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There are something like 150 ISPs in the US that offer dialup for $10 or less (some as little as $4-5 with no setup fee and no long-term contracts).

Many of these ISPs are MUCH better than Earthstink. Call the Georgia scientologists over at Earthlink for tech-support and you'll be treated to tedious voice mail and long wait times on hold, vs. my $8 per month dial up ISP where you get a helpful human being on the second ring. You can find the dialup numbers and server settings within a click or two on my ISP's home page; you really have to dig for that stuff on Earthlink.com.

If you use Earthlink's TotalExcess Windows 'installer' it basically takes over your computer, starting up every time you boot Windows, replacing your IE Favorites with its own hidden ones, & disabling IE's location bar search, in favor of its own search (and no, customizing IE's searches did not give me a Google search back, I would have had to much around with the Registry). I didn't bother to sort it out, just switched my buddy over to Mozilla & Firefox. Their software really fought me, locking up the system when I tried to uninstall it, requiring a reboot & Scandisk.

Earthfink only offers you only 10 MB of space on their email server and if you fill it up I've observed them disabling your email account without even sending you a courtesy email telling you how to clear it up (heck, even free Netzero does that). After a friend couldn't get his email for a few days he finally got a message saying he could purchase more storage space for only an extra $2 per month. Well, you can buy an 80 GB drive for only $20 after MIR. In other words for your $22 per month Earthlink offers you a generous ¼ cent of storage for your email while Gmail gives you 2.2+ GB (220 times as much) for free. And then Earthlink has the effrontery to spam you with commerical email, eating up your tiny quota.

A few years ago I even had Mindspring (same outfit, different name) abruptly cancel a dialup account with them without notice just because I was online all night for a week or two, downloading distros, yah, that's the story.

So basically, you are paying at least $168 over a year more than comparable dialup service would cost, but at least you get a bargain on a machine, right? Wrong, that $69 doesn't include a $50 shipping fee, so its real price is about $120. In the meantime the Friday before last local retailer Fry's was offering basically the same machine with Linspire instead of Xandros for $100. (OK, the Fry's box only has 128 MB, but you can buy an extra 256 MB for about $20 these days.) Feh.

Only $120

Until they tell you what the actual horizontal resolution is, I'm not sure it's even worth that much.

It can display information from a 1080i source, sure, but at what resolution? With a 4:3 aspect ratio ? So, if you have a widescreen 1080i source, you're seeing it letterboxed with about maybe 600 lines of resolution, assuming it's 800 horizontal lines like the slightly more expensive Samsung model ?

And that's still twice the price of a similar NTSC set. I wonder why HDTV adoption hasn't picked up... aside from the fact that it's actually not terribly easy to find signal sources. It's not like either of those sets includes an HDTV tuner... those cost another 300 bucks or so.

Until they tell you what the actual horizontal resolution is, I'm not sure it's even worth that much.

It can display information from a 1080i source, sure, but at what resolution? With a 4:3 aspect ratio ? So, if you have a widescreen 1080i source, you're seeing it letterboxed with about maybe 600 lines of resolution, assuming it's 800 horizontal lines like the slightly more expensive Samsung model ?

And that's still twice the price of a similar NTSC set. I wonder why HDTV adoption hasn't picked up... aside from the fact that it's actually not terribly easy to find signal sources. It's not like either of those sets includes an HDTV tuner... those cost another 300 bucks or so.

Granted, but it's a lot more than $179 US for a[n admittedly much crappier] 27" ordinary TV.

$350 US isn't that much more expensive than an NTSC TV. Not all HDTVs are ginormous 50" plasma/LCD/whatever home theater rigs.

You're right, I'm mistaken.
Here's the one I was thinking of:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7061 724&type=product&productCategoryId=pcmcat700005000 2&id=1108125259730

Quoting myself, I know. However, this past weekend, I tried going to http://www.bestbuy.com/ and the site reports that 'I dont have cookies enabled'. They must have some problem on their site so I figure I would report it to them (after testing it from 2 different machines). Emails to 'webmaster' and 'support' bounce. Emails to their DNS contact bounce. Another example of no way to get in touch with someone who gives a shit. As of this posting - its still broken. (though it seems if you go to a link inside their site you can get it).

Likewise, digital tuners are already mandated on TVs above a certain size.

Picked completely randomly (and quickly), here's a 46" "HD-Ready" DLP Projector from Samsung, selling for about $2600 at BestBuy. No internal ATSC tuner. Oh, but it's compatible with one. Oh yay. Another friggin' box to buy.

