network and Lucasfilm Ltd. Star Wars:
Clone Wars will be a series of 20 animated shorts that will
air on the Cartoon Network in 2003-2004 between other
programming.

Helming this new series is Genndy Tartakovsky, the acclaimed
creator of "Samurai Jack" and "Dexter's Laboratory." The
episodic shorts will be two- to three-minutes in length and
will air exclusively on Cartoon Network at regularly
scheduled times beginning this fall.

For full details, plus the first-ever glimpse of artwork from
Star Wars: Clone Wars, visit:
http://www.starwars.com/eu/news/2003/02/news20030220.html

Tartakovsky took some time from his busy production schedule
to speak with starwars.com.

"I was contacted because I've always been very vocal that I'm
a Star Wars fan and would love to work on it," he said. "So,
the Cartoon Network came up to me and asked me to put a little
pitch together. We came up with this idea of doing a Clone
Wars-style story with a Band of Brothers-feel to it -- where
it's episodes of different battles and strategies during the
Clone Wars. We went up to Lucasfilm and pitched it, and
everyone enjoyed it, and it just came together."

For the full two-page interview with the creative force behind
this exciting Star Wars chapter, visit:
http://www.starwars.com/eu/feature/20030220/

T-Man ( 209.166.149.196 ) at 1:42 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Krall v Jones

On the subject of Krall v Jones, lets face it, good musicians/singers are like beauty, they are in the eye of the beholder. And sometimes you just really like an act or band and not everyone agrees. (I don�t know how else to explain why I liked Foghat so much in the 70�s, lol)

For what its worth, we have no female opinions on the two here. I will say this, my wife loves the Norah Jones CD and was very happy with her awards. I for one can take or leave the two of them, but admittedly have not spent quality time listening to either.

Lastly, as you can tell, I really don�t have much to say on the matter, I just wanted to work Foghat into a post for the first time ever on the Forum.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 1:13 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Kid Rock and Crow

She did not look to happy to be on stage with the Kid, IMHO.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 1:12 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Anthem Question

Anyone know about the triggers? Is the tip the positive output and the ring the negative?

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 1:11 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Kieran: Joan has put out a couple albums since her Relish effort. I enjoy her music and listen to it often. She like's to do cover for some reason.

In my view the songs from Relish that got all the radio play where ok. She has better ones on that disc. Some of them just tear though your soul as she is performing.

I can hear them now, in fact I will ahve to fire a disc up for the ride into work.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 1:06 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

AVB: ...I get bjorked on a regular basis ....

Yea I got bjorked this weekend too.......... ;0

AVB ( 64.41.32.177 ) at 12:48 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

RickMTB: The wife just loves Bjork, I get bjorked on a regular basis and even have her movie on DVD. I have the first 2 Sugarcubes albums and thought they were interesting but the solo work is for the birds or whatever wildlife they have in Iceland.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.182 ) at 12:46 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

RickMTB: just in case, here's a link describing that Stormy Weather cd (turns out lots of the artists fan sites listed that CD on their favorite's discographies... this one is from Fleetwood Mac, but I saw the same listing on a Stevie Nicks web site and a similar one on a No Doubt page:

http://www.fleetwoodmac.net/penguin/albums/stormyweather.htm

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.182 ) at 12:42 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Kieran: I like some of Alanis Morrisette, but it is fun to put her early career as a mall singer ala Tiffany before getting to serious about her current stuff. ;-) Joan Orsborne had that one hit... that's a fun game to play (one-hit wonders).

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.182 ) at 12:39 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

AVB: Great call on Annie Lennox. She is a great singer, and yep, she would seem like a great soul singer. Interesting that when people toss names out for "blue eyed soul" its usually guys that get named (Van Morrison, Boz Scaggs,David Clayton Thomas, the lead singer from Simply red). Rickie Lee Jones would be a good choice. In fact, I have a weird CD I somehow got from AT&T called AT&T Presents Stormy Weather which was a concert benefitting Walden Woods Project and Thoreau Society with classics like Amost Blue, Good Morning Heartache, and the title track performed by singers like Gwen Stefani, Trisha yearwood, Paula Cole, Shawn Colvin, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell. Oh and Bjork (egads, why do people rave about her???) and Sandra Bernhard (yea, her... but even she sings better than Bjork!).

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.182 ) at 12:31 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Kieran: Curtis is an oldie... he was referring to Sarah Vaughn, not Sara Maclahan (sp?). :-) Both great vocalists, btw...

AVB ( 64.41.32.177 ) at 12:29 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Kieran: Sarah Vaughn. I think Aretha should be on the list too. If you ever get the chance and want to hear a white woman sing soul with the best of them....see Annie Lennox in a club tour.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 12:26 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Tony C: Didn't Alanis Morrisette win best new artist? I can't stand her, but you can hardly say she's not been heard from again since... I think that Joan Osborne deserved all the awards that Alanis got that year, and we have hardly heard from Joan again... sort of backward from what you said. Do you know what Joan's story is and why she sort of faded from the limelight?

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.182 ) at 12:26 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

Gasgeek: thanks for adding to the conversation. The reviews are pretty good (at least the ones on Meadowlark's web site) and I know the Kestrel's have been favoarbly reviewed for a while now. And yes, the Kestrel2 appears to be a little more polished, both in build quality and sound (though I have ahunch you have to get up to their three-way before a significant jump in performance happens). I like the size advantage of the Swift (higher WAF) and I can probably add the extra "weight" down the road with a musical sub (like the Vandie, a REL, or possibly the Hsu) if I start to miss the extension of my Vandersteen 2c. Appreciated the comment about needing to "break in" to get better low end extension from the Swifts (the reviews also pointed this out).

Small details attract me to the Swift... the TL design to eke out more low end out of the skinny box; the front port (which would seem to make it easier to place closer to the rear wall); the floating baffle. Also nice design touches. The proof will be in the listening "pudding" though.

AVB ( 64.41.32.177 ) at 12:25 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Curtis:Sorry if I spoiled anything for you. Just don't include me in that "you guys" said.... I'm not fond of either singer.

AVB ( 64.41.32.177 ) at 12:24 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Mail

cai: You have email at your Yahoo address.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 12:23 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Curtis: I've never been much of a fan of Krall, sorry... I think she's a great musician, but not a great singer. VERY GOOD, but not great. Norah may not be as good a musician, but I like the sound of her voice better. I agree with Tony to some extent re. Norah... the album has a few great songs, but as a hole it is a little lacking. The problem with album of the year is, they have to give the award to someone... maybe there just weren't many great albums this year? Dunno... didn't watch the grammys and don't really follow the biz in that way.

I know Billie, Ella and Etta... which Sarah are you referring to? :-P

I don't know if we have that Toshiba extended warranty card or not... there were several warranty/receipt papers that you had somewhere but we never actually got from you. You said at the time that if/when you found them, you'd hang on to them, and if we ever *needed* them (which we haven't so far) to let you know... Maybe you still have it? I know we got the owner's manual, but not much else, I think.

Tony C: I wouldn't mind a copy of that Toshiba service manual CD if/when you get a chance to make a copy. No hurry.

Tony C ( 65.214.102.5 ) at 12:23 PM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Curtis: I agree that I think Norah's ablum was not equal to the hype. She and her father have been estranged since her birth, so I wouldn't expect that.
As far as giving the award to people who've paid their dues, I have two different thoughts on that. (going to Joel mode)
1) If an album is considred great, don't wait.
2) This was also handed to Arif Mardin. A complete legend in his own right. Someone who carries the respect of everyone in the industry. He's the one who EARNED the recognition.

As I said in a previous post. Any artist who wins Best New Artist is never heard from again.

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 11:29 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

RickMTB: You'd be surprised how many top reviewers have a pair of Meadowlarks in their house somewhere. Stereophile finally reviewed the Shearwater Hot-Rods last year and they were very fond of them. They were finalists for their speaker of the year award.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:17 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Gar: That's true, flaming is pretty rare around here thank god. We'll have to agree to disagree. Krall has been playing/arranging professionally for 20 years from age 15. She trained with the very best jazz minds and if you look at her backup band you'll see that they are giants in their fields.

Etta? Of course not - yet. Diana's only in her 30's and making huge advances every year. Etta didn't reach her peak until much older ... the girl is cursed with being white after all ;-) In my book the greatest female singers ever are Billie, Sarah, and Ella. Anyone who doesn't know their last names doesn't really listen , IMHO.

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 11:10 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

RickMTB: Hey Dude, been offline all weekend with family stuff.

I'm a big fan of Pat McGinty at Meadowlark. The Meadowlark sound is very open, detailed, yet smooth. I own a pair of Meadowlark Shearwater Hot-Rods and love them. My buddy has been trying to convince me to move up to their replacements, the Osprey's. The Shearwater's are very sweet and open sounding and I'm not convinced the Osprey's are for me.

The Swift is a great sounding speaker for under a grand a pair. They take a lot of break in before the bottom opens up and the top smooths out. I would say that in their price range, they are tough to beat. The Swallow bookshelfs are a smaller version of the Swift and are great surrounds.

The new Kestral 2 is a bit larger than the Swift, but not a lot. The Kestral is the same design as the Swift and actually all of the new Meadowlarks. Pat moved his business to upstate New York because he now has total control over his cabinet design.

Overall, I prefer the sound of the Kestral 2, but it's not worlds different. Goes a little lower. Maybe a little more musical sounding. (?) The Kestrals are $700 more a pair. Whether they're worth that much is up to the listener.

The Meadowlark's are very similar to the Thiel line in sound as they are both time aligned, first order crossover and tranmission line designs. Pat uses a lot of ScanSpeak drivers in his designs. The Meadowlark sound also reminds me a little of the Joseph Audio and Vienna Acoustic lines.

Here's a recent picture of the Swift, Kestral 2, and Osprey side by side on the Meadowlark website. Give's you a size comparison. I don't think you can go wrong with the Meadowlark brand.

http://www.meadowlarkaudio.com/

Gar ( 66.222.48.139 ) at 11:04 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Curtis: Flamed? if you disagree with someone you shouldn't be flamed for it. I don't think Diana Krall is that great either. I think there both very good, but not on par with Etta James and some other female voices I have heard in the past and present. Hell I think Holly Cole has a better voice than both of them, but hey that be my taste. ;)

Derb ( 207.70.162.160 ) at 10:53 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

BC: I think Rick was thinking about trying Austin and I was going to tag along.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:51 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

AVB: We were on a 3 hour tape delay. I posted about 15 minutes into the broadcast, so her Norahness had yet to appear.

I'll get flamed for this. She's good but far from great. I bought her CD based on you guys saying she's as good as Diana Krall. I couldn't disagree more. She's very young musically and obviously stagewise. I find myself falling asleep if I have to listen to the whole album! Good sultry voice but my dog can play a better piano. Did anyone notice she never thanked her Dad who she likely got her music al genes from?

Think about other recent Grammy sweeps ... Santanna, Clapton ... you know, artists who struggled when young and actually EARNED the recognition.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.181 ) at 10:50 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

BC: *Buddddddddy.... I haven't had the opportunity to tell you what a great guy you are lately... ;-)

Joe ( 152.163.189.201 ) at 10:09 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy Party

RickMTB: Yes Complicated couild be an adult song about co-workers or something.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.181 ) at 10:00 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy Party

Tony C: Cool... thanks. My 8-yr old was up singing Skater Boi this AM... she didn't get to stay up late enough to see the performance but was happy nonetheless. I suspect Skater Boi better reflects the image of what Avril is portraying but Complicated seems a more developed song. Seems there are a few new young singers that are avoiding the Britney/Christina direction (Avril, Vanessa Carleton and perhaps the best of the three, Michelle Branch) which is good. regret I missed the Dixie chicks performance... I like their vocal blends and think they are good musicians. Plus, I think the blonde fiddler has it going on). I didn't see Norah Jones perform either... I have and like her CD, and was pretty happy she did well, partly because I share BC's opinion of Vanilla Ice II (he wasn't even the best rap performance, let alone deserving of entertainer and album of the year).

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 9:57 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003

John Mayer is also pretty good. He has a unique sound. I couldn't believe it when he said he was only 16.

I bought tickets on Friday for Norah's concert here in July. The girlfriend said "look, either get me Norah tickets or an engagement ring"! Well, duhhhhhhhh. hehe
Somehow I don't think she is gonna remember that comment here shortly.

Tony C ( 68.20.182.93 ) at 8:38 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003

What did you guys think about Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock?
I thought it was pretty cool. Kid behaved himself and played that vintage yet silly Silvertone guitar. Kind of cheeky.

Did you guys notice the high heels women were wearing? Geez, made them look like ballarinas (sp).

One more thing. Every artist who wins "Best New Artist" has a shitty career.

Tony C ( 68.20.182.93 ) at 8:34 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003

And what was it Fred Durst said??
"I hope were all in agreeance? What the hell was that?
No wonder I can't understand what he's saying on his records.

