10 hours since my last purchase :eek:

So I will admit I am an electronic junkie (they say admiting it is the first step). On the weekend I moved the 'home office' from the main floor to my daughters old bedroom upstarirs (she has sinced moved donwstairs), much more isolated. I needed (hahahah) a TV that would fit on my desk. The CRT Flatscreens are pretty cheap these days - just too big a footprint for my desk (and my desk does indeed consume the room so to speak) . So I opted for a

Sweet Flat Screen (http://www.sharpusa.com/products/ModelLanding/0,1058,1375,00.html#)

Doubles as a comuter monitor (Company Expense :thumbsup: )

Have not tried HD feed yet -it is portable enough will drag it downstairs one day and hook it up to our HD reciever. I did see in action at the store on DVD component - nice - even regular S-VIDEO hookup is pretty sweet (channel dependant), which is what I have hooked up now.

Now ...new Laptop / Desktop ....be good to go (to divorce court that is :D ) - One day at a time ..hahahaha

The title of your thread sounded like an AA meeting greet! :eek:

Congrats on the new screen! They aren't cheap here with the extra tax.

I can watch movies on this new computer but I find it more comfortable on the couch. :D

I noticed quite a difference when I hooked up the PS2 and DVD player to the S-video jack from the old AV cables. It was much sharper, like a new world and you could see the depth, etc.

you're sick and you need help, you shop-o-holic.

but you're right, admiting your problem is the first step, soon you will have to make ammends with the thousands of cashiers you have harassed and admit that there is a higher power :worship: .

try these self-improvement sites;

shop-o-holics. org
rageful-shoppers. org
brokenwallet. org
she-made-buy-it. org

or you get get plumb drunk and forget about the whole ordeal.



just kidding, i'm just as bad; i can't stop tinkering with computers and cadillacs. oh, and i STILL love my "X"...i'm the one who needs help...

Good for you, Davey! You've admitted your problem, only eleven steps to go.

Sweet purchase!

Yep they are not cheap - but a hell of lot cheaper than a few years ago and in a few years from now they will be cheaper still (nature of electronics). S-VIDEO hook up is much better than old composite - and component is better yet and now we have DVI :crying2: can't keep up.

I got a pretty good deal as I originally bought a POS (http://www.tipsdr.com/vanns0378.html) - STAY away from this unit. Dead pixels - terrible image - even with built in DVD. Went back to the store and whined - so they knocked a few sheckles off this one and gave me the 2 year replacement warrenty no charge (squeaky wheel syndrome - plus I spent more ).

Not sure I can go to She-made-me-but-it.org for this one , now the tile floor ....ummmmmmmmmmmmm

11 steps to go - I wonder do any of those take place at Best Buy :drinker :drinker :drinker :D

That's suprising! Toshiba was better rated than Sharp just a couple of years ago according to Consumer Reports. I guess a couple of years is like 100 in the electronics world.

Oh well....

I guess a couple of years is like 100 in the electronics world.
Oh well....

more like a couple months !!! Good as your last shift or product. I suspect it may have been a defective unit (dead pixels) - but none the less - was not impressed with the good pixels either ......

SHARP has a pretty good name in LCD - but that is today , someone is always building a better mousetrap.

more like a couple months !!! Good as your last shift or product. I suspect it may have been a defective unit (dead pixels) - but none the less - was not impressed with the good pixels either ......

SHARP has a pretty good name in LCD - but that is today , someone is always building a better mousetrap.

Well, I just hope it's a few years at least before my 2.6 GHZ becomes slow and pathetic on the net! I'm happy with the upgrade to highspeed. It's going to cost me but I don't like waiting anymore! ;)

I wanted one of those thin monitors because they're nice and light if you have to move, take it in for repairs, etc. Plus, if it's too close you can easily push it back a bit because I know that I'm probably going to go bald from the radiation. :shhh:

I can't believe those glare shields are $60 at London drugs! A bit much.

I've had really good luck with Toshibas until about a year ago. I have a 12-year-old 27" television, and I've had four laptops that were all excellent.

The last Toshiba Satellite laptop died after about 18 months. Something with the motherboard and heat. I'm waiting for the price to come down on the replacement motherboards and then I'll fix it myself. The last time I checked they were something like $550.

Way to go daacon. If you want get it as you never know when you will drop dead.
I would go with a laptop, that is the ownlly thing that I will buy now except maybe a tablet PC
What going to happen to you with Xmas coming.Are you going have the sweats like me.
I can think get things to get the kids like, heated seats for their cars.
One year it was dig cameras another year Dell PDAs
But the wife thinks it craszy to also buy electronic stuff!
But if it not electronic I do not know what to buy them.

you never know when you will drop dead.

