Are You A Gadgetaholic?

[Flashjeff]

Hello, my name is Jeff, and I'm a gadgetaholic. The first step towards treating an addiction is admitting you have one, so I've made that admission.

Ever since I was a kid, I've been utterly, perhaps even hopelessly fascinated with gadgets, be they large or small, be they toys or electrical/electronic doodads, I've always loved them, and still do today as an adult, though I act more like the kid I used to be when it comes to gadgets. My favorite place to go when out and about is Best Buy where I ogle at gadgets the same way ordinary men ogle at naked women in Playboy, hell, if a week goes by without going to Best Buy, practically a second home to me, I actually experience withdrawal symptoms. My home is a haven for all things electrical and electronic, if I have no life outside of work, it's because i spend so much time in my high tech playpen.

For instance, I have a home theater anchored by a 52 inch hi-def TV (but I'm jonesing for 60 incher that does true 1080p high definition, mine is "only" 720p), a state of the art Dolby/DTS receiver, a hi-def satellite box, not one, but two DVD players, one of which being a region free machine for playing Region 2 discs from Japan on. I have a DVD/VCR recorder in my bedroom for transferring tapes onto DVD's; in my home office, I have an Apple 17" Core Duo iMac (but I'm jonesing for the new 24" incher whch is more powerful), an external hard drive to save my files, a DSL high speed modem and a fourth DVD player hooked up to a gizmo that allows me to download Pink Lady videos to my iMac's hard drive as digital files to upload onto YouTube, a laser printer and a inkjet printer and a fast flatbed scanner. Oh yeah, there's also the Nikon digital SLR camera and a 30GB iPod. In a word----WHEW!!

And yet, despite all that stuff, I'm seriously considering finding room for an XBox 360 as I'm amazed with the video quality of the games offered for the system. If I succumb to the lure of video games, I'll never leave the house except to go to work. I mean, I need the job to afford all these toys I have. Folks, I fear that I'm in need of an intervention, I need to be brought back from the electronic ledge before I fall off! If there are like-minded souls out there struggling with gadgetholism, please tell me how you cope with this insidious addiction. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Grandpa Frank]

Reformed and retired.

I always had to have the latest,biggest,best,etc. Now I find lack of money has slowed the impulse down. Old age and a slower mind have made new gadgets just too complicated to learn and use. Instruction manuals now days amaze me, you buy an old fashioned manual can opener and the warnings and user manual is two inches thick and in 37 different languages. Now days I dream & drool alot more then I buy.

Uncle Frank

 

[leonmarino]

I... Used to love new, better, faster stuff. I used to spend lots of money on Nintendo's, Sega's, Playstation's etc etc.. However, I kind of realized that it has no use!! I find going for "the newest stuff" is like throwing money in a bottomless pit.

I rather spend money on going out with my friends, eating and drinking with the ones I care about, and create good memories. I feel that by doing that I can convert money into something more valuable than a TV-set that can break down, computers that get outdated, and mobile phones that aren't "cool" anymore.

 

[RockLee]

I'm like you Jeff, I crave for new goodies ^^
A while ago bought a new laptop (also for school and work).

Thinking of getting a big *** home cinema when I have my own place and the dough for it

A nice car is only an extra, but I'm more for the gadgets

 

[Kinsao]

I really love gadgets, but sadly I can't really afford them! At least, not the newest and most that I'd like. So the only 'gadgets' I really have, other than my comp, are my phone and camera and mp3 player.

 

[MeAndroo]

I love gadgetaholics! They let me try their stuff to decide if I want to buy it

I like to be an "early adopter" of technology, but I'm also pretty wary of truly revolutionary products. One never knows how they're going to work out. As a result, I only move quickly on stuff I know I want, regardless of a few bugs or not.

 

[misa.j]

Jeff, I'm sure you have heard of blu-ray, but have you seen it? They had a comparison of a video recorded on blu-ray and regular format at Best Buy, and I was pretty amazed by the quality of the picture on blu-ray.
No~, I'm not trying to convince you to get it!

