Direct TV HD
 

After about 4 1/2 years, my Direct TV Tivo seems to have crapped out on me (major frame-freezing, skipping, etc., followed by shut-down and re-acquisition of satelite, etc.). I'm assuming this can't be fixed, at least not reasonably.

So, maybe it's a good time to upgrade to HD. Anybody have experience with DirctTV's HD package/service? How about their DVR, now that they are no longer working with Tivo?

Also, any thoughts on tvs? Fairly small room (sort of narrow but long), currently with a 32" old school tube monster. Looks like for about the same price I could go with LCD in the 40-46 range or DLP in the 50-56 range ( I wouldn't want bigger in this room; in fact, I'm not sure if I can really go into the 50s or not). Thoughts?

Direct TV HD
 

We just swiched to DirecTV HD. We had a 1st generation Tivo forever, and it rocked, but we moved to a new place and upgraded to HD tvs (a Pioneer 50 inch plasma - sorry not sure the exact model name - and a Sony 42 inch Bravia).

The DirecTV dvr is a huge disappointment as compared to Tivo. Way less user friendly, freezes up and loses picture or sound regularly. (I have heard that this is a standard complaint, unfortunately.) A recent attempt to tape a Laker game resulted in 2 1/2 hours of black screen . . .

That said, when it works, having HD is awesome. I find myself watching random nature shows because the picture is so impressive. The digital radio that comes with the HD package is great too.

We love our Pioneer tv. The picture on the Bravia is nowhere near as nice, but it's in the bedroom, so it's usually just on as background while we're getting ready in the morning.

Direct TV HD
 

I've had the Directv branded DVR for about 2 years now. It is much less user-firendly than Tivo for all the reasons Paisley mentioned (though, knock on wood, it hasn't really frozen up on me much lately - did it all the time when we first got it). The good news is that eventually you do get used to it. And since it is the only viable option for Directv, I guess that has to be good enough.

If you have any thoughts of going smaller on the tv, we have a 37" Aquos that we generally like a lot. Because we have a loong and narrow living room instead of a square room, it is the best option for us. Plus we have a ton of sunlight hitting the screen, so LCD works better for us than plasma. $.02

Direct TV HD
 

The DirecTV HDDVR sucks ass. But there's no other choice, so what are you going to do? We currently have 3 HDDVR boxes in the house. They all have the same glitches. I have also had shows play back as empty crap. It geeks and digitizes and sometimes it has synching problems where the voice and the picture do not match. It's annoying, and you can't do the 2 tuner thing like you can with Tivo. I mean yes, you can watch 2 channels, but it won't buffer both channels. So when you switch to the back channel, you have lost all buffer on both channels.

If you're going to get a TV for main viewing, stick to plasma. WE have 2 plasmas and 1 LCD in the house. The LCD is fine for the weight room, and you can't bet a plasma below (I think) 42". It does much better for off angle and fast motion and gradient colors.

Otherwise, the programming is great. I really like HDNet, even though I swore I would not watch a channel owned by Mark Cuban. That guy has some excellent live music shows.
my .02

Direct TV HD
 

Keep the HDDirecTivo we have until it grinds itself to dust? That's our plan. Sure, we miss put on the MPEG-4 channels being added, but the day they turn off the MPEG-2 channels is the day I buy an HD Tivo and give Comcast a booty call.

As you can see, I have 0 loyalty to DirecTV. Programming is a commodity; interface is everything.

Men's watch
 

Recommenations for a watch? Must befit a 63 year old man not know for sartorial flourishes but who wears a suit to work. Less than $2K. Are there any worthwhile mechanical watches in that range? Rolex need not apply -- the man in question is the exact opposite of a brand whore, but can probably appreciate quality.

P.S. As number one son I stand to inherit, so put some extra thought into it, if you love me.

Men's watch
 

So you'll want something he can comfortably carry in his ass, if necessary.

Direct TV HD
 

Except if the room is really bright. Everything that we read and were told was that LCD is the way to go in a really bright room. We bought a 52" Sharp Aquos for a room that gets a lot of light, and have been really happy with the tv.

Direct TV HD
 

Plus, plasmas are power hogs -- they're the equivalent of six bajillion little lightbulbs. We went Aquos partly because of this, and because the performance was better for screens under 42" at the time.

Direct TV HD
 

Plus you can carry an LCD with one hand.

Men's watch
 

I have an $89 Seiko that does just fine.

Men's watch
 

As do I. Casio, actually. But it can also be said that a $120 suit "works just fine" in comparison to an $1800 one, and I do not begrudge people who believe that fine craftsmanship is worth preserving through patronage.

Men's watch
 

I would look at Fortis. Very high quality. Better price point than anything comparable on the market today.

Men's watch
 

I like this

http://www.hamiltonwatch.com/webapp/...ion/?c=ac&y=66

Men's watch
 

Yeah, that'll go well with his boat-neck shirt and ostrich boots. WTF?

Someone here wants it:


http://d.yimg.com/i/ng/ne/itn/200803...KNrKkCIaTy2A--

Men's watch
 

I don't like that watch, but on recommendation of the Board some years ago, I did get a different Hamilton watch. I am happy with my purchase.

Men's watch
 

you should have mentioned that earlier. No watch. Get him 1 viagra pill, and an Emperor's Club $500 gift certificate.

