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Worst Christmas Ever For Gadgets?
An anonymous reader writes, "CNet says this will be the most disappointing Christmas ever for gadget-lovers. The Playstation 3 is delayed across most of the world, the Zune MP3 player is cancelled for everyone outside the US, Vista won't be out for home users before the big day, and even Final Fantasy XII won't reach Europe in time. From the article: 'It's enough to make you slit your wrists with the shards of a smashed Christmas tree bauble... Santa fails to deliver on almost all of his Yuletide promises. Most of the major technologies that were supposed to be ready for purchase have been delayed until next year.' The writer goes on to suggest phrases to use over Christmas dinner when the offending companies' products are mentioned. To reduce the pain of a Zune-less party, he suggests remarking: 'Imagine the stability and usability of Windows migrated to an MP3 player. In short, imagine a small portable version of Hell.'"
In one word - Wii!
...the Zune MP3 player is cancelled for everyone outside the US, Vista won't be out for home users before the big day...
Oh noes!!!1!!1!eleventy!!2
Santa fails to deliver on almost all of his Yuletide promises.
No. Companies including Sony and Microsoft have failed to deliver on their promises. As usual. The only news here is that CNet are surprised by this.
In summary...
Sucks to be you, Europe!
It'll be a very merry christmas outside of the wasteland.
seems like it's high time for an unplugged Chistmas - how about we all go back a few years back in time and forget about all that never ending search for silly gadgets that have a life time span of 3 minutes...what ever happened to pets? to imagination? to communication skills?
Locksmith
I'd rather have a Wii.
the Zune MP3 player is cancelled for everyone outside the US
I'd rather have an iPod (if I wasn't perfectly happy with my Rockbox'd iRiver).
Vista won't be out for home users before the big day
I'd rather have a lobotomy.
and even Final Fantasy XII won't reach Europe in time.
Never mind that, when's Final Fantasy III coming out for DS?
Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
What were you hoping for anyway, Vista under the tree?
...as long as Duke Nukem Forever is released.
Visit http://ringbreak.dnd.utwente.nl/~mrjb/growingbettersoftware to download your free copy of the book
Regarding the Zune thing - aren't there already like 50 different MP3 players on the market - not counting the iPod family? So again, who the hell cares? What a stupid article.
I am from Europe and two of my friends have already done Final Fantasy XII on PS2. The game is yet not playable on emulator, cause you need 2 analogs to navigate the heroes through the terrain. The game is the greatest FF for PS2 so far.
sex is better than war!
It might be! :)
I'm certainly looking forward to the Wii! And maybe to upgraded Mac Minis (Core 2 Duo). And to Samsung's SPH-M8100. No honestly, it might be a nice christmas. And because there is no Vista and no PS3, less people will bring their christmas presents back to the shops to get something else instead.
"...what ever happened to pets?"
Wha.... OH GOD!!! I'd forgotten! Fluffy! Sure enough, I found that skeleton behind the couch. Thanks a lot, way to make my day!
Where were you when the voynix came?
Just to add another item that's been pushed out past Dec 25, the WoW expansion won't appear until sometime in Jan 2007, at the earliest.
--trb
or mac book pro... you dont see many laptops out there with the intel core 2 duo yet. It looks like Apple will be doing well this Christmas season.
"If you aren't living on the edge, then you're taking too up much room"
Back 10,000 years ago, someone invented the wheel and everyone was saying that 'this'll be the best xmas, ever!'. Indeed it was, but little did they know that that would be the last new gadget for over 2,000 years (until someone invented the Iron Maiden, when of course xmas became way more fun.)..
Nerf makes a sniper rifle now. It has no accuracy to speak of, but it's just cool. I'm happy.
The Penny Arcade guys know how to appreciate it.
You guys need far too much to be happy.
Now that's funny !
the Zune MP3 player is cancelled for everyone outside the US, Vista won't be out for home users before the big day
:P
And you think it's bad news ?
I have discovered a truly marvelous proof of killer sig, which this margin is too narrow to contain.