If the government is serious about this deadline, they'd better make a few phone calls to Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, etc. and let them know, because they sure as shit aren't going to spend the extra $5 in components to do it themselves.

And while you may enjoy the benefits of cable, I can assure you that several million poorer folks do not have that luxury. If the current administration and their heirs wish to continue appealing to "regular folk," they're going to have to delay this implementation.

Or maybe they can pass a tax cut that'll give us another $50 check to buy a compatible tuner.

Geeks in uniforms. Isn't best Buy already trying this?

Can't buy a new Xbox anymore? That's really strange.

And that pile of system boxes I saw at FYE the other day was probably just for decoration...

... go to their contact us form and ask them for an official statement. i did, but then i wasn't very kind:


http://www.gnn.tv/headlines/2054/Two_Dollar_Man_ ja iled_in_Baltimore_County

so why exactly would i want to shop at best buy, when at best you hire incompetent employees, and at worse you enjoy taking out retribution on your customers?

i would love to see an official statement from best buy about this incident. and if you make one statement about these "post 9/11" times, i'll know you're trying to hide behind an horrific event that i lived through -- and which had nothing to do with best buy.

Well, there's this eMachines package. $880 - $330 rebates. Drop in the PCIe graphics card of your choice (I like GeForce 6600GT's). That package has a 17" CRT and printer instead of the 19" panel, but the PC is superior to what Dell's offering. You can buy the PC without the monitor and printer bundled of course.

If anyone was wondering why Slashdot would choose to link the Minneapolis daily paper for this story: Best Buy is based in Minnesota.

Dear Best Buy:

There's a moroon on a public website spouting off that Yahoo! is distributing viruses. People have commented that he is most likely wrong. But he has left his contact information, and claims to be a Best Buy representative.

As an investor in Yahoo!, I find it disturbing that someone would spread possibly false rumors about the company that I have invested in, potentially damaging the reputation of the company and my investment value.

Please investigate. The posting can be found at http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=143968&thresho ld=0&commentsort=0&tid=95&mode=thread&cid=12064858 . The users email address is (supposedly) kaldur.dauthur@gmail.com

Thank you.

How can you say they aren't in brick and mortar[?]

Most wouldn't consider this a problem.

Well, I don't think that price is the problem...

Well, I don't think that price is the problem...

Define "normal" cable prices. I realize that "internet" pricing should be cheaper, but when I went out looking for a good place to buy bulk cables (30+), I couldn't find a single retail place with a reasonable price.

7 ft. Cat-6, blue:
Best Buy - $17

L-Com - $8 (as low as $7 if you're buying quantity)

I have no affiliation with L-Com, and I'm sure there are others out there like this, but I try to spread the word when I have a good experience with a vendor. I ended up ordering 30 3-ft cables for just over $2 each. The price was fantastic and the service was great.

The just do it like Sega did Sonic:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=4902 136&type=product&id=1051806879944

You live in a "town of 1.5M people" and you don't have a Best Buy?

Not that I like Best Buy.

You *could* order one from that thar intarweb, too.

512MB Duo cards can be had for relatively cheap... Like here for example.

Considering most high-end phones cost $600 anyway, what's another $90 for half a GB?

Then you can't go wrong with either the Linksys RT31P2 (Wired) or the WRT54GP2 (Wireless B/G).

Both are combinaton routers / ATAs in one device, so QOS is quick and seamless.

Only down side that I can see is that they only have three physical ethernet ports each (not counting the WAN port), so if your wired network is more than three nodes, you'll need a switch or some other additional solution.

The firmware even lets you control QOS further, by connection (LAN port 1, 2, 3, etc), by "application" (FTP, HTTP, Telnet, etc), or by specific port numbers.

Of course both these devices are proprietary and won't work (as ATAs at least) with VoIP providers other than Vonage. But if you want, I suppose you could jerry rig something with annother ATA as an end point, just using these for the QOS control.

Then you can't go wrong with either the Linksys RT31P2 (Wired) or the WRT54GP2 (Wireless B/G).

Both are combinaton routers / ATAs in one device, so QOS is quick and seamless.

Only down side that I can see is that they only have three physical ethernet ports each (not counting the WAN port), so if your wired network is more than three nodes, you'll need a switch or some other additional solution.

The firmware even lets you control QOS further, by connection (LAN port 1, 2, 3, etc), by "application" (FTP, HTTP, Telnet, etc), or by specific port numbers.