I'm kind of old-fashioned about electronics and have only basic stuff. I'm a gearholic, though. A big part of my paychecks go to backpacking gear.

 

[Goldiegirl]

I like some gadgets. I wait and see if they work or are easy to use. Then I'll buy it if I have a need for it. I just got an IPod to take on my trip because I put all my Japanese language lessons on it...as for listening to music on, I don't. I hate anything stuck in or on my ears. Maybe I should buy one of those speaker things you can stick your Ipod into....hmmm another gadget.

 

[Flashjeff]

Misa J.: Oh yeah! I've heard of Blu-Ray! Seen players at Best Buy and the pciture, especially on 1080p hi-def sets are absolutely spectacular! Definitely droolworthy! If I ever get lucky on the slot machines in Atlantic City or the Powerball, look out! I'll certainly buy one!



By the by, just bought a new gadget from another favorite hangout, The Sharper Image----a talking pedometer!! Yes, folks, it talks! Press a button and it tells you the number of steps you've walked or the miles you've traveled! Mondo cool!

 

[Iron Chef]

I'm like Jeff. Gadgets ftw. I have a ridiculously cool entertainment center where I recently upgraded my old Sony 46" 720p HDTV to a full 1080p 50" model (Jeff beats me by two inches lol). I also am a big supporter of Blu-ray and like Jeff said, the difference is indeed noteworthy. My only complaint is that here in Japan, the selection of BDVD titles that are released are less than ideal for home audio/video enthusiasts. Consider a recently released title on BDVD, Adam Sandler's "50 First Dates"... hardly the kind of movie that screams "OMG I can't wait to see this at home on my monster system!"

In addition to my tv, I run a full 7.1 DTS surround sound system and have both my XBox 360 and PS3 (via HDMI) hooked up. In addition, I also have the HDDVD add-on for the XBox although I personally prefer Blu-ray. I also use TV out with my tower desktop so I can view region-free movies, etc on my big screen. My current tower is a 3.4 P4 Dual Core /w 2mb RAM and a 256mb GeForce 7900 GT vid card. Good enough for the current crop of games I play.

Bottom line: A lot of time and money invested into my home theater so I don't feel the need to fork out ﾂ??800 everytime I want to catch a movie (unless it's a must see and i'm with friends).

 

[Flashjeff]

I'm like Jeff. Gadgets ftw. I have a ridiculously cool entertainment center where I recently upgraded my old Sony 46" 720p HDTV to a full 1080p 50" model (Jeff beats me by two inches lol).

Yeah, but you've got me beat 'cause you have a 1080p model! I am so-oooooo envious!

I also am a big supporter of Blu-ray and like Jeff said, the difference is indeed noteworthy. My only complaint is that here in Japan, the selection of BDVD titles that are released are less than ideal for home audio/video enthusiasts. Consider a recently released title on BDVD, Adam Sandler's "50 First Dates"... hardly the kind of movie that screams "OMG I can't wait to see this at home on my monster system!"

Well, the selection of Blu-ray titles here in the States isn't exactly voluminous either. And who the hell would want to watch Adam Sandler in 1080p? He isn't worth bothering with in Standard Definition, never mind hi-def! Sheesh! At present, the cheapest Blu-ray player is $799.99 for a Samsung model at Best Buy, what I'm most curious about is how these machines play standard DVD's since I'm not about to ditch my huge collection (movies and anime) anytime soon.

In addition to my tv, I run a full 7.1 DTS surround sound system and have both my XBox 360 and PS3 (via HDMI) hooked up. In addition, I also have the HDDVD add-on for the XBox although I personally prefer Blu-ray. I also use TV out with my tower desktop so I can view region-free movies, etc on my big screen. My current tower is a 3.4 P4 Dual Core /w 2mb RAM and a 256mb GeForce 7900 GT vid card. Good enough for the current crop of games I play.

Oooooooh! Color me impressed! You've got quite a hookup there, my friend! I'm still running an old school 5.1 surround system as I just don't have the space for the additional speakers, but what I have still rocks the house!