" 'It's enough to make you slit your wrists with the shards of a smashed Christmas tree bauble"
I see someone has yet to discover the amazing simplicity of the Festivus Pole.
Where were you when the voynix came?
"The Playstation 3 is delayed across most of the world"
I think you took what CNet said out of context...I mean, if you consider Europe as being "most of the world", then I guess you would be right, but Europe isn't "most of the world" IIRC.
Our Pagan-Coca Cola holiday will be ruined! lol
Face it, the article was written for the /. crowd, not to the average consumer. For the average consumer, there's still a lot.
1) Wii
Okay, it's a crappy name, but at $250 it's very affordable to most households.
2) iPod nano 2nd gen
One word: colors. No self-respecting geek would buy a pink iPod but every female I know that doesn't have one wants one.
3) Sansa e200 series players
There is an alternative to the iPod. SanDisk should step up their marketing.
Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
So no more Warcrack until January. Well, at least, no less either.
You can use that skeleton for a real nice case mod ;-)
Ahhh...the great dumpster continuum. Many a free computer will be found there. -- sowth (748135)
I'm Jewish, you insensitive clod. Oh - and the 8 presents for Hannukah, one per day, is just an urban myth - at least when I was growing up :-)
No, I'm New Here
Because they've been plugging away all year creating Free and Open Source portable MP3 and video players, games for Linux and web-connected refrigerators. Which they're building, documenting and sharing freely with all their friends. Great holiday season ahead for FOSS.
...a reason to be thankful that the kids are only interested in playing with the box.
Genesis 1:32 And God typed
I'm after a digital camera. I'm looking for one with a decent optical zoom (at least 6) and I guess something like 6 Megapixels. To make matters worse, I don't want an SLR as I can't stick that in my pocket when I'm snowboarding, and I want it to be under £300.
I think I'm more likely to find a PS3 lying in the street to be honest.
Summation 2
Apple is slightly behind with that technology.
It's like sex, except I'm having it!
It's enough to make you slit your wrists with the shards of a smashed Christmas tree bauble...
Is it just me, or is the list of events requiring ritual seppuku getting a little crowded?
perl -e 'foreach(values %SIG){$_="IGNORE";}while(){}'
Here in the US all these gadgets will be here. Good Luck laying your hands on one of those overpriced-ForcednewMedia-PS3s though.
Speaking of the PS3. I just realized this High Price, Low Volume, pre order only console strategy is a valid strategy. A strategy to sqeeze one more Xmas out of the PS2. Selling at 129 for the slimline/bundle, it is the Wii's only real competition. And they managed to sneak it up on us. And I thought they were Idiots.
OSGGFG - Open Source Gamers Guide to Free Games
Look at this in another way! Take this opportunity to make your own gifts.
I have not done Christmas 'shopping' for close to 10 years now.
Every year, I make my own gifts for my family.
Popular opinion says that it's far better and more deeply personal to hand make your holiday gifts. By making my own gifts, I also give a part of my own self with each family member.
I have three hobbies that bless me with thie freedome. Sewing, electronics, and glass. I have made a variety of gifts for the family, ranging from unique rainwear; unique clothing crafted from upholstery and drapery fabrics; glass art; and this year, very unique burning mane inspired clear plastic rain bonnets lines with el-wire, or what some of you know of, as glow-wire and cold-neon.
Surely, all of you must have some creative energy and spirit. Let it flow free. Give it a try!
Luv
Cleara
No need to get caught up in the xmas rush. Save your money and just join us mac users for our Christmas at Macworld. Honestly though, so what is Vista/PS3 or the Zune is delayed/restricted? You're only disappointed if you wanted these items in the first place. The Wii is here and that is just one example of a tech product for christmas.
Jonathanjk.com
What a silly article. Personally, I feel it's high time there stopped being one or two overhyped "must have" gifts every holiday season that everyone suddenly wants, filling the pockets of whoever crapped out the flashiest ads. Whatever happened to getting people thoughtful gifts you know they'd like, out of the large number of things possible to actually get without a second mortgage and a sideline dealing heroin to metal bands?