Tony C ( 68.20.182.93 ) at 8:33 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy Party

RickMTB: Avril is on Arista Records, the company I work for.
And agree about her performance. Avril is trying to the the rebellious indie rock chick. she's the anti-Britney. She needs to mature a little bit. She'll get there, she's only 18. When I met her, she just turned 17 and we didn't let her do much in the way of interviews or other social events. I'll add that I've seen Avril perform live many times when she was perhaps more relaxed it was always a great show and a lot of fun.

The Chicks did do "Landslide" and did a good job too.
John Mayer is real success story. Sony stuck by him all the way and worked the album a long time. The album was a criticle success out of the box, but it took radio a year to figure it out.

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 8:30 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

Derb & RickMTB: You guys let me know if you come up. The store I sell for on the side are actually dealers now for Meadowlark but they haven't brought any in to the store. I've never heard them myself so I can't comment.

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 8:28 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammies

I was glad to see Norah Jones do so well. I love her voice and think her album is great. Her stage presence was awful though!
Avril's not bad but she just seems to be another kid yelling on stage, and she get's labeled a performer, kinda like that M&M goon. ;)

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 8:02 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy Party

Tony C: Curious to why you referred to Avril Lavigne as "our act"? I only caught a few minutes of the grammys... saw the tail end of Faith Hill's performance (eeek... and from someone who usually is a good performer and good looking); saw Vanessa Carleton's performance (decent, but she allowed her voice to rise to "kid-like, almost squeek" freqencies), John Mayer (um, workmanlike performance... never even heard of him... guessed he was someone's son); and Avril's performance. My daughter is a big fan of her (has her CD... my daughter's first "real" music CD). I was a little dissapointed... she seemed to either be very nervous performing or she tried to appear "distant and dissaffected", but there was little stage presence, and while I know its my daughetr's favorite song on the CD, I would have preferred a different cut.

The only performance I missed that I really wanted to see was the Dixie Chicks... did they perform Landslide?

AVB ( 64.41.32.103 ) at 6:24 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

Gar: Another thing, Bruce won 3 but the way they showed things it seemed he was shut out. I guess you can't please everybody.

Joelc ( 64.229.61.28 ) at 5:51 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003

Good morning gang

Gar ( 66.222.125.245 ) at 12:34 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy event

AVB: I have seen her in concert and she is much better than her CD. I think she is good, and so did allot of other people I guess. But 5 was a tad too much, just to have her win one would have been enough. Looking at that standpoint, I could see how many people would think she isn't that good.

Tony C ( 68.20.181.66 ) at 12:11 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Grammy Party

It was great to hear my co-workers and friends ooh and ahh over the HD picture. The drops were unsettling and there was a time right after Dixie Chicks and unfortunately during our act (Avri) that it was totally out of sync. I was pissed that it was that way for Cold Play too.
The next commercial I shut the Zenith down for a few minutes. When it came back it was perfect again.
There's my wife helping things with..."why's it making those static noises?...Why is it moving in slow motion?"
Bang, zoom.

Anyway, I thought the show was better than the last few. Nelly sucked.
Norah Jones? I said before that I like the one song, but I thought the album was pretty week. We had a contest for picking Grammy's and I picked Norah to win in every catagory. YOu have to know now those idiots think. I knew that Avril wouldn't win anything although she was nominated 5 times.

Tony C ( 68.20.176.189 ) at 12:02 AM EST Monday, February 24, 2003
Lexicon

Ron: If I could pick one up for $3K, I'd think about it.
...and thanks.

Joe ( 64.12.96.9 ) at 11:41 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Grammy event

AVB: I agree I was surprised she won 5. I expected that other girl Avil to win at least one.

AVB ( 64.41.32.216 ) at 11:30 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Grammy event

Curtis: I must have missed something because I didn't think Norah Jones was that good.

Derb ( 209.245.200.200 ) at 11:20 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

RickMTB: Yeah, I would be interested in a road trip. I would like to meet with Brian. Looks like we would have to set up a time with him and let him set up a rig for us. Ohh I just remembered he's an Audiophile and a Christian. Oh well what the hell I guess it will be OK :) If that's ok with everyone else that is, I would not want to get involved with any fringe type/left handed/left winged/back the hell up groups :)

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 11:10 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Grammy event

Anynone watching? Hoffman is a great, if pre-cocktailed host.Looks great in HD and 5.1. Left coasters check it out.

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 10:02 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Lexicon

Tony C:MSRP for the MC-8 is $5995. MC-8 Balanced is $6995.

simm ( 66.56.155.14 ) at 8:51 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003

Kieran: You have mail.

Trav1 ( 4.47.71.168 ) at 7:00 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
49 second HD Tyson fight

Curtis: The fight was actually running for $24.95. Still too much if you ask me.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 6:29 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

Derb: I saw that store... they were the Dallas Ft WOrth store and it wasn't until I looked further I saw they have an Austin location. Thats a shorter drive (I'd probably wrap a MTB trip around it) but in case I don't and simply go to listen to the speakers I will give you a heads up in case you'd be interested in a road trip (Katy's sorta on the way if I go 10 out of Houston). It would be cool to compare directly with VA Bachs... maybe a loaner would make that work...

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 5:55 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Tuning your ears

Tony C: Yea, you know I've been to manny's a few times as well. THey are owned by Parasole Holdings, they also own Good Earth, Filio's, Chino latino's and a couple of other "hot spots" as well.

Tony C ( 68.20.217.114 ) at 5:22 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Tuning your ears

Robert: Did you know that the Oceanarie uses the same kitchen as Manny's? So you can still get a great Manny's steak thare too.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 5:05 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
49 second HD Tyson fight

Did anyone catch it on ShowTime HD or SD last night? Sure glad I didn't pay $40 or $50 for that!

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 4:53 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
The Thoughts of Sane people!

Wild Bill: I spent 2 WCES's at the Alexis Hotel going from one "Audiophile" room to the next with prices for a pair of speakers going well inot 6 figures. The Golden Eared crowd SWORE that they and they alone could clearly hear that last 3% difference of diminishing return on investmment.

My CES buddy would intentionally drive the reps nuts by saying things like "I really don't hear much of an improvement vs. my state-of-the-art Bose Cubes!" I was fun to watch them laugh down their nise as if to say "I'll bet you drive a Chevy too."

Derb ( 65.59.48.57 ) at 4:52 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

RickMTB: Check out www.soundmindaudio.com
I have talked with Brian a couple of times when looking into amps.
Looks like he has a new store front

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 3:59 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Lexicon

Ron: I saw this at CES, I may seriously take a look at this later in the year. I liked what I saw, and I know more than a few of you like what Lexicon does with their processing, just not recent upgrade programs ;)

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 3:56 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Tuning your ears

With all of this "audiophile" talk, I'd thought I'd say this. If you want to "tune your ears", go the symphony. I took my wife out last night, dinner and the symphony. I wasn't a big fan of the first piece they played, but without a doubt a great way to tune the ears. Now I'm ready to do some critical listening later today at home now with teh SACD's and DVD-A's.

For those who visit MSP, and want a great dining experience go to The Oceanaire, an awesome seafood restaurant. We've been there a few times, but word to the wise, it'll cost a few weeks groceries if you are not on an expense account. I must have had a dozen Blue Points two loaves of their bread. They serve a black and blue marlin that is blackened and served with blue cheese, a must try.

Gar ( 66.222.50.156 ) at 3:48 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
The Thoughts of Sane people!

Wild Bill: I used to call myself an Audiophile, but I don't anymore. I love music and I love good sounding systems. That being said, I do not want to be grouped into an area of neronic morons. If I had a classy store like yours, I too would not want them as clients, they tend to drive business away with there know it all attitudes. That is one of the reasons l like coming here and talking and posting, people here are very intelligent and know there stuff without being snobs about it.

Joelc ( 64.229.61.28 ) at 3:26 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003

Afternoon gents..

Tony C ( 68.20.216.196 ) at 3:25 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Lexicon

Ron: That's good Ron, because I was worried for a minute. Some one should always know the price.

Ron ( 208.195.242.212 ) at 12:25 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Lexicon

Tony C: I do not know the price.

Wild Bill ( 12.92.110.69 ) at 12:04 PM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
The Thoughts of Sane people!

Gar: Most "audiophiles" that I have dealt with since I got in this business can best be described as "audio nervosa" types.

They only think that what they own is good, truly do believe in snake oil and believe that they and only they have golden ears.

If you can't tell, I view "audiophile" as a derogatory description as do most reasonable people in the industry. I have to laugh when I see gads of people on other forums referring to themselves as "audiophiles". To those in the industry it simply means the fool who is most willing to waste his money on foolish things.

This is one of the biggest reasons that I chose to go custom installation only and not retail. I want to be separate from the audiophile crowd and I do not want them as clients.

Tony C ( 68.20.214.244 ) at 11:44 AM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Lexicon

Ron: I'm with Gar. I sould still love to upgrade to FP. But I think I'll probably move before that happens.
I'm happy with the DC-2. It only lacks dts-es and DPLII. Oh and six channel input.
But if I ever listen to music in the HT, I'm never sitting in one place. Two channel is all I need there, and to me it sounds pretty sweet.

Do you know what MSRP is?

Gar ( 66.222.50.124 ) at 12:09 AM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003
Lexicon

Ron: Very sweet indeed, if I can ever afford it, I might buy it someday. Since I got a decent high-end system for 2 channel audio, I think I will put most of my money in a new projector and screen down the road. We put my friends MC-12 up against my HK 525 using my B&K Amp and 2 channel was much better on the MC-12, but on the Hometheater side, there wasn't too much difference. Hence my friend is going to sell his MC-12 soon if anyone is interested. At least the MC-8 comes in much more affordable.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 12:07 AM EST Sunday, February 23, 2003

So maybe I have a bad wire in the Attic, not attica.

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 10:01 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Lexicon

Lexicon has released the MC-8 processor. http://www.lexicon.com/mc8/index.asp

Tony C ( 68.20.216.73 ) at 9:55 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Movie

Gar: I wish I didn't buy it. If I rented it, I would probably think that I shouldn't have.
Like I said, there were a couple good scenes. And the panaramic scenery was well done.
Story sucked.
I'll rent the Robin Williams film first. Unless you tell me it's a keeper. :)

Gar ( 216.165.162.150 ) at 9:54 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
The Thoughts of Sane people!

Ron: Totally agree with you. Far far left is not a good place to be. And this guy is beyond left field!

Gar ( 216.165.162.150 ) at 9:51 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Movie

ny C:] So was Four Feathers that bad? I took it back , and got 1 hour Photo which is supposed to be a reference DVD on Video.

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 9:44 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
The Thoughts of Sane people!

Gar: People need to lighten up and get a life. 2 channel 7.1 or what ever, it is just a hobby not a lifestyle.

I have no use for such self centered narrow thinkers who for some reason think they have the right to decide how I should spend my money and even what type of vehicle to drive. Unfortunetly most of this babble comes from the far left.

They need to go to Iraq with those other ninnys who say they are going to be human shields. In a few weeks they will no loger be a problem!!!!

Rant off.

Tony C ( 68.20.216.73 ) at 9:29 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Warranty

Curtis: That is really nice of you Curtis. Thanks.
I wish I could get to my HT more. The kid is always down there with his g/f. And I don't think that they're watching movies....

Tony C ( 68.20.216.73 ) at 9:26 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

JOE: I made a copy of the Nat. Lamp. Vacation Sndtk.
Shoot me an email with an address and I'll get it out on Monday.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 9:22 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Stuffed Tivo mascot

My dealer gave me a very cool 6 inch tall fuzzy Tivo - whatever it's supposed to be with the antennie. Looks good sitting on the display. I'll take a picture of it - or is it a she?

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 9:17 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Pool Guy

Joe: Why do I have 2 very different images of you?

1) Pool Boy in West Palm Beach, &
2) Chevy Chase in the attic in the winter in drag watching old family movies ;-)

Bagman & Joe: Thanks gents. I follow your pool chemistry shock/maintenance instructions and get the blue/white floating tablet dispenser.

Tony C: Not a bad idea to have an off-site copy of that disc. No rush at all. My dealer is scrounging around for the extended warranty form. He thinks a phone call to Toshiba prior to your 1 year factory running out would also do it. We'll take care of you somehow.

AVB: I heard that Attica was a tough joint ;-)

RickMTB re: Audiogon: I don't even look any more ... just makes you long for stuff not within the budget, even at steal prices.

Tony C ( 68.20.216.73 ) at 9:13 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
HTOC logo

I know you guys discussed this a while back, but what happened to the cute shortcut logo that used to be on my desk top and favorites?

AVB ( 64.41.33.224 ) at 9:08 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
The Thoughts of Sane people!

Gar: He might be a member of the Illuminati.

Gar ( 66.222.50.124 ) at 8:56 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

Rick I agree, I saw some Tannoy Speakers on there cheap, and they look like there using Dynaudio drivers.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 8:46 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Darn that auidiogon!