There's a positive outlook on life, especially before Christmas. ;)


Dave, are there any good deals here? This is today's Staples flyer and I've never heard of the XPLIO brand, they must be cheap.

I'll see how long the Certified Data monitor lasts, then consider one of these. They'll be even cheaper in the near future.

I am with you Ralph - never heard of XPLIO brand but sure are cheap. That Certified data monitor will probably last a long long time .....remember even today tradional CRT monitors are better for fast action gaming - although the current breed of LCD's are quickly approaching )

For an LCD Montitor the things you shoud consider is :

Never look until you want to buy and then once you buy never look again (only gets frustrating - man if I had only waited 2 months !!!!)
Price (always nr #1 what do you wANt to spend)
Size (the sweet spot price wise is 17 - 19 inch)
Want traditional (4:3) or widescreen (16:9 )
Accessibility of controls
Supported resoltion (I like to run 1280 x 1024 on my NEC 18.5 inch) - some LCD's max out at 1024x768 which may be fine ...personal choice
Contrast ratio - higer is better yet anything over 400:1 is probably fine
Response time - smaller number is better
dot pitch - again smaller nr is better
They have LCD montiors that have tv decoders (where the main focus is computer access) and
LCD tv;s that have computer inputs (what I have - where main focus is TV)

Aside from all the tech specs - the best method is go out an look at them - try a game on it - see what various resoltions are like - fire up word / excel / if I remember correctlry your system has an on board video so that will also play a factor in how "good things look" (so when looking try to get a video card close to what you have) - I never worry about included speakers they are usually not very good and now you can get a pretty decent set of computer speakers for < $100.00 (surround sound even - if your sound card supports that)

Tradional players always make a good one (ViewSonic / NEC / Sony ). I also have a gateway brand and have had no issues with that (Kids computer so other than finger prints which are a bad thing)

I have heard / read good things about Benq - that 17 or 19 inch one would be worth a look and that is good price on the Sony as well. Personally I would stay away from XPLIO - you usually get what ya pay for and an LCD screen with dead pixels is not a pretty thing )

Edit: two other things - vewing angle and when you have one in mind go to amazon (or your favorite user opinon web site) - Users are mostly honest I find Amazon pretty good myslef.

But if it not electronic I do not know what to buy them.

I hear that - this year for the Kids it's digtial cameras and for my Daughters B-day it was a cell phone - so like you I am the 'digital input' guy for family and friends ....(which bites me in ass some times ) ...but it all works out (the underground economy :lildevil: )

Was at Best Buy this afternoon and the wife had to drag me out :lildevil:

There's a positive outlook on life, especially before Christmas. ;)
.
Been reading about to many people in their 40's dieing lately. So buy toys now!

Hopefully I'll get me one of these bad boys (http://www.action-replay.co.uk/Images/618GL-70NP.jpg) pretty soon, it's a 7" 1024x768 resolution touchscreen. If you're thinking it's a bit small, it's for my car.

Hopefully I'll get me one of these bad boys (http://www.action-replay.co.uk/Images/618GL-70NP.jpg) pretty soon, it's a 7" 1024x768 resolution touchscreen. If you're thinking it's a bit small, it's for my car.

Since when is 7 inches small :o ??? That would be sweet alright - make sure you don't subscribe to the sex channel while driving - may not live to see 40 'ish :histeric: :histeric:

I've had really good luck with Toshibas until about a year ago. I have a 12-year-old 27" television, and I've had four laptops that were all excellent.

The last Toshiba Satellite laptop died after about 18 months. Something with the motherboard and heat. I'm waiting for the price to come down on the replacement motherboards and then I'll fix it myself. The last time I checked they were something like $550.

I think Toshiba generally has a good name. I have a toshiba DVD player and I have had no issues to date (about 2 years old). The unit I bought was obvioulsy defective (dead pixels) and lets face it , it was cheap ($600) for a combo DVD - LCD screen so like I said you usually get what you pay for. On a component feed the Toshiba looked ok - on S-Video with my Sat receiver looked like crap. The Sharp (while twice the price) is exponentially better in display quality.

Toshiba does make a pretty good laptop - I was looking at the A70 series - decent price (1.6k Cdn) - friend bought one - he is happy. Did your Toshiba get replaced on warenty or were you 6 months too late :banghead: ?

Did your Toshiba get replaced on warenty or were you 6 months too late :banghead: ?

I had an unconditional 90-day warranty, and I think a 12-month parts warranty. It was 19 months old when it died. It did give me a little bit of warning before it crashed and I had enough time to burn a CD with all of my critical stuff on it.