Of course both these devices are proprietary and won't work (as ATAs at least) with VoIP providers other than Vonage. But if you want, I suppose you could jerry rig something with annother ATA as an end point, just using these for the QOS control.

Company policy is to never take returns on open software, period. My GM says "don't take it, unless.." meaning, if we told someone it would work and it didn't, if we made a mistake in recommending it, or someone bought software with a computer and we didn't double check to see if it was compatible, we take it back.

the Company also has a standing policy that we never match internet prices, even if it's our own site! yet my department manager let us all know that if someone comes in with our internet price in hand, we double check and then match the price.

there are some really seedy/shitty stores out there that carry the company name, and i think that alot of the experiences i generally hear on /. are most likely inspired by the shitty managers or shitty salespeople at these locations (i've gone into stores in a few other states and been appauled by lack of concern over SOP), but i also understand that this sort of thing is bound to happen with ANY national retailer, no matter how reputable they might be.

my suggestion would be to find a regional HQ phone number and complain loudly that employee X at location Y did not inform you that the software package you purchased WITH YOUR APPLE COMPUTER would not be compatible, and that they were unhelpful when you returned to that store.

get complaints logged ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR STORE, and instead of telling people not to shop apple, tell them not to goto that location. if Apple HQ knows that your "passion" for their product was tarnished by one particular location, you can be damned sure that the GM at that store will hear about it.

at least that's the way it works at my company :)

Exactly. And why do people even buy software based firewalls anymore. I've seen nothing by problems with Norton Firewall and McAfee then I care to rant about. I mean, when a user is constantly being bombarded with "Would you like program X to access the internet", it just gets confusing. So normally, they will say YES for fear with will block their internet access. Which BTW does happen.

For a better an ease solution, just get a hardware router/firewall that does SPI. If for some strange reason you have problems with it, just reboot it. With a software firewall, you have to find what you did wrong or be forced to reinstall it which is a PITA all togeather.

And last but not least. A Linksys Wireless-G router with SPI firewall costs just $10 more compared to Symantic Norton Personal Firewall 2005. It's a no brainer as to what is a better choice. Check prices on the links below.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?desc ription=33-124-010&DEPA=1

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1091099 798939&skuId=6801785&type=product

--
Evan

... for about US$300. The costs of producing a consumer OS aren't in the R&D, they're in the support. Consumers don't seem to want to pair a fair rate for the level of support they generally require.

Martin says, ...Total Cost of Ownership it's by solution, by scenario...

My too late question, what "niche environment" does Microsoft provide the best TCO solution?

IMHO, Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition at $299.99 BestBuy.com does not provide a better TCO than OpenOffice for any adverage user I've met. OpenOffice may not be able to do a super complex spread sheet, buy what percentage of end users need to do more than basic cell placement and spell checking of documents? No me, my mom, or my grandma.

Of course, OpenOffice doesn't provide a database application like Access, but I'll bet CowboyNeal's left nut only a very small percentage of users need it.

While this new scheme might thwart the software-based copiers, at least until new versions are released, I highly doubt it will get by such low-tech equipment as bideo stabilizers.

You can go to Best Buy, spend $40 on a Sima stabilizer (Note - This is a newer version than I have, but it should be the same. In fact at the Best Buy website, you'll see they're promoting a more expensive variation as being able to do DVD to DVD copies), and record while playing the video!

It might not be as high tech as the 20 minute software-based copies, but it works nonetheless, and if you're interested in watching said movie, you can record it while you watch it!

I honestly think that the only one getting suckered in by Macrovisions claims are the movie studios, since they're the ones continually spending tons of $$ on counter-piracy measures, only to watch each one eventually be circumvented by consumers who feel they should be able to back up their purchases.

Which brings up another good point: Doesn't this violate the "Fair usage" laws, on which VCR's were based? Is Macromedia basically stating that in order to backup my purchase, I must now become a criminal? Interesting stuff... Too bad I don't have the $$, or the lawyers to throw towards a class action suit.

It may be cheap and sexy, but it's hard to find apps for. Best Buy, for example, carries no Mac software.

Actually, my local Best Buy does carry some Mac software titles. Heck, even the Best Buy (Canada) website has a Macintosh software section (a quick search of the US webstore likewise brings up some Apple software titles).

No Games. Sorry.

No need to appologise for your ignorance. Now if you had said that the Mac has fewer games, I'd have to grant you that. But to say there are no games? How about Halo? Or how about Rise of Nations? Or what about Unreal Tournement 2004? Age of Empires II? Age of Mythology? Civilization III? Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic? And let's not forget Doom 3 (currently available for pre-order). And a whole lot more.