I have to stop looking at it... just saw someone got a great deal on Vienna Acoustic Bachs in Rosewood for $800 and there are two pairs of Meadolwark Swifts for sale. Argggghhh!

Gar ( 66.222.50.124 ) at 7:44 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

There is one Paragraph in there from me right after my name.

Gar ( 66.222.50.124 ) at 7:43 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
The Thoughts of Sane people!

Tell me what you think of these e-mails?
I was asked to join the Audio Society of Wisconsin a few weeks ago, but after several e-mails back and forth from this guy, I found out he is possibly the nuttiest person I have ever met.

Most of us get into our careers with rose colored glasses. Few of us stay with them on. Also, I have found the assistants and lower people are just between jobs and would say most anything to get a sale. This was not the case as recently as 5 years ago when almost anybody in the hi-end scene was really preoccupied with their passionate hobby. I got started in this in 1964-65 and can tell you from a 38 year perspective things have gone downstairs a bit at a time and then skipping 10 steps at a time lately. So it remains to be seen if they can really be objective and not try to control the conversation so it favors their equipment. If you think back about your last high end visit I think you will find a particular bias weak or overwhelming about their equipment. Yet, it is a very hard world out there in hi-end audio and I truly would like to see these guys survive. If someone has something to contribute on a case by case basis then yes but to invite them openly would be a mistake, in particular, for those dealers that truly go out of their way to set up something special while someone else that sits around on cruise control. So my thoughts are we ask the dealer what they would like to discuss or audition but not have them there on a continual basis unless it is very obvious they have something truly altruistic in mind. And under no circumstances have Circuit City, Best Buy, or mass market brands crowd over. They are enemy to a sustainable world let alone have anything worth knowing about hi-end audio.

guess I could not disagree more on some points. The Circuit City types, the stores and the manufacturers, are increasing testing the lowest quality of sound the public will tolerate and increasingly pushing the concept that the more speakers around you the better the sound. They are the enemy of sustainability because of the throw away mentality that comes with their message. I have worked in the hazardous waste arena most of career and can tell you this "throw away" with new format mentality and exponential decrease in resale value that accompanies it is extremely dangerous for this planet. I think leaving this world with as few irreversible scares as possible has to be part of global citizenship.

Home Theatre has not so much helped hi-end survive rather it has made hi-end manufacturers chase the market. The fact their is more hi-end salon closures in the last 5 years than the previous 10 without being replaced speaks a bit to this. I think the software in movies is by and large not worth wasting one's time over let alone robbing resources for more important outlays. In addition, I have noticed a pretty pronounced correlation with amount of living through machines including SUVs, remote controls, video games, TV watching etc and the undisputed fact that Americans are the fattest people on earth (the book FATLAND that just came out documents the connections) and careless in treatment of its resources. When you met me you will see I am an obvious example of a person who is active to a very high degree. When I go to the local gym there are not people that say they want more sitting on their butt end activities in their lives but rather they realize how unbalanced their lifes are do being sheep to marketers. Music affords me the opportunity to other things while listening while movies, by design, require you just to sit like a zoombie and watch. I enjoy movies and don't mind being a zoombie to take in someone's artistry or humor. Next time you go to video store take a random selection of movies and ask "is there any better way to spend 2 less hours in my life" and I think you will get my point. But proof is in the pudding. Once the home theatre thing once it becomes a lifestyle the proof is in the waist line, trash can, and opportunities to have interaction with family, community, and lifes other rewards.

I know everyone has their opinions but they all the more central to your survival when that is how you make your money. So I oppose having an open ticket for dealers to come and go as they please. They should have something to offer when they come or not come.

At 11:43 AM 2/22/2003 -0600, you wrote: Gar
. So it remains to be seen if they can really be objective and not try to control the conversation so it favors their equipment.

No offense, but that statement above applies to everyone. Most people are bias even of there own equipment. I am in Sales "Medical Sales" and everything is bought and sold in this world its how business is done. I am very passionate with Audio and even HT, I have worked in the business before and I can tell you Home Theater has helped High-End Audio survive which is a good thing. As far as people contributing to this type of meeting, anyone with the knowledge and passion for the hobby could. That being said, I highly doubt you will get people from Circuit City of Best Buy to attend, there more worried about volume sales and not quality of products. Also I don't think there the enemy, there just trying to survive in a very snobby world we live in. Many of those Lo-Fi products feed many other High-End companies and if it wasn't for there volume sales we might be very limited to a very few products in the High - End arena. I have built many speakers from Madisound and bought many different speakers over the years, and as I always say, it is what "MY EARS" like and not what some dealer tells me what is better. From that standpoint having dealers at these types of meetings is harmless, if they take over the conversation which most won't, I just wouldn't invite them again thats all, that goes for anyone.

I don't think this is off track at all. People did not become inactive and food pigs one day at 3pm. It was by corporate design. This is about the conditions that allowed appreciation of quality reproduction music to give way bit by bit to a remote control convenience life focused on increasingly poor quality software controlled by a few mega-corporate interests. Remember the song "In the Year 2525"? I believe 9-11 taught many Americans how narrow they are in their thinking and to seek how things are interconnected (then again, I wonder about their basic critical thinking ability when they can be convinced of the "correct" position on complex and world changing issues by grade-school talk like Axis of Evil). Lifestyles are central to why people are ready for disproportionate consumers of Home Theatre and the butt lifestyle (aka the disengaged lifestyle). If you read my comments more closely (I nowhere said watching home theatre the equivalent of a hr a week makes you fat) you will notice that the dangers are when Home Theater becomes a life style with other components of a remote control life. Look out the door and see the evidence all around you. Home Theatre and/or TV watching, power boats vs kayaks, snow mobiles vs snow shoeing or cross country skiing, SUVs that should be labeled Mr Donut or Mall of America (instead of Tahoe or Yukon, god give me a break) based on how they are used, they all occupy a biggest chucks of Americans free time . Kids, are reportedly, watching 6 hrs of TV a day in FATLAND. Home Theatre does not make people fat unless they involved with it a lot (i.e., fat people tend to spend most of their time on their butt). Home Theatre could not make it to the degree it has if people had a engaging thought process about how they are being manipulated into fat or skinny slobs and were seriously active. Thinking and exercise and so is zoombie tube watching and inactivity is self-reinforcing. I usually think while listening to music on a conscience or subconscience level. I read while listening to music a lot. My reading helps me to see the conspicuous benefits of an engaged life (how many movies do that) and hence I become more involved by virtue of investing in my awareness that would never be able to do by watching most movies. The more I work out in the gym the more work I get done in shorter periods of time outside of the gym (based on my exposure to other people my age that live the Butt Life I know the reverse is true) By the way, I am doing something about these interrelated issues is in the Madison School System if you are ever interested.

I would stay away from the Triathlon thing except for the great swimming part and, with moderation, bicycling. Extreme running regimes like many all or nothing repetitive motion and joint disruptive activities increase the probability you will have injuries and not be able to enjoy your senior years to the same degree. I work out like a SOB, totally wasted with stomach muscles like most runners quads, but in the direction of constructing a body not breaking it down. An old girl friend of mine was in the top 10 in Hilton Head. I can not tell you how many of those triathloners at that level eventually had very serious injuries related to the running part of their regime and not enough balanced muscular-skeleton support exercises. Today they are your typical FATLANDers after the crowds stopped cheering.

With your exception, all others have commented to me that they would like to have dealers attend or us attend their shops for discuss special topics or demo some new equipment but they are all apprehensive about having them come without a good explicate case by case and meeting by meeting reason for them to be there. Even though they all enjoy their hi-end dealers. I think we will and should have dealers involved but I think it should be on the groups terms not the dealers. I think it would be of benefit to have the group do other things together to increase our appreciation of our systems such as hearing live music.

The first step towards solving a problem is recognizing that it exists and then searching as to why. I think it is far more dangerous to let powerful people dictate our futures than it is too question them. How many of us questioned the cornerstones of our country including the SEC, FCC, Energy Trading, Major Stock Brokerages etc? I keep a very upbeat, can do attitude in interactions with people. If I didn't I would not dedicate 10% of my consulting time to community issues including the Humane Society, Sustainable Small Farms, and helping young people help recognize how issues are interrelated and getting better quality home grown food to our schools lunch menus. I think Americans are narrow minded and a number of things point to this including the near total shutdown of foreign correspondence news centers by all but CNN , that is, prior to 9-11. Americans are great people caught up in bought and paid for media and political system. The greatest evidence of good will and a positive attitude toward possible change is appearing to feel overwhelmed by the facts but fighting forward with actions not philosophies or feel good BS called family values slogans.

I am very sorry you took my research into the evidence as opinionated (aka having an opinion). I disregard the majority of Americans obsession with things to impress or gain approval of neighbors they don't even know. I try my best, really (honestly I do), to positively affect people's and animals lifes in many meaningful ways. I am sure this would come across upon meeting me and watching my actions.

Regarding the dealer thing: Who knows maybe everyone will change and want all the dealers they can find to attend. Guess we will never know till we look.

Take care and a pleasure talking to you.

Noel
Sorry for this long thread, just wondering what my sane HT buddies think?

Tony C ( 68.20.210.203 ) at 7:37 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Call the Service Guy again.

Curtis: I have that disc. do you want me to copy it?

AVB ( 64.41.33.224 ) at 7:36 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Yamaha 2300 mini review & other info

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=126738
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htforum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=126455

Tony C ( 68.20.182.73 ) at 7:07 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
XXX

Joe: Hope you rented it. I wish I did.

BAGMAN ( 65.40.46.54 ) at 6:52 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Call the Service Guy again.

Curtis: I pretty much agree with Joe. Once you get the water back to clear, use some type of automatic chlorinator(mine is auto,cost about 70 bucks and I installed it myself)...no smart ass stuff from you T-Man,once a week, dump in a gallon of liquid chlorine(in my initial post I should have said 2-3 gallons) the day after the liqid chlorine dump three oz of an all purpose algecide. That is the easiest way to keep the pool looking good. Your pump should run some everday. Summer or winter I run my pump as long as any sunshine is getting to it. 5 to 8 hrs. a day. No chemicals needed during the cool/cold months other than the auto chlorinator. Piece of cake.

AVB ( 64.41.33.224 ) at 6:50 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Parasound amp problems and Ground Loops

Joe: Man, those cons in attica will do anything to screw with a man's tunes!!

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 6:30 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
XXX

Got this movie today it is on tonight after the little one goes to bed.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 6:28 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Bromine

Bromine is usally used in Spas. IF you use Chlorine in spas it leaves stains in the finish.

Depending on your pool size determines the chlorine. There are expensive auto chlorinaters ( is that a word) but a blue and white space ship with 2 or 3 chlorine pucks will maintain the pool. The pucks are like 90% where liquard Chlorine is around 9%.

Mixing Muratic acid and chlorine is a bad thing.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 6:24 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Pool Guy

When I was younger I worked for a pool service in West Palm Beach.

Here's a little trick. If the water is really green turn off the pump. Dump in a gallon or 2 of clear amonia and let it set overnight. The next day everyting will be dead and on the bottom of the pool. Vacum to waste, add about 4 gallons of liquard Chlorine and run the filter.

Also if your PH levels are to high you can use baking soda to bring them down. It's the same as the PH- taht cost a arm and leg.

Joe ( 205.188.209.40 ) at 6:18 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Parasound amp problems and Ground Loops

Well today after 4 hours I solved 2 problems.

First the amp is fine. I have a shorted wire in the attica. I cannot get out to it, so it will have to wait until spring.

Second after unplugging every wire in my system I found the ground loop. It comes from the Sat reciever. I wanted to try and plug it into a differnet circuit, but ran out of time.

There is nothing more interesting to a 22 month old then the new play space behind the Big T.V wiht lots of wires to pull on.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 6:15 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Call the Service Guy again.

Tony C: Well I know that Kieran's Dad has the form you're looking for because it shipped new with my 57HX RP (same vintage, different model as yours) If he has no use for it perhaps he might be willing to let you have it. I'm all but certain the extension was a boiler plate document that covered any Toshiba RP. BTW, didi I give you the full-line Tosh Service Manual CD/ROM + printed schematics? A friend may need a copy oof one file from it. TIA.

Bagman: !! I canned the pool service dude who charged $125/month to spend about 4 minutes a week maintaining the pool. I have maintained spa's before but not the other pools. I'll toss a gallon of chlorine in (w/ the filter running, right?). Do you pool guys use bromine vs. chlorine? Is it any better of a toxic liquid? My skin gets really dried out with the former but seems much less so w/ bromine. I heard a rumor that you should never mix the 2 - they turn into a bad high school chemistry experiment??

BAGMAN ( 65.40.46.54 ) at 5:36 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
swamp thing

Curtis: If your water is greenish looking, a gallon or so of liquid chlorine ought to clear it up.(depending on the size of the pool) If the sides and bottom are slimey and green, call an exorcist.