A few days later I found a really cool adapter that would allow me to plug the disk from the Toshiba into any desktop unit. I bought a new Compaq Presario laptop and networked the two together and saved everything.

I had a really cool docking station at work that is now worthless. It's all sitting in a box waiting for the price of the motherboards to come down.

I'm scared of Toshiba now, and they used to be my #1 choice.

But if the price was right I would probably take a chance on another one.

Been reading about to many people in their 40's dieing lately. So buy toys now!

Damn I hope not :hide: (knock on wood) - If I do then at least my "retirement fund" would last no need to worry about investments :histeric:

These supposedly are the peak earning years of my life - spoil yourself once in while is a allright :thumbsup: - Reality sets back in pretty quickly .....

Here's a couple of monitors we could spend our savings on Dave. :eek:

The swivel Samsung looks interesting but not for that price! I've heard bad things about Samsung.

Ok what are we doing to do when the new DVD come out Blue lazer and HD DVD, buy both and keep the old because the new will not play the the old DVD.

Ok what are we doing to do when the new DVD come out Blue lazer and HD DVD, buy both and keep the old because the new will not play the the old DVD.

I think they've officially named it Blu Ray (although i could be wrong). But anyways, it sounds like its going to replace the current generation of DVDs. Uses a Blue Laser instead of a Red one, so it can write and read to the disc. (Sony created them for the PlayStation 3, and i think that all of the major companies have decided to switch to them when the PS3 comes out. Only Microsoft will be using the HD DVD for Xbox, but its gonna be outdated technology by then.)

Sony's logic is that if they sell 40 million PS3s (they've sold 40 million PS2's, so...) that 40 million people will have blu ray disc players, so people will be more open to adopting the new format of DVD...

I think they've officially named it Blu Ray (although i could be wrong). ..

You are correct - but it is not that simple (of course) DVD Wars (http://infotech.indiatimes.com/articleshow/334635.cms) and More Info (http://www.dvdsite.org/) The DVD's themselves are backward compatible - but the players become large hockey pucks.

Anyway with technology hard to plan ahead - one reason I bought a 4:3 screen instead of 16:9 is becuase 90% of my viewing is reqular programing which at this point and for the next fews years will be 4:3 The other 10% of my viewing on Sat HI-DEF (another standards war as some people call 480p (progressive) HI def it is really enhanced, 720p or 1080i (interlaced) are the two compteting standards for now - regular cable / sat comes in at 480i usually). DVD's look great on my Hi-Def 4:3 and I can live with bars. Besides most newer TV's or receivers have "stretch" modes to fill the screen if preferred.

I am looking forward to the Blu Ray DVD (movies will be that much better). and true HI-DEF broadcasting becuase if you have even seen sports (ie: sports , Monday Night football, ALCS and World Series , NHL or NBA) or action movies in HI-DEF is it freeking amazing. :worship:

Here's a couple of monitors we could spend our savings on Dave. :eek:

The swivel Samsung looks interesting but not for that price! I've heard bad things about Samsung.

Yeah evey inch over 19 gets rude as far as costs .....LCD screens are nice (crisp display and small footprint) - but they too will be reaplced with newer Technology in a few years ....it is a vicious cycle for sure.

Sure giving that scanner a work out eh :D - you have a new toy and don't worry it will be fine for "years" - I have a 4 year old laptop (few upgrades) , a 3 year old desktop (few upgrades) and the kids computer is running on 2 years old already (added memory) they all do what I need them do. I "want" a new Laptop of course (see the subject title) - but in reality do I "need" one ..... ummmm maybe if I accidently "drop it " - naw ....maybe this summer ........but hey let's see what Friday's Flyers have to say ..... :histeric:

I'm scared of Toshiba now, and they used to be my #1 choice. But if the price was right I would probably take a chance on another one.

Yeah it's funny - we base our opinions on personal experience (what else have we got really?) - I would buy a Toshiba laptop - I usually research (as I am sure you do) the tech sites - but who knows how tainted these sites can be with coportate sponsorship ? My Dell has been rock solid (comming on 4 years old now) - but it was expensive - I think Dell is more in line with prices now - will look when I am ready to buy.

I will never buy another Chrysler as I had a "lemmon". Bought is as a Demo - traded it in for a topaz a few years later straight accross hahahah. Is Chrysler a POS ? No I know lots of people who swear by them. The 300c looks pretty sweet too IMHO.

So far with my Caddy (after the initial shock of maintenance break lines / suspension / new tires ) I am very pleased. The beast has 193k Kiliometers looks good and runs like a top :thumbsup: - I would buy another and someday hope to :D

..but hey let's see what Friday's Flyers have to say ..... :histeric:

I can't, I ran out of space for pics and have to delete most of them! :shhh: