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We started as rank beginners and I'm still a long way from finishing Tsugaru on Heavy, let alone Extreme (I've got DDRMAX2, translate those terms as necessary and I'm assuming it's the same basic Tsugaru I'm thinking of; even so, you probably know what I mean.)

"Extreme" is the name of the 8th mix, where DDRMAX2 is 7th Mix. The difficulty after "heavy" is called "challenge" or "oni".

I only relatively recently noticed how often it is false-triggering during normal use, even on buttons that our feet are nowhere near.

If you put your foot on a back corner (Downleft or sometimes Downright) and it triggers Up, then you have the game set up for controllers rather than for dance pads. In Konamix, DDRMAX, and DDRMAX2, you can turn off "DANCE PLAY" in the options, but in DDR Extreme (U), you can't.

But at the moment, the Cadillac of soft mats will have to do.

I bought the Buick instead of the Cadillac, and I was happy. Buynshop.com has two BNS DX-Xtreme pads for what you'd pay for one RedOctane Ignition pad. They're roughly the same thing, although the BNS DX is a bit more slippery than the RO Ignition, so you'll have to play in bare feet instead of socks.

Sorry, but I don't think the handheld market is ready for a footheld gaming platform.

There is already a footheld gaming platform for the PS1 and PS2; why not make a foldable one for PSP?

mac mini wins because it has no free agp slot, no free pci slots, no free hd slots, no free ddr slots

The EMS USB2 adapter will add two slots for DDR to any machine with USB ports.

If you want to lose more weight, try upgrading your computer with DDR. Instead of controlling the machine with your hands or even your nose, you let your feet do the walking.

Just don't buy from RedOctane. They're pretty pricey compared to other places. BNS is a lot cheaper for comparable equipment.

Or you can buy a DDR machine from Channel Beat. My friend (who's working on Techno Motion support for Step Mania) got a Techno Motion machine through Channel Beat and we stuck a StepMania box in there. It's a hell of a lot nicer than using a cheap pad. A tad more pricey, though.

Most slashdot readers probably already have atleast an original Playstation (and if not, used ones can be had for around $20 to $30 or the computer version of DDR can be used). Throw in the cost of a good dance pad (~$50) and the game (another $20 to $30), and your workout system only costs you ~$100, including the cost for a Playstation.

I suggest a dance pad like the one above, because the form insert really helps cut down on the strain on your joints (a must if you are going to be DDRing often as a workout)

More information at Stepmania - even more if they ever get their board back from ddrmaniax.

If you already have a PlayStation 2 console, that's a different story. Just buy a BNS DX-Xtreme pad and DDRMAX2 for about $100 incl. shipping. That'll get your lower body in shape.

but where I live, it goes down to -30 or -40 in the winter.

StepMania is cardio for people who for some reason can't leave the house. Controller sold separately.

StepMania is a GPL'd rhythm game for Windows, Linux, and Mac. Combine it with two PS1 dance pads, a 2xPS1 to USB controller adapter, and some Tournamixes, and have hours of fun.

If you want a PSX-PC parallel port adapter, you can get them at Buynshop.com for 3.95. Here's the link. http://www.buynshop.com/productinfo/45/VG-PS-PS2PC 4/ I have one and it works great with my DDR pad as well as my PS controlelr.

So why do we still use DDR on the desktop?

Because a home DDR kit gives me an aerobic workout without having to leave my house during a thunderstorm.

I will never play these games in public but the DDR games are a lot of fun and reasonable exercise. (I sweat more playing DDR than I do inline skating.) Since you want games you can play at home and not suffer the humiliation that you would in pubic. I've found it's very hard to get friends over to play the game the first time but after two weeks I'm averaging two friends a night on Mondays though Thursdays who want to play.

I bought from here: http://buynshop.com/newindex.php?parentid=29 and had a good experience. After two weeks I'm buying higher end pads, via eBay, as the lower end pads can be annoying to work with on carpet.

Nintendo's "Power Pad" dance pad may have been built poorly.

But that doesn't mean other companies can't make a good dance pad.

that wouldn't be sufficient for another DDR controller, which requires 201 pins

Last time I checked, I counted only nine pins on the connector of my DDR controller.

Actually, there are quite a few PSX->USB convertors that will work without modding your pad. These convertors map the PSX directional input to USB buttons, so you don't have the L+R or U+D axes problem.

I know these work from experience
I hear these work
And I hear these work too

http://www.buynshop.com/
http://www.redoctane.com/

...plus three controllers at $50 a piece (say, $30 back to Microsoft)

You forget that anyone with an iota of sense will buy the vastly superiour PS2 controllers and a couple of these (I wanted to link to Lik-Sang but they seem not to stock them anymore for some reason... An MS conspiracy? ;)). Meaning the XBox will actually put more money in Sony's pockets :P