Tony C ( 68.20.215.89 ) at 5:21 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Call the Service Guy again.

Curtis: Yes, you did mention it. I've been looking for it too. :(

AVB ( 64.41.33.188 ) at 3:18 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Netscape Question

cai: Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but I was out of the loop for awhile. Glad that you figured out what you needed to do and got it working.

AVB ( 64.41.33.188 ) at 3:09 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
More audiophile nonsense

You should get a laugh from this. http://www.genesisloudspeakers.com/.../Black_CDs1.pdf

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 2:55 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

Oops - let's make that 70 & sunny here. Saw some old Chicago musician pals last night for the 1st time in 20 years. I wil NEVER EVER drink anothe Fuzzy Navel again ;-(

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 2:16 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

Ron/ Bagman: &0 and sunny in SF too. Time to do some serious weeding. I'm fairly certain my swimming pool should be blue, not greenish. Kniow of any good algie shock treatment?

Joelc ( 216.223.140.58 ) at 1:26 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

Ron H: Agreed.... much better to better at the office on the weekend that sitting at home during the week waiting for the bill collectors to call.

Thanks for the dose of reality... now I can focus and get some stuff done!

Ron ( 208.195.242.212 ) at 1:13 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

BAGMAN: Sunny 70 and amazing enough, low humidity here also. This is one of the 10 days a year that the weather is perfect in Houston.

Ron ( 208.195.242.212 ) at 1:09 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

Joelc: Same place you are today. It also looks I may need Sunday at the office to finish up before I head to Nashville on Monday.

I vaguely remember having a wife and a HT room. LOL The pace should drop over the next month. I am not complaining since I enjoy what I do. This is better than the alternative of sitting on the couch waiting for the bill collectors to call.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 12:56 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Call the Service Guy again.

Tony C: Thought I had mentioned this - perhaps not. Look at the paperwork that came w/ your RP. Toshiba gives you a year to signup for their extended warranty (a form ships with the manual). I'm usally against them but if it's acting up now you might sleep better knowing your covered for the next 1 to 3 years.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 12:53 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

Joelc: Rockers turnned jocks ... you should see Ginger Baker play polo! He's not very good but pays everyone around him to applaud.

Actors too: Tommy Lee Jones plays Texas Polo. I have heard more than one story from people around him describing him a the biggest jerk you never want to meet. Intentionally fouls constantly because he can't keep up with the good players, swearing at umpires, refusing to pay tournament fees if he loses.

Gar ( 66.222.50.162 ) at 12:11 PM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Four Feathers

Tony C: That is good news :( Not, I was told to buy the movie because it was good. Lucky for me I haven't opened it yet.

Joelc ( 216.223.140.14 ) at 11:37 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

Morning gang... as another Saturday finds me at work!

Wathces: Just got an e-mail from my guy... should have prices early next week. Has anyone properly researched the duties so that you guys can decide what you want to do?

Rush: Geddy Lee... believe it or not... is the President of at my tennis club. It is really weird seeing a rocker dressed in whites playing tennis. Go figure!

Rich F ( 68.98.38.192 ) at 10:54 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Gods and Generals

DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE What should we have expected from Ted Turner. It should have been titled, the Civil War as reconstructed by Virginians. It was all about Virginia and their percieved justification for the Civil War and it is 4 freakin hours long. It was painful. It was not very informative and could easily have been half the time. There was no real discussion as to motive other than the US was invading Virginia. It was so bad that I really wish I had agreed to see 10 ways to lose a guy.

cai ( 68.100.159.101 ) at 9:55 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Netscape Question

AVB: I think I got it. What I have to do is go to the Netscape section in the Program Files directory and copy the mail directories that are there to the site you mentioned in your e-mail.

Big thank you to you because your idea provided the information I needed. Which was, where in the heck does Netscape put the mail directories? I have never seen anything so convoluted as the use of the Documents and Settings folder.

Tony C ( 68.20.211.178 ) at 9:55 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Call the Service Guy again.

I actually had an appointment for the Tweeter Service guy to come out yesterday to look at my TV again. But I had to cancel because I really had to be at work.
Remember the red flashing and aurora borealis effect I had? They came out and fixed the red. Last night toward the end of my three hour boring movie it, it came back only in green.

If they can fix the grean like they did the red, fine. But my warranty is up April 2. When will the blue gun start?

Tony C ( 68.20.211.178 ) at 9:52 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Four Feathers

Do not even rent this movie.
It was like this movie was never going to end!
A few good battle scenes that only made you think - "Those Brits sure are stupid".

Finished my painting for now. Next I have to do the kitchen. Very little painting and hours of taping.

BAGMAN ( 198.70.221.6 ) at 8:29 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

T-Man, 72 degrees,sunny,light wind and no humidity.

JJ ( 69.3.174.200 ) at 8:01 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Speaking of my work...

Kieran: Cool s* !

Kieran ( 209.204.144.50 ) at 3:28 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Speaking of my work...

Here is the web site for the product I'm working on...
Wescam Model 12DS200
Just in case any of you are interested... :-)

Kieran ( 209.204.144.50 ) at 3:22 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Agilent

cai: No, I was laid off from Agilent in October... I was part of the 4th round for our area, the third round corporate-wide. I think this latest round brings the total layoffs to almost 15,000 or so.

Thanks for thinking of me though... I am employed with Wescam now, a subsidiary/division of L3-Communications. www.wescam.com

Gar ( 66.222.49.41 ) at 12:55 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

www.egglesstonworks.com

Merlins use similar Dynaudio tweeter and from the looks of it so do some of the new Tannoy line, not too sure though.

Gar ( 66.222.49.41 ) at 12:46 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003

www.egglesstonworks.com

Merlins use similar Dynaudio tweeter and from the looks of it so do some of the new Tannoy line, not too sure though.

Gar ( 66.222.49.41 ) at 12:28 AM EST Saturday, February 22, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

Wild Bill: From what Mike M, told me at Dynaudio is that they are no longer supplying raw drivers to massive vendors. Mostly for speaker kits companies etc... Like Madisound etc. They don't want the Dynaudio name reconized with speaker kits companies or home made jobs. Totem still uses some of there tweeters and so does allot of other manufactures, like Eggleson Works, Merlin etc... List is actually pretty long. If you take a look at that webpage I listed on the Tannoy speakers you can look at a close up picture and clearly see there Dynaudio tweeters. I will call to confirm this because I would like to try a pair of these out before I buy them, and if there using Dynaudio drivers you bet there going to sound very good.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:08 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Gar: Ar you using Safari? I don't think I have seen a single pop-up since using it - beta 1.0 v 60

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 10:04 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Never mind. I must have not heard correctly.

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 10:00 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

WB is having a show on HDTV and other related stuff at 9:00 pm Central tonight. In words right now.

cai ( 68.100.159.101 ) at 9:34 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Agilent

Kieran: I just heard that Agilent is laying off 4,000 workers. Are you still working there, or did you post that you now have a different job?

cai ( 68.100.159.101 ) at 9:29 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Netscape Question

AVB: I tried the solution you mentioned, but I think it works when the messages are kept in the server. Do you know what to do when the messages are downloaded and kept in the computer?

cai ( 68.100.159.101 ) at 9:26 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

Gar: I have the 25s for fronts, with the Cynergy for center, and the rm7s for rears. I have not done too much critical listening or tweaking, but so far they sound fairly good.

As for your problem, there is a program called PopUpStopper.zip, which will take care of those nasty pests. It also prevents legitimate windows from opening, however, you can do a force open when you need it.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 9:26 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

My daughter made a website :)

http://pages.ivillage.com/patsyk/

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 8:54 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Gar: Sorry to hear you are in the shitter. I guess I am lucky, Nicky does not mind what I look at. I can tell her I am going to the Titty bars and she will say have a good time. She knows she can trust me and that I will manage to stay out of any real trouble.

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 8:49 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Dealer

Gar: What kinfd of price with just trading in the Sony for the Infocus?

Scott "popcorn" ( 66.138.32.84 ) at 8:34 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Pop up windows

Gar: The cheapest, easiest way to do this is to turn off Java and Javascript in your browser preferences... of course, there are "firewalls" designed to stop the popups too.

Chris L. ( 68.169.212.226 ) at 8:29 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Rush Fans

Kieran\Joe\Others:

A Show Of Hands to be seen on DirecTV in March

This DIRECTV FREEVIEW concert can be seen every weekend in March on DirecTV. Check your listings for details and times.
---------------------------------------------------------
Geddy and Alex on Tech TV

Geddy and Alex will be appearing on TechTV�s �The Screen Savers� to talk about their views and uses of technology and their latest work this Friday, February 21st, 4pm PST/7pm EST. Check your local satellite TV company listing for details and channels.
-------------------------------------------------
I thought I already posted this but didn't see it.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 8:02 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
#7

Well good news, my peer got out of the hostipal a few hours ago. It seems it was just a stress build up. When they found him it looked bad, slumped over, holding chest and complaining about chest pains.

I am going over tommorrow to see him.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.181 ) at 6:22 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

Robert: The Spica TC-50 didn't have low-end, but the Quad's didn't have much either (regardless of which stand you put them on ;-). The Spica Angelus was a floor standing speaker and had some low end but not as much as the Vandies and they didn't imade as well as the TCs (and they were ugly to boot). Another speaker that imaged well was the Rauna Tyrs, a concrete enclosure speaker.

Seems that an ability to image often came at the expense of low end extension (maybe because low notes are supposedly non-directional). Though the ML Statements succeeded at both. Nothing better than being able to close your eyes and reach out to where the instruuments or voices are supposed to be...

Wild Bill ( 12.92.110.46 ) at 5:52 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

Gar: Are you sure about the Dynaudio tweeters? My sources tell me that Dynaudio stopped sourcing drivers to other manufacturers a couple of years ago and that they have no intention to restart this practice.

Gar ( 66.222.48.104 ) at 5:45 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Dealer

My local dealer will sell me a InFocus 7200 and a new Firehawk 92" screen for $8000 including my trade in on my Sony 10HT and my Viewtec Screen. Very tempted to do this deal considering the price and the quality of the image the DLP unit put up. Or I just buy the screen for now and upgrade later when prices drop.

Gar ( 66.222.48.104 ) at 5:41 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

cai: You have good taste my friend. What JA's did you buy? I would love a pair of 25's or 33s, but its hard to buy them when I still can get a very good discount on Dynaudios. The RM7si Signatures I love, and will keep them till they finally fry out whenever that will be. The new Contour Dynaudios are on my short list to listen to, ironically there are a ton of manufactures using Dynaudio Tweeters, Eggleson Works are Merlins Totems, and now the new Tannoy line has there tweeters. etc..,,,
the list is getting longer.

Tony C ( 65.214.102.5 ) at 4:36 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Canceling CH membership

Robert: Funny. I'll pass thanks.

Anyone else have something to trade for Spy Game?

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 4:31 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

RickMTB: Spica's T-50's,,,yea baby, they are at the top of my list as well for imaging folowed closely behind Kef's Uni Q C-35 from the early 90's. JUst not a lot of bottom end though.
There's a pair on Ebay I've checked out this past week. Too many other things on my list though.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 4:26 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Another one

Joe:What the heck's going on there, thats a stat that OSHA wouldn't like at all. I say that half heartedly, but that's some high percentages friend.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.181 ) at 4:26 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

cai: Thanks for the feedback. And (perhaps not surprisingly) the Vienna Acoustics Bach are another speaker I am looking at (right Derb). The VA speakers also make me think of the vandersteen sound... a non-fatiguing, "warm" sound that images well. The Meadowlark's slanted design is similar to the Thiel and Spica (and the 'steen's stacked box lining up of drivers), an effort to address "time-coherency" I suspect.

The Spica was on my shortlist (I even considered the larger Angelus to get more bottom end) way back then and in some ways the Spica is one of the best sounding speakers of all time (after the Quad), at least in imaging.

While I would like the slightly better extension of the Kestrel the Swift is priced better and unless they have redesigned the kestrel to look more like the Swift as they have with some of their larger speakers) I prefer the look of the Swift.

BIG AL ( 209.109.233.128 ) at 4:20 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

joelc; I didn't get an e-mail from you yet. Did you send to uti.com, or yahoo?

BIG AL ( 209.109.233.128 ) at 4:17 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Gar; Zone labs makes a firewall that stops popups. www.zonelabs.com

cai ( 68.100.159.101 ) at 4:15 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

RickMTB: I listened to the Kestrels before I bought my Joseph Audio speakers. I have also listened to them at CES. To me they seem to be very good speakers. Together with the Vienna Acoustics, they made my final short list. A critic, I do not recall what magazine- Audiophile?, has Meadowlarks in one of his reference rooms. It could be the bigger ones.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.181 ) at 4:04 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

Joe: Thanks (and hopefully GasGeek will chime in!). There is a dealer in Fort Worth so if and when I get the necessary approvals from She Who Approves such Things (aka SWAT) then I may make a long road trip (and ask BC if he's interested in accompanying me).