If there are two things that characterize gaming on Mac OS X, it's that typically the games come out later on OSX than on Windows, and that there isn't the sheer mass of games available as there is on Windows. Still, that is a long way from "no" games -- typically all the best games from the Windows world make their way to the Mac OS X world in short order.

Yaz.

From Sunday Best Buy will be selling this a Toshiba Satellite M35X-S111 for $500. There is a rebate involved though, unfortunately. Specs:

15" XGA TFT active-matrix display with 1024 x 768 resolution

40.0GB EIDE hard drive (4200 rpm)

Intel® Extreme Graphics with 16-64MB DVMA shared video memory; S-video TV-out

i.LINK (IEEE 1394) port and 3 high-speed USB 2.0 ports for fast digital video, audio and data transfer

Integrated 10/100Base-TX Ethernet LAN with RJ-45 connector; V.92 high-speed modem

Weighs 6.6 lbs. and measures 1.5" thin for portable power; lithium-ion battery and AC adapter

Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (SP2) operating system preinstalled; software package included with RecordNow!, InterVideo WinDVD 5 with SRS TruSurround XT technology

This is why I get irritated at people who constantly go off about how much cheaper PCs are than macs. They never mention these little things, and these little things start to add up real fast
You go out and pay $70-$100 for a firewall, get a mcafee virus scan subscription for $35/year. Oh, just to be safe you better grab yourself the latest copy of AdAware, another $40-ish dollars down the drain. Holy cow, your $499 pc now cost you like $700 for the bare minimum! And that's just the beginning of the pain you're in for. You can't use your regular browser, no sir! You need Firefox to avoid totally foobaring your computer. Download and install that.

You want to talk about honesty, at least be honest yourself.
New PC: $499 + Tax/Shipping
Firewall: DI-604 w/NAT $49.99 source
Ok, its just NAT, not really a firewall, but it accomplished the purpose
Firewall (part 2): Zone Alarm, free for home use.
Virus Scanner: AVG Free for home use
AdAware: Free for home use
Spybot S&D: Free for home use, because 2 is better than one
So, that $499 has only managed to make it up to $549, not $700. Yes, this requires a little bit of thought, but not a lot. If the user can manage to get AdAware, they can get the rest as well. Plus, I would imagine that, by now, most homes will have some sort of router, reguardless of OS,

I have a similar setup at my house, one thing that is useful is just to have a Network Attached Storage drive http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/c ategory_slc.asp?CatId=207 and just store all your music on there. Then connect all your computers to that (over 802.11a preferably), and you can install winamp or a similar program on the laptops, and access the drive, that way you have full control on each computer. You could also buy one of these http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1081512 624434&skuId=6584779&productCategoryId=pcmcat25300 050005&type=product and you would get the same effect (but without those laptops)

One retailler is already bundling them, presumably with TiVo's blessing.

A a matter of fact, I have used a DVI->HDMI converter cable to hook my Samsung HD841 DVD player (DVI output) up to my Mitsubishi DLP TV (HDMI input). I went for one of the higher-end Monster HDMI/DVI cables to ensure the best possible signal to the TV. I think it was about $180, but the guy at BestBuy gave it to me for the price of the lesser cable (~$120). I had talked to the guy a while before choosing the DVD player and told him that for what the TV had cost, I wasn't interested in skimping out on the components (nor cables) if it cost picture quality. I'm sure I could have done even better online, but I am all about instant gratification! I have been very happy w/the picture (the DVD player up-converts the signal to 480p, 720p, or 1080i).

From the research I've done, and what I've seen, its like most other (electronic) things... you'll generally get the best results if you stick w/high quality stuff from end-to-end. It would have been nice to have all of the audio in the same cable, rather than having to buy another fiber cable for the sound.
Good luck!

Automatic iTunes sync, and the iTunes shuffle playlist thingie, both of which sound pretty cool. Plus, 512MB for $99 is extremely competitive for one of those little doohickeys. A quick search found similar 512MB devices for $139.99 to $199.99. 1GB devices were even more expensive.

I bought that DVD Player as well. Love it

From the bestbuy ad selling it:

Experience a new level of home entertainment with a DVD player that has everything covered. View your digital photo CDs, enjoy discs burnt off your computer and even watch DivX movies downloaded from the Internet.

Believe it.