Photo Albums Online
 

Good morning. I'm hoping for suggestions on an online place to upload and display in different "albums" photos of a garden. I would pay something per year and it wouldn't have advertising and would let me put a description of the photo and have the description show up when you see the photo. I have seen flickr already and also smugmug. Smugmug seems nice but I don't think I need all the fancy features and also, it looks like no matter what format you pick, you will always have a large photo on the right and smaller ones on the left. I really want this format: http://heathergirl.albums.gardenbudd...ery/albums.php

but that garden site is having some problems with albums and some are getting lost. Thank you. PS, for Atticus looking at watches, in the price range of 1 to 2 thousand I like these but I don't know if you think these are boring:

Concord:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...1L._AA280_.jpg

Longines:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...5L._AA280_.jpg

Tag Heuer:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._AA280_.jpg

Baume & Mercier
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...GL._AA280_.gif
But the 8 confuses me

If I were to get a Mac Air
 

Which has like 1 USB port or something ridiculous like that, I would totally get this:

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.c...1_1994_6505521

as well.

I cannot post this in "Mac Users" because I have a PC. It would be a lie.

Photo Albums Online
 

I have the last one with the metal band and it's a neat watch. It's a bit fancy, but really good looking in person, and you can't beat the price in that category.

Photo Albums Online
 

I can't believe atticus buys a $1000 watch for the man he was made to call "Dad" and I don't even get a card. Even back then unprotected was an upcharge, you know.

Burning a CD
 

Uh..I should know this but I have I tunes on my computer and a bunch of great playlists but I'd really like to put them on a CD to listen to on a real stereo. I see there's an option to "burn a cd". Do I need extra equipment for that? I have a "DVD" burner but that's different, no?

Burning a CD
 

A DVD burner should be capable of burning a CD. That is, it can burn either. Get some CD-Rs at your office depot or computer store--they cost maybe $10 for 50--and burn away. Unlike mixed tapes, iTunes calculates how much you can fit on a disk (about 70 minutes).

Burning a CD
 

Thanks, dude. I didn't even need the DVD burner (it's a separate drive you plug into the computer). I just put a CD-R borrowed from a neighbor into my computer drive and hit "burn CD" on iTunes. It decided how many songs could fit (about 20) and then told me when to insert a new CD-R for the rest of the tunes. Took all of 3 minutes. Went cruising with my friend's car and all my tunes. I'd previously tried "Itrip" where you tune into a station and supposedly your playlist will take over a radio station. Useless crap. Thanks again.

Burning a CD
 

Cds are so 90s. I just use my ipod adapter and have all my songs at my fingertips. Actual USB port in the ride.

Burning a CD
 

Well, there is that . . . but telling her how to work iTunes is a lot easier than telling her how to set up an iPod adapter in her car.

Burning a CD
 

Not even her car -- her friend's car. Just let the woman burn a fucking CD if she wants to, for fuck's sake.

R2D2 DVD Projector
 

It's cute. With Millenium Falcon remote.

See here.

For RT, it has multiple positions. I like the comment "so this is what a dorkgasm is."

R2D2 DVD Projector
 

Oh my god. This may be the best geek thing ever.

R2D2 DVD Projector
 

I know. I totally want one. I love that remote.

tv question
 

The tube on my 4.5 year old Sony just blew, so it looks like I'll be tv shopping this weekend.

Other than Consumer Reports and cnet, any good websites for starting my research?

tv question
 

Um, yeah, won't be getting another of those.

Try avsforum.com -- kind of techie/junkies, but pretty sophisticated posters.

tv question
 

Try epinions, Amazon, anything but CR.

Sony fucking blows. So does consumer reports.

Every Sony anything I have ever had has broken one day after the fucking warranty, but consumer reports always seems to give two thumbs up.

Same thing with my 4runner: two thumbs up but I am dead on the side of the road in a 6 month old car.

tv question
 

Anything but Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports is all about the "best buy" and not the best product. They'll suggest a pile of crap that has a lot of stuff and it's cheap. And will break or have a shitty picture.
Cnet's not bad for advice, but sometimes their product choice can be dated.

I don't know what it's called to search for it
 

OK, so the new toy has one of those thingies that goes between it and the TV -- on the TV end, there are three dealie-boppers that are white, red and yellow. The DVD thingy has the same thing. But, the TV only has one place to input this. Am I doomed to unplugging and replugging whenever I want to watch a movie on a break from quality time with my new boyfriend Mario? Or is there some kind of adapter (adaptor?) that will give some kind of shortcut?

The TV was purchased in like 2000. I will need to get a new one at some point, I suppose, b/c of HD. I don't have cable or satellite and don't try to pick up the signals that come through the air, though, so really I just use it for DVD and now games. I think that means I can hold off on the purchase for a while. Which is good, because judging from the discussions on here, it seems like I could make a very wrong decision on the TV so very, very easily.

Anyway, just want to check on the necessity for pulling out and then putting back those plugs into the three holes.

I don't know what it's called to search for it
 

Is the TV color?

I don't know what it's called to search for it
 

Radio Shack sells switches for these (called RCA connectors). You might also be able to find them at Best Buy and the like of that.

I don't know what it's called to search for it
 

Thanks! Now I know what to look for.

My boyfriend Mario is in full color (red AND blue), tyvm, icky.

World says 'meh' to 3g iphone
 

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