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.181 ) at 4:00 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Rick

Joe: Trek makes good bikes (my wife likes her Trek 950). The bike business is having as challenging if not more challenging time as the computer industry... with lots of layoffs, chapter 11s (eg Cannondale is the latest and largest) as the mountain bike boom peters out and companies find they have excessive portfolios and insufficient demand. Most bike companies will send "canned" responses unfortunately.

Most good customer service comes from the local bike shops... thats why its good to support your local shops and why going with Trek is probably your best bet. We were lucky one of the larger bike shops in our area carries Haro. Enjoy the bike!

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 3:34 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Rick

I am going with the Trek. I sent Haro a nice E-Mail explaining how I was having a hard time finding a local dealer that carries Moutain Bikes. I got a canned response.

That tells me about thier customer service.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 3:31 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Another one

Around 1330 today Trades Supervisor #7 got hauled out in the ambulance.

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 3:30 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

RickMTB: Gasgeek talks about these speakers. I believe he owns some.

RickMTB ( 161.114.1.181 ) at 2:38 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Meadowlark anyone?

Has anyone heard any of the Meadowlark speakers... the Kestrel or the newer/smaller Swift. The Swift especially has a good look and small size that would get high WAF, but I am not very familiar with transmission line designs in general and while the few reviews I have read liken them to Spicas (better imaging) and Vandersteens (better bass extension and weight)... too of my favorite speakers.

Gar ( 66.222.49.136 ) at 2:18 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Anyone ever have pop up Porn videos start popping up on there screen out of knowhere? Lucky me, came downstairs and there they were, of course wife saw them before I did, so now I am in the shitter. Is there sometype of filter i can stick on my browser? Thanks.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 1:47 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Canceling CH membership

Tony C: I still have "Babe, Pig in the City" if you want to trade ! DOH!!

Gar ( 66.222.49.136 ) at 12:39 PM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

I was asked to be a part of a Audio group that gets together locally to discuss audio etc... in general. But once again, I see the Nazi police are at it again. I don't want to have any part of the snob appeal that deals with High End Audio. They can take there high end Amps and stuff them!!! ;)
Hello,

You are receiving this email because you participated in an Audiogon discussion regarding Audio Clubs. The particular thread is titled:
"Wisconsin - Anyone interested?"

A new response was just posted, as follows:
==========
Invites: Some of you have mentioned that you are having one or two people come along. I and all but one of the other members agree we should not be inviting factory representatives or their proxy: Audio Dealers, or at the very least, not have them attend our the first meeting or meetings when the rest of the group did not ask them to attend. I am sure it would be fine for them to know that there is a focused interest in 2-channel hi-end stereo in Wisconsin demonstrated, in part, by our interest in forming a club around that idea. But for now, lets keep the obvious vested interest groups out. In fact, other another factory rep from Wisconsin said it would not be appropriate for him or anyone else to attend unless explicitly invited to come present equipment or company viewpoints on technology etc at a meeting (which he would be glad to do).

Posted by Nanderson
==========

Gar ( 66.222.49.136 ) at 11:24 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Tannoy Speakers

Someone said they heard these and they where a great sounding speaker, especially for the money.

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?spkrfull&1050703778&class&3&4&

Gar ( 66.222.49.136 ) at 11:24 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Tannoy Speakers

Some said they heard these and they where a great sounding speaker, especially for the money.

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?spkrfull&1050703778&class&3&4&

Gar ( 66.222.49.136 ) at 11:18 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Ah, $100 off when my roof is being redone isn't good enough. Lets just say in a matter of days my money is being drained to some extent. My new 3 year old roof is leaking all over the place causing water damage. The roofers where here fast to help fix it, seems to be a condensation problem. Still there fault! Got the insurance company involved now which is a good thing, our home owners will cover anything inside the house that the roofers won't.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:08 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Gar: True yet I thought once in a while you were willing to pay dealers a reasonable price on particulalry hot, newly released & hard to find at any price equipment, no?

Gar ( 66.222.49.136 ) at 10:21 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Curtis: C-2 will have to wait, and so will the HD camcorders etc... The Yamaha however I am going to buy sooner than later. Depends on price Stevie could only get me $100 bucks off on that unit, which isn't a Curtis or Gar deal.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:03 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Sony DirecTivo crashed?

Great - the only sat receiver in the house and now it's doing this:

- 1st crash "Gray screen with "Could not load kernal" error message
- Unplugged it for a hour, now it's stuck on the gray screen "Powering Up" screen

Any idea what's wrong? DirecTV says it's working fine but want s me to buy another one if I'm not seeing programming.

cai ( 205.254.147.8 ) at 8:55 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Netscape Question

AVB: Thank you. I will try it out when I get home from work. Interesting, I have win2000 at work, but I do not have the documents and settings folder. Maybe it is because we use a network installed version of the Ops. system.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 8:11 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Oakley Sunglass

Joe: Check out some of the bike mail order places like www.nashbar.com and www.performancebike.com for a good selection of Oakley, Bolle, Rudy Project, Smith glasses and others.

One thing... helps to know exactly what you want/like since how the glasses fit your face is important (both in terms of looks and function).

Tony C ( 68.20.182.14 ) at 8:06 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Curtis: I primed the lower level last night. Too tired to do the stairway. Maybe tonight.
Then I'll paint the whole thing tomorrow and I'll be done.
But then my wife is haveing some lady come in to do a faux finish.
What an expensive project! And I'm doing most of the work myself!

Tony C ( 68.20.182.14 ) at 8:02 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Canceling CH membership

AVB: Thanks for the heads up on the CH deal. And Brian, thanks for the cancel info.

Tony C ( 68.20.182.14 ) at 7:58 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Canceling CH membership

BYork: Yes, I did get in and my discs arrived. Unfortunately in my haste, I ordered Spy Games. A disc I already owned.

So if anyone wants to trade a disc for Spy Games, let me know.

Kieran ( 209.204.144.50 ) at 5:47 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Oakley Sunglass

Joe: Not sure about a good vendor, but in addition to Oakley, check out Rudy Project sunglasses. I like their stuff a lot... very nice if you're an active person.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 1:54 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Tony C: How goes the wallpaper stripping/painting? You'll be ready to pass out by the time the Grammy's begin ;-) Hang tough.

Gar: I'm going to see Stevie tomorrow. He said he quoted you on the C-1/C-2 and the Yammie DVD deck & can get them in a few days. Anything else you need from him?

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 1:29 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Gar: You're in for a long wait then.

Joe ( 152.163.189.201 ) at 12:10 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003
Oakley Sunglass

So where is a good place to get these cheap?

I have always had to wear shitty clip ons or gas station sun glasses. Now since the Lasik I can actually get a decent pair.

Joe ( 152.163.189.201 ) at 12:08 AM EST Friday, February 21, 2003

Evening all

Tony that sounds great.

Rick I sent Haro a E-mail we will see what I hear back.

Gar ( 66.222.48.17 ) at 11:54 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003

Curtis: I do recall the Digital 8 format, I waited and bought one for $600 bucks.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:29 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003

Gar: ... do you recall the first Digital 8 Sony consumer camcorders? They were $10,000

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 11:23 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
First HDTV Camcorder into'd From JVC

Gar: It actually uses DV tapes and includes both an upconverter and downconverter to be compatable with the rest of the world so I wouldn't have to change formats - just NLE programs for HD footage.

Yes $3,500 isn't cheap but I know a lot of folks who spend that on a pair of speakers. If you're a shooting videophile it's a steal next to the only other HD camcorder options that start at $85,000. I predict within 22 months the price will reach the magic $999 threshold.

Article and photo of it are in this article: http://www.forbes.com/2003/02/04/cx_ah_0204tentech.html?partner=yahoo&referrer=

AVB ( 64.41.32.124 ) at 11:17 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Netscape Question

cai:This will be long. Open windows explorer, goto C:\Documents and Settings\username\application data\monzilla\profiles\default\xxxxxxxx.slt\mail\pop.ISP.com

Note: username is the name of the person you are trying to get the files for. The xxxxxxxxx.slt is the 8 character slt file, for me it starts with du808xxx.slt. pop.ISP.com will be your ISP provider.

Once you have found that copy the entire mail folder to someplace else that is safe. Look at your newsgroups and copy on paper or a text file all of the newsgroups you belong to. Delete the entire Monzilla folder and all subfolders. Re-install Netscape 7. After Netscape is installed and you configured the email close netscape, copy the previously saved Mail folder right over the new folder that you just created. Reboot and reopen Netscape. All your old email and folders should be back where they were.

cai ( 68.100.159.101 ) at 9:46 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Netscape Question

My daughter caused a major breakdown of win2000, I had to reinstall it. In doing so all the programs that I had have to be reinstalled. The old versions are still there but not installed in win2000. One of these programs is Netscape 7.0, in doing so, I have lost all the mail accounts and past e-mails.

Does anyone know how to recover these messages? I know they are still in the computer because I can see the folders in the directories. What I do not know is what has to be transferred and where. I tried this before without success. This version makes it very difficult to transfer archives. In the past versions these things would just convey over.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Gar ( 66.222.50.216 ) at 9:44 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
First HDTV Camcorder into'd From JVC

Curtis: At $3500 bucks that sure isn't a general consumer Camcorder, but in a year or two, it will be half the price. Good news to hear, a HD Camcorder is on its way, maybe HD DVD will be soon also. :) Oh Joy!!!!!!

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 9:36 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
First HDTV Camcorder into'd From JVC

Holy cow - this is HUGE news. I'll dump DV in a NY minute for a true 720p consumer camcorder. Price ain't cheap at $3,500, yet a great deal less than all other current HD cams. PR says:
====================================
The big hurdle for the creation of more native HDTV content on TV has been the cost of the cameras and the production studios. While not necessarily up to the ultimate broadcast standards for HDTV, JVC has introduced a $3,500 camcorder that can record 720p HDTV. Editing is strangely done in the Windows XP environment with bundled software� not Macintosh which is more of the video editing industry�s computer of choice.

The JVC GR-HD1 camcorder gives home video enthusiasts a way to get personally recorded content to their HDTV systems and even archived on their D-VHS VCRs which are also sold by JVC and can playback prerecorded HDTV movies.
The GR-HD1 doesn�t always need record in 720. It can be set to record in the standard 480i format which is more compatible with NTSC TVs. The recorder hooks up to computers and other devices via Firewire.

Johnbr ( 24.112.61.139 ) at 8:18 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003

A crap on the spelling.

Johnbr ( 24.112.61.139 ) at 8:15 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Johnbr

Joe:That is what the oner told me do not no what is going on.I have made three dates to set up a barco tv and they did not come.I am getting fed up with them.Was looking at a amp with them that was 1800$ a par they would sell me they for 1500$ each.

JT ( 167.136.246.187 ) at 6:32 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Watches

Joelc: I used the FedEx Duty estimation system and it appears that on a $1,295 watch the duty would be around $110. I tried to call the local customs office but the woman I needed to speak with wasn't around. Hopefully someone else will have some luck checking on this as I'm not fully comfortable with the FedEx estimate.

Gar ( 66.222.50.216 ) at 6:18 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003

Tannoy Speakers from the looks of it there using a Dynaudio Tweeter, so these got to woth a listen.

Gar ( 66.222.50.216 ) at 6:10 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
More great speaker deals!

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?spkrfull&1050703778&class&3&4&

Joelc ( 64.229.56.75 ) at 5:58 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003

Have a great evening gang!

Gotta run as I am having a dinner party for six tonight -- not friends )unfortunately), but business colleagues! Wish me luck!

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 5:52 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
DVD sync problems

Duane: Thanks Duane. I plan on trying it on my old Tosh, and then on the Tosh with my old pre/pro, then my buddies DV-12S1, etc.

Gar: Like I said earlier, I returned it once,which was a real test of my patience, and it's still bad, but then could be a bad batch as my buddy claims his older copy plays perfectly on his player which is the same as mine.

Who knows! Just looking for some insight.

AVB ( 64.41.32.124 ) at 4:44 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Canceling CH membership

Chris L.: I started this here and I don't have any updates, discs or emails. I was already a CH member (music club) so I don't know what the hold up is.

Chris L. ( 68.169.212.226 ) at 4:25 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Canceling CH membership

Kieran: How long before you received your DVDs? I ordered what, 2 weeks ago, when you guys were all jumping on it. I logged in and it says they're still going over my application. ::shrug::

Gar ( 66.222.126.161 ) at 4:06 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
One For Kieran :)

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/music/ch/styles/latin.jsp?cts=1&src=http://demand1.stream.aol.com/ramgen/aol/us/aolmusic/artists/sony/shakira/shakira_theone_vers1_nb.rm

Gar ( 66.222.49.46 ) at 4:04 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Dunlavy

Gasgeek: Not a fan of making everything in China, golbalization and gobal economy can be a very bad thing if a War breaks out. Good to see at least a American company is buying them even though there assembled in China. US/Canada and Europe make damn good speakers and have for sometime, hell these Joseph Audios, I fricking "LOVE" and will never sell them, I actually like there sound a tad better than my Dynaudios and I wouldn't mind getting a floorstander by them soon. Your right about NHT, there are a ton of places to buy them on the net.