Bottom line: A lot of time and money invested into my home theater so I don't feel the need to fork out ﾂ??800 everytime I want to catch a movie (unless it's a must see and i'm with friends).

From your lips to God's ear!

 

[Iron Chef]

And who the hell would want to watch Adam Sandler in 1080p? He isn't worth bothering with in Standard Definition, never mind hi-def! Sheesh!

lol, right on. My thoughts exactly. Most BDVDs also run about ﾂ??000+ per which is considerably more expensive than your typical newly released DVD (twice the price maybe). It will be interesting to see which next gen format will become mainstream over the coming months.

 

[Flashjeff]

lol, right on. My thoughts exactly. Most BDVDs also run about ﾂ??000+ per which is considerably more expensive than your typical newly released DVD (twice the price maybe). It will be interesting to see which next gen format will become mainstream over the coming months.

Well, at Best Buy, Blu-ray movies are around $40.00, just about twice the cost of standard DVD's. As for who's winning the format wars, I'm no expert, but it looks to me like Blu-ray is the leader in the clubhouse right now as I've seen, heard and read more about that than HD-DVD. Still, there's no way of knowing who's gonna win, meanwhile, LG is hedging it's bets on the battle by recently coming out with a machine that plays both formats, but the damn thing is almost $1,200 bucks. Ouch!! Technology does cost a pretty penny!

 

[misa.j]

At present, the cheapest Blu-ray player is $799.99 for a Samsung model at Best Buy, what I'm most curious about is how these machines play standard DVD's since I'm not about to ditch my huge collection (movies and anime) anytime soon.

You don't have to ditch your collection, Jeff, I've read that regular formatted DVDs do play fine on Blu-ray players. I read that they have just started 50% off sale on Blu-ray movies at Amazon(check this out) and have that Samsung player for $499.77.
I'm sure you'd rather get one at your second home, though!

 

[Iron Chef]

Yeah, regular DVDs work just fine with Blu-ray tech. Sorry, didn't see your question about that earlier. I saw a tech report on TV awhile back that said basically Blu-ray is technologically superior to HDDVD qualitywise but the printing costs are much more expensive whereas HDDVD is much cheaper to manufacture but still has superior quality over traditional DVD standards.

From what i've read so far Blu-ray is backed by Sony, Panasonic, LG Electronics, Philips Electronics and Disney and Fox. Blu-ray offers storage up to 50GB capacity (nine hours of HD content). HD-DVD has 30GB capacity and is supported by companies like Toshiba, NEC and Warner Home Video. Personally, the more Blu-ray I see the more I am in love with it. In full glorious HD, a good sci-fi flick for example really shines. I'm hoping they eventually release past titles like LotR, Star Wars, etc. with Blu-ray treatment.

 

[Duo]

Regular DVD's were fine to begin with... i don't understand why the need to create new ones so soon... is just the typical upgrade to get more costumers and get more money and all that....

 

[Iron Chef]

The image quality from Blu-ray technology is MUCH more vibrant than traditional DVDs and can make movies really come to life. I was skeptical too until I saw a BDVD demo on a full HD1080p set. I was blown away by the image quality and this from a man with over 600 DVDs in his library. The difference is indeed remarkable and gives whole new meaning to the home theater experience. Unfortunately, because it requires an expensive set to showcase it, an expensive player to run it, and expensive titles from a currently limited catalogue, the appeal hasn't really caught on yet with the mainstream public. Here's a simple litmus test for people:

Watch a film on VHS.
Watch the same film on DVD.
Watch the same film again on Blu-ray.

Remember the striking difference between VHS and DVD? Increase that even more when you go to Blu-ray.

 

[Flashjeff]

You don't have to ditch your collection, Jeff, I've read that regular formatted DVDs do play fine on Blu-ray players. I read that they have just started 50% off sale on Blu-ray movies at Amazon(check this out) and have that Samsung player for $499.77.
I'm sure you'd rather get one at your second home, though!

Thanks for the info, misa! The more I see those machines, the more I marvel at what they can do, especially when paired with a 1080p hi-def TV. WOW! If I ever get lucky at the Powerball or on a trip to Atlantic City----watch out!!