• Memorex 50-Pack 4X 4.7GB DVD-R
• 
  Best Buy Canada: $49.99 CDN = $40.61 USD
  Best Buy USA: $49.24 CDN = $39.99 USD

• Fuji 50-Pack
• 
  Best Buy Canada: $24.95 CDN = $20.246 USD
  Best Buy USA: $28.29 CDN = $22.99 USD

• Memorex 50-Pack 4X 4.7GB DVD-R
• 
  Best Buy Canada: $49.99 CDN = $40.61 USD
  Best Buy USA: $49.24 CDN = $39.99 USD

• Fuji 50-Pack
• 
  Best Buy Canada: $24.95 CDN = $20.246 USD
  Best Buy USA: $28.29 CDN = $22.99 USD

How was your experience jogging with the HD? In my experience HD based players tend to skip when I run, due to the jolt when my feet hit the ground. Thats why I picked up an MPIO FL300 (matchbox size, literally, it fits inside a matchbox), which is flash based and at 1GB enough songs for running and exercise. I've figured that I should use two, one for exercise and one for "sitting still" like on a train and in the car. Will this thing work well that way or will I still have problems on bumpy roads? Also, can I use the USB HD as a standalone USB HD or do Ihave to use it through the Neuros. As a solution to your FM problem, try one of these FM transmitters from Best Buy. They should work over the noise.

Parent post was interesting enough to do some web research:
Minnesota does indeed have a lemon law on _automobile_ purchases. The MN Attorney General web site had more information on consumer laws. specifically states that '...that there is no three day "cooling-off" law when you buy a car...'

The Minnesota law for the three day "cooling off" period applies to In home purchases by door to door salespeople.

I can find nothing specific about 3 day return for anything, including or excluding software in Minnesota. (Although, Down In The Valley record stores reports that Body Jewelry cannot be returned per MN state law.)

I worked for a software supplier in Minnesota and our policy was that the software was yours as soon as you signed the contractual purchase agreement. Opened or not, we would not take it back. Services performed could always be disputed, but we never ever took back software, even with MN State contracts.

I find that most retail stores have a far more liberal return policy like Best Buy a Minnesota Corporation.

Hrm -- an interesting point.

IIRC, the DS uses the same wireless protocol as the new GBA wirelss adapter.

I wonder if there's any F/OS documentation on that adapter. *runs to Google*

Actually you were both right. The show you watched on The History Channel(I watched it as well) is called "Peter Jennings Reporting: The Kennedy Assassination - Beyond Conspiracy."

You can buy it on DVD here: (or at the other site of your choice)

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?j=1&id=135 0435&type=product&ref=03&loc=01

This thing is gonna sell out(if hasn't already) this holiday.
Best buy
EB games
Amazon.com
toysrus
Wal-mart.com
All out of stock... Lik-sang and circuit city neglected to put out of stock notices on their respective webpages, but I'm sure they are too ;)
(they had will ship when available notices still)
Also to note, cnet's shopper couldn't find an in-stock DS, Fry's Outpost.com doesn't even have a DS entry on it's site, and if you absolutely must have one shipped out the current high bid for one on e-bay is $207.50 Only a $50 premium ;) better hurry auction ends in an hour and there is only 1 other DS auction on e-bay right now (no, it's not my auction but hey, you can't buy these things anywhere so some e-bayer might as well make some quick dough ;)

Why not just buy a HD-TV widescreen, and connect that to the computer?

Hadn't thought of that. Do they offer 27" models for less than $350?

Most of the stuff I'm seeing is pretty expensive

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1056899 605282&skuId=5756041&type=product
I took a look to see which local store had it in stock, then I noticed
Release Date: 11/16/2004
ESRB Rating: M=Mature
Number of : 1
Online Play: No
Internet
Publisher: Sierra
Release Date: 11/16/2004

Camera, color screen, Snood, 2-way text, 2-way speakerphone: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=1091100 730712&skuId=6811159&type=product

"Sure, I'd love some monster cables. Also, do you sell a monster cable replacement for the XBox power cord, maybe it'll run faster if it can get more power!"

Heh heh, monster cables crack me up. Almost every time I go to Best Buy I'll check out the monster cable section just for chuckles. The prices are actually so high that I sometimes come close to laughing out loud.

For grins:
$50 - 2 meter S-video cable
$60 - 4 meter RCA cable
$100 - Monster cable surge protector

I could swear they used to sell some phenomenally expensive modem cables too, which were just really really thick telephone cords.