BYork ( 171.72.5.133 ) at 4:04 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003

Mine came on Tuesday. Then....my copy of Metropolis came last night. Life is good.

:-)

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 3:56 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Canceling CH membership

BYork: Got my discs yesterday (finally!) Sweet deal, is right! :)

Gar ( 66.222.49.46 ) at 3:56 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
DVD sync problems

Gasgeek: Could be the Discs. Also there releasing a ton of DVDs with Defects. Some of the Orginal Widescreen of LOTR, had problems, the new Back to the Future Box set has problems and so does the movie Unfaithful. Basically companies are not doing a good job of checking the product over before it goes to market.

Duane ( 209.219.209.72 ) at 3:37 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
DVD sync problems

Gasgeek: The easiest thing would be to eliminate the disc as the problem.Take your disc and try it on another player.I have not had a problem with my Ovation as far as lipsync.However,there are times when it doesn't lock onto a digital source.

BYork ( 204.151.114.9 ) at 3:31 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Canceling CH membership

Tony C: -

Did you get in on the 5-for-$25? (pretty sweet...!)

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 3:13 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
DVD sync problems

Kieran: It's my new Marantz DV-12S1. I haven't been able to really dig in and see if I can isolate the problem yet. This has only occured on a couple of discs.

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 3:11 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Dunlavy

Gar: No, NHT isn't out of business, but has had some major problems. You must have missed my posts. Their parent company, Recoton, lost millions in the K-Mart bankruptcy. They supplied the cheap interconnects and speaker wire for a lot of the Mart type people. K-Mart stiffed them pretty good.

As such, none of NHT's suppliers would sell them anything, nor would their assembly plants in China do any work for them. They went almost three months without shipping product. I waited over two months for a sub for one of my customer's before their distributor finally broke the news. Up to then, they were using every excuse, including the West Coast dock strike to explain why they weren't shipping anything.

The bottom line is they were bought by Rockford/Fosgate. They should resume shipping very soon. There's a lot of controversy still surrounding the company and it's tactics. They have sales agreements with all of their dealers saying they will not allow internet sales, and will protect their dealers territories, and yet the internet is full of "authorized dealers." They are also selling to some big discount stores in the area that are making it hard for their old dealer base to compete. Brian basically threw the new sales rep out the door this week and will not be carrying NHT in the future.

Tony C ( 65.214.102.5 ) at 3:07 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Canceling CH membership

BYork: Your Rock. Thanks. Perfect instructions.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 3:07 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
DVD sync problems

Gasgeek: Audio sync problems were very common in the early days of dvd players and were usually fixed with a firmware upgrade/patch. Have you compared the version&date of your player's firmware to that of your friends? Sometimes newer firmware isn't always better, either...

As much as I tire of the antics at other forums... this is often one thing they are good for... their huge numbers of members means often SOMEONE has had a similar problem. You might try searching HTF, the SPOT, and/or AVS. The one thing I like about the Spot is that they have brand-specific forums...

What brand&model dvd player is it?

BYork ( 204.151.114.9 ) at 2:59 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Canceling CH membership

Tony C: -

Once you log in:

Click the CLUB HELP tab at the top right of the page
On the page that comes up, click MEMBERSHIP INFO from the left-side column
Click question (9): How do I cancel my membership?
In the answer they take you to, Click the Go to the Account Cancel page link

Gar ( 66.222.127.93 ) at 2:57 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Dunlavy

Gasgeek:Too bad, they could have least retained a few sales people who knew the product. Also, is NHT out of business also? I heard SoundCity is blowing there line out also.

Gar ( 66.222.127.93 ) at 2:56 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Dunlavy

Gasgeek:Too bad, that could have least retained a few sales people who knew the product. Also, is NHT out of business also? I heard SoundCity is blowing there line out also.

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 2:38 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Dunlavy

Gar: Dunlavy officially closed their doors on Nov. 7th. AudioVideo Logic apparently has a lot of capital, as they buy up a lot of discontinued equipment. They bought the last 35 sets of the NHT VT-3's and are blowing them out the door at $4500. Below original cost.

Heard several rumors that Dunlavy is trying to come up with financing to reopen. They were bought by a stage lighting company that was next door to them. I've heard people say that they knew nothing about the speaker business. The owner just liked the speakers and bought the company. Their presence at shows was supposedly hilarious as they supposedly had no knowledge of the product.

Gar ( 66.222.127.93 ) at 2:22 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
AVB

Is Dunlavy going out of business? Reason being I just got a e-mail stating there having a huge blowout on there speakers. 45 - 50% off.

www.audiovideologic.com

Joelc ( 64.229.56.75 ) at 2:13 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Watches

BIG AL, JT, Kieran, Trav1: Requests for prices have been forwarded!! Will advise by e-mail when received!!

Can someone please check the tax situation.

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 1:48 PM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
DVD sync problems

An HT topic. On a few discs, I'm having some severe sync problems with my system. I have not had a chance to break it down to determine if it's DVD player related, specific disc related or processor related.

The new Knebworth Concerts disc has severe sync problems for the first 1/2 to 2/3 of the first disc. The rest of the first disc and the second disc appear ok. I returned it once, and it still is happening (bad batch). My buddy has the same DVD player and has no problem with his copy (a couple of months older copy of the same DVD) Has happened a couple of other times with other discs. Paul McCartney for one. Stopping and restarting doesn't help.

I haven't had time to break down the system and try my old DVD player or processor back in the mix. Obviously, I need to do some serious testing of my system, but just curious.

Any ideas, comments, etc?

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:17 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Old Cassettes

Tony C: I think he was looking for NL's Christmas Vacation to cover his bet. I think yours is close enough.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 10:15 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
mini 256MB usb drive

Wild Bill: If the USB port can recognize UBB Hard Drives, yep.

Tony C ( 65.214.102.5 ) at 9:47 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Political Science by Randy Newman

No one likes us, I don't know why.
We aint perfect, but heaven knows we try.
All around even our old freinds put us down,
let's drop the big one and see what happens

We give them money, but are they grateful?
No, they're spiteful and they're hateful.
They don't respect us, so let's surprise them.
We'll drop the big one and pulverize them

Asia's too crowded, Europe's too old.
Africa is far too hot and Canada's too cold.
South America stole our name
Let's drop the big one there'll be no one left to blame us.

But we'll same Australia
Don't wanna hurt no kangaroo
We'll build an all American amusement park there.
They got surfing too!

Boom goes London, Boom Paris (Paree)
More room for you and more room for me.
Every city the whole world round
Will just be another American town

Just imagine how peaceful it will be
You were a Japanese kamona, Italian shoes for me
They all hate us anyhow, so let's drop the big one now.

Let's drop the big one now.

Joelc ( 216.223.140.58 ) at 9:28 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Watches

Trav1: Call US customs and ask them. I do this all the time (but Canada CUstoms) when I import stuff from the states. Depending on the product and country of origin (i.e. manufacturing) the duty will range from nil to a hefty %.

Trav1 ( 192.76.84.196 ) at 9:13 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Watches

Joelc: I have never dealt with the duty before. I wouldn't know where to start. Hopefully someone else on the list can be of more help than I.

Joelc ( 216.223.140.58 ) at 8:54 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Watches

Al, JT, Kieran, Trav1, etc.: Quick question gang... have any of you checked the duty that you might have to pay. The reason I ask is that depending on the duty this may/may not work and, to that point, want to make sure it will work before pressing my guy later today.

SO, to that end, can one of you check this out and get back to me?

Joelc ( 216.223.140.14 ) at 8:51 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003

Good morning gang!!!

Tony C ( 68.20.182.28 ) at 7:59 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
Old Cassettes

Joe: You're not going to belive this, but I was going through about 250 old cassettes and wondering what I should do with them when I spied a copy of National Lampoon's Vacation!
Yep.
I'm going to make a copy for my self and one for you. Give me a couple of days though because I'm really jammed. My wife has me painting the house before the Grammy Party.

Kieran ( 209.204.144.50 ) at 2:38 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
GT3

Gar: Never mind I figured it out... pretty KOOL!

Kieran ( 209.204.144.50 ) at 2:05 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
PS2 gran turismo

Gar: Do you play this game? There's a thread on HTF that lists this as having 16:9 mode play... I can't seem to make it work. I set the PS2 system settings screen size to 16:9, but the game looks stretched in full mode. Is there a setting I'm missing somewhere?

Gar ( 66.222.48.253 ) at 12:49 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
DVD-S2300

JT: A couple of quick questions? How do you like it? How is the SACD part of it and the DVD-A? Also what kind of price did you get? gward@tds.net

Thanks for the heads up!

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 12:34 AM EST Thursday, February 20, 2003
how about a Thule 600 box then?

As long as I'm spamming my pals. The infamous 600 box, twice as wide as everything they sell now big enough to easily hold Jimmy Hoffa ;-) It's still available in Europe but not here - I can put a weeks worth of camping gear in it. REI got $800 out of me for it - anyone have a clue as to what a good price for a used one is? Includes dual locks, ski/board rubber mounts and secure straps.

Yakima sells an adapter to fit it on their racks! I don't think they ever made such a large box. Opens like a clamshell. Perfect for Texas Caddies, Robert ;-)

JT ( 65.30.238.18 ) at 11:37 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
DVD-S2300

Gar: You might want to check with Kelly. I bought mine from him. Don't know if he has more in stock, though.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:53 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Joe: I'm sure a few old us true old farts can save you a small fortune in "mid-life-crisis" situations. You're way too young to be there yet clearly are showing the early warning signs ;-)

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 10:27 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Man I bought a Faith Hill DVD-A and I am talking about mountain biking. I must be getting old or something :)

Joe ( 198.208.223.35 ) at 10:25 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
RickMTB

RickMTB: I was thinking the same about a local dealer. I can get the Trek-4900 for $439. I might go in tommorrow and offer $400 out the door.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 10:05 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Watches

Joelc: I saw a beautiful TAG watch yeaterday at Costco, of all places. Thank god I can't swing their $1,349 asking price - then I discovered the MSRP is $5,000!

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 9:56 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
mini 256MB usb drive

Kieran: Fry's was nearly giving away those things around Xmas.

Tony C ( 68.20.209.133 ) at 9:21 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Canceling CH membership

BYork: What happened is that it was the first time I was there as a member so I had to GET a password. Which I did.
But I still can't find a page to cancel.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 8:44 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
RickMTB

Kieran: I haven't tried them but they were the hot new pedal design (much like years ago people jumped on the Bebop pedal design). The Eggbeaters look smart from a mud-shedding and ease of engagement view (not just two-sided engagement, but four-sided!). I haven't seen what the cleat looks like (probably like the Time design). Must be a pretty decent design since Look licensed the design and sells a slightly spiffier version (better bearings) called the 4x4.

I have had really good luck with the Time ATACs... simple, sheds mud really well, no adjustments to mess with or maintenance, very durable. Plus I like the slight side-to-side float. The only catch was the price, but the Alium model is only slightly heavier and is reasonably priced.

I reviewed few SPD clones years ago... Coda, Icon, Ritchey, and one brand that doesn't exist any longer. The Ritchey was a piece of sh$t, but the rest were all Wellgo made and worked fine. Unfortunately, Shimano's best SPd was one of their first... the 737 since it was simple... stomp and click. I bought a pair of Wellgos to use on my recumbent.

Chris L. ( 68.169.212.226 ) at 7:56 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

JJ: Good to hear. I guess everyone is worried about getting ripped off and probably jump to conclusions quicker when they buy over the net.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 7:49 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
RickMTB

RickMTB: Have you tried the egg-beaters? You mentioned large contact area to avoid hot spots is a good thing... those egg-beaters look like a bad thing, IMO. People seem to love them... I think they're too small and too ugly! ;^)

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 7:22 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
RickMTB

Joe: Perhaps emailing or calling Haro directly. Their web site URL is www.harobikes.com and they are based in Vista, CA. The web site has dealers but it probably doesn't distinguish between BMX (where Haro is very strong) and MTBs (where Haro isn't very strong). One thing... if its that tough to find a local dealer, perhaps you are better off looking another bike (Trek, Specialized, etc) that has a more local presence. I think Haro's are tough to beat for the money, btw.

I like clipless... better connection to the bike equals better control. Takes a bit of practice getting in and out (and a good chance you will fall clumsily at least once early on) but once you get the hang of it you will really prefer clipless (better control and better power transfer). There are a few very good designs... I have and like Time ATACs, but Shimano's SPDs (and their clones) really started the market and they are good too. I know folks that really like Speedplay Frogs and the newer Eggbeater designs. "Horses for courses"... look for a design that sheds mud, has a big contact area (to avoid hot spots) and if you have knee prks then more float is helpful (and the Frogs offer a lot of float).

Joe ( 198.208.6.35 ) at 7:06 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Johnbr

I recall you saying that London Audio was having thier November HT show around now. Do you recall the dates, I could not find any information on the website?

My birthday is only a month away and it's time to start priming the wife. last year I got a Rotel RMB-1095 amp. Who knows this year :)

Trav1 ( 4.47.73.82 ) at 7:04 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Watches

Joelc: Hopefully it wasn't me you were waiting on for the email about the watches. I sent it back to you a couple of days ago.

Joe ( 198.208.6.35 ) at 7:03 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Gar

Are you buying the Yamaha 2300?

Joe ( 198.208.6.35 ) at 7:00 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
RickMTB

I have been having a hard time finding anyone in my area with Haro MTB. I tried the 3 locla dealers in Flint, Lapeer and Davison. All anyone has is BMX.

They quoted me a 2003 order price of $410 for the V3. Is there anyway to find out who carriers the MTB without having to call everyone on the list?

Also Pedals, Clipped or Clipless advantages and disadvantages?

AVB ( 64.41.33.11 ) at 6:44 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
The furniture version of the "white van"...

RickMTB: Had that same one happen here too. I could use a few of those cheap chairs now though.

BYork ( 171.72.5.75 ) at 6:42 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Canceling CH membership

Tony C: -

I've always had to supply an ID and password.

There's an alternate solution if you know your account number - Call customer service and have them cancel the account. To shorten your time waiting on the phone, check out this link:The Wolf Husky Phone Bypass v2.0 (with 1750 FREE Hours)

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 6:34 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
The furniture version of the "white van"...

... "Sir, I have a truck full of furniture I am delivering from North Carolina and there were COD problems..." I almost asked the guy if he had any cool sounding speakers in there.

Luckily my wife wasn't home... ;-)

JJ ( 69.3.174.200 ) at 6:11 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Chris L.: He's getting sound now. The unit has full main-in/pre-out. He jumpered to get sound. I'm near certain you can run it integrated without the jumpers. there is a switch on the back. I gave him instructions, I don't think he followed. He was probably just pissed off, thinking he had gotten ripped. Kinda understandable. One of the directions was to do the jumpering, but he wanted his money back before he tried it.
anyway, looks like all might end well.

Chris L. ( 68.169.212.226 ) at 6:08 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

JJ: Same thing happened to me when I sold my old Marantz RC2000 MKII remote on eBay a few years ago. The buyer said it wouldn't learn anything and wanted his money back. I gave him detailed instructions (since he couldn't seem to be able to read the manual) and he still said it wouldn't learn. I finally gave in and said I would refund his money after I received the remote. A week later I received the remote and tried it out. Worked flawlessly. I even sent him pics I took of the little "learn" and "ok" in the corner of the remote's screen after I got it back. I offered to send it back to him but he thought I had ripped him off.
I reposted the remote on eBay and got about $50 more for it and never heard another word, other than positive feedback, from the buyer.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 6:00 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Roof Racks

RickMTB: They were teardrop/aerodynamic shaped if that helps, Starting with an "S" seems familiar though.

JJ ( 69.3.174.200 ) at 5:34 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

friggin internet.
This guy contacts me from HTF to buy my old Kenwood Receiver. We agree on a price, shipping, etc. He pays via PayPal.
Now says got unit, but does not work. wants refund. Yeah right. I told him to file a complaint with UPS, it was fine when I shipped.
I told him he'd have to send it back before I think about any refund.

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 5:31 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Roof Racks

Robert: was the third you were thinking of Saris? Never looked into pricing... always liked Yakimas (both the rack and the company), only wish they had a better design/policy towards upgrades and investment protection. The Rocky Mounts yellow would sure look good with my LeMond... ;-)

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 5:04 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Watches

Joelc: Is this deal ONLY for Mont-Blanc and Tag-Heuer? There's definitely an Omega or two I'd MUCH rather have than any TAG... but at such deep discounts the TAG is worth it if that's all there is.

Gar ( 66.222.49.132 ) at 5:03 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Curtis

Thanks for the heads up on the Yamaha Dealer near you. I might buy the DVDS-2300 from Stevie, depends on price. Unit is is a tad expensive yet.

Joelc ( 216.223.140.58 ) at 4:59 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Watches

Kieran: E-mail received. I am still waiting for one more person to get back to me and I will then see what I can do.

For thos interested... saw my "dream watch" today. A Concord Impresario Chronograph. What do I love about this watch... it is like my car... very understated, yet appreciated by those in the know. Too bad the damn thing is USD 3,400 otherwise... who knows!

Alas... there is no way that I could possibly justify this. I even tried! Current watch is 11 years so... Annual cost USD 310.00. No -- don't think so!

Gar ( 66.222.49.132 ) at 4:52 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
These look like a good deal!

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?homevdeo&1050861829&class&3&4&

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 4:39 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Joelc: email coming your way!

Gar ( 66.222.49.132 ) at 4:37 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Real life SOCOM

Robert: That has been on before and it was pretty cool and hard training they go through!

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 4:36 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
mini 256MB usb drive

Robert: I guess I missed that you can use the MuVo w/o the Nomad add-on battery pack. In that case, it is about the same size as the Iomega one, and since my buddy Robert works for Creative, I'd have to go with the Muvo... ;-) Can you buy a Muvo w/o the Nomad battery pack?

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 4:34 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
mini 256MB usb drive

Robert: Sorry, but by the pictures that MuVo is WAY to big to be a keychain... mp3 player or not. I like the idea of the keychain storage device... say I download some stuff while at work, and want to bring it home... or need to work on some CAD files later that night... very convenient. The MuVo *is* very cool, if you want an mp3 player, but I wouldn't classify it as a keychain... my key's go in my jeans pocket, and they have to be comfortable there.

Wild Bill ( 12.92.113.177 ) at 4:17 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
mini 256MB usb drive

Robert: Can I plug the MuVo into an Escient Fireball yet?

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 3:55 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Roof Racks

RickMTB: oohhhhhh, colors, too bad they don't have dark blue awww. Thule/Yakima, there was third one for a while as well, all very expensive but a needed investment. I've had two sets stolen, some cars even with the locks are stil suseptable (sp) to theft, such as a CRX. and still have two sets of bars and canoe racks, and long trays, baskets, short trays, ski mounts. I had to buy a bigger bar set once I got the Texas Cadillac.

Tony C ( 68.20.180.54 ) at 3:54 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Canceling CH membership

BYork: I don't remember giving a user name and password.
Did I have to do that to get the DVDs?

Also, I couldn't find that page. The have CLUB HELP. And when I hit that, there is nothing called MEMBERSHIP INFO or a Cancellation page.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 3:43 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
mini 256MB usb drive

Kieran: Yea but does it play mp3's? http://www.nomadworld.com/products/MuVo/
I'm sure a larger version is around the corner ; )

Tony C ( 68.20.180.54 ) at 3:38 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Free DVDs

Kieran:
BYork:
Thanks guys, I'll try that.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 3:20 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
mini 256MB usb drive

I think this is cool.

Ron ( 208.195.242.212 ) at 1:46 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Robert: I have the 750, 200, and 300.

BYork ( 171.72.5.75 ) at 1:20 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Canceling CH membership

Tony C -

(Kieran was right...I know how!)

If you log into the CH website, they have a "cancel my subscription" page. You can get to it From the MEMBERSHIP INFO section of their help system.

EVERYONE - You don't ever need to have them send you stuff via snail-mail...you can decline your "monthly selections" online, as well, and then you needn't worry about the DVD beating the selection card to your mailbox...

RickMTB ( 24.175.71.164 ) at 12:35 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Roof Racks

Robert: I also have a Yakima rack. btw, have you ever looked at Rocky Mounts. They are compatible with Yakima and Thule and they usually cost less. And you can add a splash of color to your rack (the trays come in blue, red, and yellow as well as black).

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 12:19 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
speaking of snooty fruit people...

Curtis:

It's just that they want to mount to square bars and yours are round.

Hmmm... sounds like an engineering challenge, too me. Remember that scene in Apollo-13? ;^)

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 12:10 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
speaking of snooty fruit people...

Robert: I hear you. There are so many luxury items for sale around here from once wealthy dot.bombers it's not funny. Rolex's, Porches/Bimmers/ Benz's, gawdy luxury homes - you name it. My reply when they demand new list prices is something like Pacino's great line in 'Scent of a Woman"'when he's negotiating at the Ferrari dealer. "Hey man, the '80's are over - who many of these things did you sell last month?"

My Thule stuff will (sorta) fit on Yakima racks! It's just that they want to mount to square bars and yours are round.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 12:01 PM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Free DVDs

Tony C: Good question... I don't know because I haven't looked in to it yet. I haven't received my dvd's yet! They say they were shipped about a week ago, but I haven't seen them yet. How did they arrive, USPS, UPS, or what?

BYork probably knows how to cancel. One way I know is to wait for them to send you a card in the mail telling you what your monthly selection will be, then write "cancel membership" on it and return it. That's what I did for the CD club years ago.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 11:29 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Welcome to the Robert Hour ;)

.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 11:28 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Roof Racks

Curtis: Sorry, I'm a Yakima guy ; )

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 11:27 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Read this

Kieran/cai: On top of that, many refineries produce the gas the exact same way and only when a company tanker pulls in for his load do the additives for each brand of gas get included. So it's not uncommon for the competitors to sell each other gasoline, much like being bumped from a overbooked Northwest flight and still arriving st my final desitnation at the same time on United.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 11:22 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Curtis: Glad to see you still have some at home entertainment!
PS I turned down a job by one of those guys listed last week. I would have had to move to Georgia after 6 mos.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 11:20 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
speaking of snooty fruit people...

Curtis: I got the same attitude from MS people at a show. Funny thing is money will do that to a person, this person makes about $50K a year but has about $2M in options. That type of cash to many will create that type of attitude.
I know that's different that your Bay Area Apple Store, but similar attitudes. In fact I got a similar attitude from one of my own team members. So much that I had to ask if the Technology heyday a couple of years ago is still permeating in her head today.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 11:14 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Ron: Which Rockets do you have?

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 11:14 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Comcast reply

Curtis: The real translation is that they did not keep up with technolgy in their "backbone" and have to upgrade that first before they can even think about a HD feed.

Robert ( 12.218.0.16 ) at 11:12 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Real life SOCOM

Gar/ALL: My Tivo has picked up a true reality show, the Navy Seals BUD/S class 234 show again on Discovery. It follows class 234 through BUD/S class from Day 1 past hell week and I must say, a must watch.

Tony C ( 68.20.180.54 ) at 11:05 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Free DVDs

Kieran: I got my 5 DVDs from C.H. Now how do I quit?

Gar ( 66.222.48.188 ) at 9:40 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
BC

BC: hehehehe, that is funny, I am doing the same. Played SOCOM yesterday and got 29 kills in a match which is my all time high ;)

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 9:38 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
BC

Gar: Same price, $10k list.
The full time guys at the store play xbox on the MT-8 when there isn't anything going on. I haven't heard anybody complain about eyestrain yet. Must be nice to sit around and play Xbox on 50k worth of gear! :)

Gar ( 66.222.127.117 ) at 9:31 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
BC

How much is the Toshiba MT-8 in Comparison, as far as price goes? Eyestrain good be an issue for me since I do play PS2 and Xbox on my big screen from time to time :)

Gar ( 66.222.127.117 ) at 9:29 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Ron:Good to hear that you like the rockets, there prices hard to beat for the money. Other speaker that is supposed to be really good for the money is
Triangle... The Celius(sp) a tower speaker is around $1700 or less and got Stereophiles top awards, not that that means anything these days.

BC ( 166.50.65.21 ) at 8:34 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Gar: We've got the Toshiba MT-8 at the store (infocus 7200 clone) and it's the best digital projector I've seen. It's small, relatively quiet, has a good menu and does a good job without an external video processor. The colors look good and the blacks are very good for a digital FP.
I haven't seen the marantz or the new sharp but I'd guess they are all pretty close, each having different strengths.
Last month, we had the seleco HT300 plus. I think the toshiba is better overall.

The more I've watched DLP's, the less problems I'm having. I use to get eye strain within 10-15 minutes. Now I don't at all. I also see rainbows fairly easy, but the newer batch of DLP's have greatly reduced that to the point where it doesn't bug me.

Joelc ( 64.229.58.233 ) at 7:58 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Morning ganga!!!

Ron ( 24.167.69.128 ) at 6:18 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Gar: So far no real complaints with the Rockets. BC and I did a 2 hour demo in omeone home so I pretty much knew what to expect.

They are not Martin Logans but do a superb job with HT and a very good job with music. For the $$$$ spent they are a fantastic value. C/S is fantastic and quality of build is as good as any out there.

You may want to see if BC can chime in on the Infocus. He seems to keep up with and has reviewed quite a few DLPs. I do not see the rainbows with DLPs but I do get eyestrain. I can feel it within 10 minutes.

AVB ( 64.41.32.42 ) at 6:05 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Turntable

Kieran: This is on ebay and should fit your needs. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3006685387&category=3283

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 2:40 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003
Comcast reply

Ugh - I aked very specific questions and this is the canned reply I got...looks like sat and OTA HD for the time being. They have potential huge future bandwidth so we'll see what happens.

> Dear Curtis,
>
> Thanks for your interest in Comcast's venture in HDTV. Since the merger of
> AT&T Broadband with Comcast is still relatively new, Comcast is researching
> the capabilities of all of the newly acquired systems and is formulating a
> strategy for the role out of the new technologies.
>
> Comcast's number one focus is to upgrade the distribution of the cable
> systems. This will enable us to be able to carry the new technologies such
> as HDTV that we are bound to see in the future. I hope that this explains
> why we do not have a lot of answers yet on the timing of the HDTV or the
> channels that will be carried in that format.
>
> Once it has been determined what areas will first launch this technology we
> will be sending out fliers to our customers and advertising the availability
> of the HDTV in the media.
>
> Again we appreciate your interest in the HDTV format and look forward to
> being your provider of HDTV in your home.
>
> Sincerely,
> Susan Nichol
> Quality Assurance Manager
> Comcast

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 2:38 AM EST Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Kieran: I didn't know you built notebooks ;-) The logic board is probably fried and an expensive part. It'll be free as it's nearly new.

Glad that dish is taking care of you well. DirecTV could use some CS lessons from them.

Kieran ( 209.204.144.50 ) at 11:56 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
speaking of snooty fruit people...

Curtis: You know what I do when my computer won't work? I take to the guy who built it... guess who that is? ;-)

I'll tell you what though... Dish/Echostar is far and away the BEST company I have EVER dealt with for customer service & tech support. I have returned all three parts of the Dish 6000 receiver... the 8psk hd module, the 8vsb HD OTA tuner, and the freekin' base receiver itself... all on their dime, AND they shipped out the replacement items FIRST. No repairs... full replacements, 2nd day air. Sure they tried to trouble shoot it over the phone first, which is fine w/ me, but when it couldn't be fixed, whammo... over to returns dept for an exchange. Each item arrived w/in 3 days with a pre-paid UPS return shipping label enclosed. I just pack up the broken stuff in the box the new stuff came in, slap on the label, and drop it off at Mailboxes, ETC. DONE. Plus their tech support are great, for the most part... willing to stay on the line for almost an hour, talking me through aiming the damn dish500 dish, which was much more difficult than aiming my Dad's DirecTV-Plus dish.

Needless to say, I am VERY impressed w/ Dishnetwork. I would highly recommend Dish to anyone.

Now... speaking of Dish and such, what did you find out about Comcast bringing HDTV via cable to the Bay Area?

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 11:56 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Gar: Keeping the following, at least for the time being:
- Sampo 34" 16:9 display
- RCA DTC-100, conpliments of ex
- Parasound AVC2500u w/ circle surround, RF demod, volume control card (but I'll sell it at a reasonable price)
- Panny RP91 DVD-Audio player
- Pioneer 704 LD
- Audio Alchemy Visual Reality Engine
- Adcom 2 ch amp for mains
- Rotel 2 ch amp for surrounds
- Def Tech BP-10 mains, tks other ex
- AR Powered Partner center ch active speaker
- psb Alpha surrounds
- Sony SAT-T60 DirecTivo
- mits S-VHS VCR
- Sony S-VHS VCR
- various power conditioners

Gar ( 66.222.48.232 ) at 11:42 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Curtis: I hear you, snooty doesn't go far here, the Store in Milwaukee isn't too bad. They know there stuff and seem friendly and helpful, but haven't had to deal with them like you had to yet.

So what are you going to replace your gear with that your selling?

Gar ( 66.222.48.232 ) at 11:39 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Ron: Couple of questions for you?

1.) how do you like the Rockets so far, and
2.) If you get a chance let me know what you think of the new Infocus DLP Projector.

This unit could replace my Sony 10HT if I can find a decent price on one. The picture is outstanding. I think it is even better than the Sharp, but allot.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 11:37 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Gar: A bit like the MooCow stores but everything is sold at MSRP, it's more like an art gallery and there's a smugmess about every employee. The PC users here would be proud that I mentioned rather loudly "no wonder only Apple only has 3.7% of the market."

All of their stores may not be so bad - keep in mind this one is in the most expensive town to live in in the US.

Gar ( 66.222.48.232 ) at 11:30 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
speaking of snooty fruit people...

Curtis: Thats too bad, I had just the oppsite situation happen to me, but then again I was dealing with CompUSA. They too back my 23" monitor that had a few dead pixels on it with no questions asked. Never had to deal with the Apple Store yet, but they remind me of Gateways stores service from what you stated.

Derb ( 209.245.196.211 ) at 9:56 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Joe: The description of your office/plant does not make me want to go out and buy an american made car :) How many cokes and other tid bits have been dumped into my engine. House cleaning says a lot about how a plant functions. I work in the heavy steel industry and it is a bear to keep things clean. You never know when a guest/customer/pres will drop in for a look round.

simm ( 66.56.155.14 ) at 9:00 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003

AVB: Package going out in the morning. Sorry so late but weather and work slowed me down.

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 9:00 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
DVD Profiler

Joe: I use it/ like ot too, though for some reason my notebook won't read the DVD's from the drive so I manually input everything. Great for locating loaned titles and for verifyng that at the last open house in December, someone walked off with about 23 DVD's ;-(

Joe ( 198.208.6.35 ) at 8:49 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003

I am back in my old office I left in September. I must have spent an hour so far cleaning the place. I know this is an engine plant and I am in skilled trdes, but Jeez. I don't think anyone has cleaned the phone in 6 months. IT actually had Coke dried on top of the dirt.

Joe ( 198.208.6.35 ) at 8:47 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
DVD Profiler

Curtis: I use this DVD Database and I like it :)

Curtis ( 12.234.154.211 ) at 8:03 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
speaking of snooty fruit people...

My son's 45 day old G4 notebook won't charge any battery and the ethernet port is fried. Fine, Dad'll take care of it. His Mother insisted upon paying MSRP at the local snooty Apple Store. Here's what happened.

I call the store. Navigate a dozen voice jail options. Get connected to someone in Texas to handle h/w issues. Before they will even listen to the problem I must sit through a 5 minute pitch about the benefits of AppleCare (expensive extended warranty that we did not buy). "Shall I keep you covered for 3 years sir?"

"Not not thanks. Let's see how you guys perform under your whimpy 90 fday ull warranty first", sez I.

I must run diagnostics from CD/ROM's thhat are at my ex's house + find someone with an identical battery to see if it'll charge. Fine, I do those - still broken. They open 2 x case ID's, one for each problem. Then I'm supposed to box it up and pay for shipping to Houston. I told them that I would be glad to take it to their local store but no way I'm paying to pack or ship it.

I go to the store today and get ignored for 15 minutes - then get sent to the 'Genius' section to find a genius, I suppose. Here's what I got

"No, no - not here. You have to call AppleCare in Texas and pack/ship to them insured, on your dime. They'll even open case ID #'s for you! " Oh no, we don't ship anything - that's your responsibility, but today only we will bend over backward for you buy issuing case ID #'s - saving you valuable time ... please don't tell Steve Jobs or I'll get in trouble." - they say this sh*t all the time and people eat it up, like everyone in the store is far cooler than the rest of the world.

He was f*&king with the wrong guy and I had already had a bad day.

I told him I will only except one of 2 options:

1) They FedEx the thing to Houston today on their dime and call me within the promissed 5 biz days when it is repaired and I'll pick it up at the store.

2) give me 100% refund of the purchase price with tax within an hour - in cash please.

They took option 1.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 7:20 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
DVD Profiler

Joelc: What - no mac version? I was told everything runs on macs ;-) This is the kind of thing I keep a PC around for. Imagine catering to only 93.7% of the world, the snobs ;-)

Joelc ( 64.229.58.233 ) at 6:14 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
DVD Profiler

For those interested there is a new version of DVD Profiler available - version 2.1 - and, best of all, it is free!

Ron ( 208.195.242.212 ) at 6:09 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003

Joelc: We do not mind sharing the great wealth from the USA with our friends up North.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 4:37 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
4 sale - hey biker dudes

Kieran: Probably the older model.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 4:33 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Costco

Gasgeek: It's a teaser thing they do. The coupons were handed out at the door last week in order to entice you to come in the following week. If you complain loudly enough at the register, they'll give the discount w/o the coupon. Not my style but hey if you're buying 20 DVD's that's worth $80 off.

Johnbr ( 24.112.61.139 ) at 4:28 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
new bed

AVB: The bedroom is beside the theater. I but it in the bedroom so I would not here the fan on the cinepro and put them closer to the speakers.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 4:24 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
HDTV Thursday

Kieran: I usually check here for HD listings: http://www.titantv.com/ttv/home/HDTVUpdate.aspx

Gar ( 66.222.49.238 ) at 3:54 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Kieran

As you can see from my post I was joking. I don't believe eveything I read, but that doesn't mean I don't belive anything at all. As Cai pointed out you can believe what you read, but if you dig deeper, like you did you can find out more truth.

cai ( 68.100.159.101 ) at 3:23 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Read this

Kieran: The is very little reason to doubt the numbers in the post. What that post does not say is that Mejico and Venezuela, each, export as much to the US as Saudi Arabia. Also, it fails so say that some of our crude comes from Angola, Nigeria, Colombia, North Sea, Russia, and the ex Soviet republics. The left coast gets mostly Alaska, Ecuador, Indonesia, Mexico, and some Canadian crude.

What is more, the poster neglected to see that the numbers add up to about 596 MMBbls for the year; a mere 1.6MMBbls/day. We refine about 18MMBbls per day and import over 8MMBbls/day. Yes Kieran, we in the oil business use MM for million.

In other words, I am not impressed with the analysis. For reasons of product lines, nothing to do with brands, we have to refine certain types of crudes. Some of the crudes are better for paraphinic waxes and lubricants and other for naphthenic lubricants and waxes. Not all crudes are created equal.

You can believe what you read, however, look a bit deeper and do your own analysis to see if the numbers and ideas postulated make sense. Sometimes it is just hype.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 2:15 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
HDTV Thursday

Anything good on HDTV (not HDNET... don't get it) this Thursday night?

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 1:46 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Costco

Curtis: Yeah, those are some of the titles I saw, but nothing about a coupon any where in sight.

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 1:45 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Read this

Kieran, Curtis: My mind is old and fragile, but I remember something back from the old building of the Alaska pipeline days, that the oil from Alaska was not slated to be used in the US. Something about it's specific content, like high ash content or something. All of the Alaska oil was supposedly heading for Asia.

I can't verify this, or even remember the source, which is always a bad sign. Could have been the National Inquirer for all I know. ;)

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 1:24 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
4 sale - hey biker dudes

Curtis: Are they 599 model racks or 599xt? The 599 was discontinued and replaced by the 599xt.

Kieran ( 66.224.86.66 ) at 1:13 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Read this

Gar: How do you know if it is true? Well, I guess if you want to get down to it, you never really know if ANYTHING is true... maybe you're just dreaming all of this. HOWEVER, if you decide to believe that you are lucid through life and not dreaming, then the fact that they referenced the US DOE website links for their data and info is a good indication that the information is true.

Curtis: I didn't hear anything about CA getting mostly Alaska oil. I find it hard to believe... the oil companies refine oil from all over the world... most of what I've read has refuted rumors that you can actively buy gas from a certain type of oil. I'm not sure though.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 1:01 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
4 sale - hey biker dudes

anyone interested in a pair of Thule 599 bike roof racks with locks? $119 each new + the locks but for you such a deal.

Also have a big Thule 600 roof box

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 12:54 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Costco

Gasgeek: The coupon reads

valid 2/17 - 2/23 item#200542 Assorted 20th Century Fox DVD's
warehouse price $12.99, $4.00 off w/ coupon = $8.99 @at register
Titles may vary by warehouse, most include
- Behind Enemy Lines - Kiss of thee Dragon - Don't Say a Word - Cast Away - Hal, and many more

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 12:27 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Costco

Curtis: What are the titles?

Gasgeek ( 4.21.3.3 ) at 12:27 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Rod Stewart & Dixie Chicks

RickMTB: The Dixie Chicks DVD is their tv special with an additional 7 songs. They do their new CD from start to finish, and then do older stuff. I've not followed their career, but was very impressed with their harmonies for the Star Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl. The DVD is light hearted entertainment with excellent video and audio.

Curtis ( 12.234.117.140 ) at 12:12 PM EST Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Costco

Gasgeek: Tks - the coupon I have lists lots of recent releases. I'll see if I can get there today.

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