There are pantloads of gadgets and non-gadgets out there I'd love to receive this holiday season, chances are you've never seen a television commercial for any of them, none of them will cost you a week's pay, and if you know me you can guess what they are. And I hope whatever I give you is just as appreciated.
Slashdot Burying Stories About Slashdot Media Owned
Who gives gifts of several hundreds of dollars in electronics? One can geek out in holiday shopping without breaking the bank. Thinkgeek sells fine geeky gifs at a great range, for example.
Or a good book? "The Ascent of Science" by Brian Silver is quite a nice read. Buying for an eight year old? May I reccomend a reprint of "the Golden Book of Chemistry" (Go to LuLu books. Several versions of differing quality. Some are very good labors of love, others not so much, yet still useful.).
Or a subscription to MAKE, CRAFT, National Geographic, or some other magazine?
Or if you are going to break the bank on a gift, how about something not obsolete in a couple of years. How about a chemistry set? The CHEM C3000 doesn't suck. And given todays "chemistry sets", that is high praise. Or go all out if its a son/grandson/daughter/granddaughter. Buy a nice shed, build a chemistry workbench. Cover it in bronze sheeting (or copper. or brass). Buy some surplus glassware and an inkwell burner at American Science Surplus. And a lot of mason jars of varying sizes. A golden book of chemistry. A pack of three moleskin notebooks for their notes, and to top it off, privacy if they want it. Or get involved in their lives. Make it fun. Bond.
3 degrees of separation from Vladimir Putin
Check this site. Way cool gadgets for a fun Christmas.
Where were you when the voynix came?
Slashdot: News for consumers.
lorem ipsum, dolor sit amet
and if one of them runs a different os, it's not the "END" of the world for me..
Someone in a one computer household, that's old and decrepit and up for renewal- will go to someone like me for a reccomendation.
I'm the one that's going to tell them to wait for vista to be loaded on the machine...
they are going to hold onto that machine for 2-3 years at least- and it's the only advice I can feel safe giving a neophyte right now.
every day http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
Hmmm, if you'll be wearing it in your pocket while snowboarding, it BETTER be small and cheap -- you don't want a spill to deprive you of either an expensive gadget or un-dented body parts. ;-) I suspect that a 6x optical zoom in and of itself will preclude easy pocketability on account of the optics, regardless of the size of the electronics involved...
"My strength is as the strength of ten men, for I am wired to the eyeballs on espresso."
"Playstation 3 is delayed across most of the world, the Zune MP3 player is cancelled for everyone outside the US, Vista won't be out for home users before the big day, and even Final Fantasy XII won't reach Europe in time."
That just means it sucks if you are a european. Thats not exactly news. Vista not coming out is hardly bad news.
There is nothing on this list that make it seem like a bad x-mas. FFXII is europe's own damn fault with several different languages and PAL,SECAM and other TV standards.
The war with islam is a war on the beast
The war on terror is a war for peace
i dont see any of those companies offering the 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. Plus with the new shuffle out, Apple has a lot to sell...
"If you aren't living on the edge, then you're taking too up much room"
And this is bad news how, exactly?
Maybe you'll be lucky and have some loving friend or family member give you the Gift of Ubuntu (tm)!
Since when is Vista a gadget?
C|Net left that big one out.
But hey! Neverwinter Nights 2 is out!
I mean... doesn't 1795 still take the crown for gadgetless Christmas? Nobody was really able to follow up Eli Whitney's Cotton Gin from Christmas of '94. And honestly, I don't believe anyone really tried.
Along with the Tickle Me Elmo rush, sneaks in a little gadget called 'Test Tube Aliens' which actually comes out of the UK. They are freaky little things that I haven't quite figured out, partly because they are all still in the package and I haven't had the chance to tear one apart yet.
They are a cross between those slimy grow things that you put in water, and a little robot, because there are sensors popping out of them (they are electronic). There is a little trick in how they respond to their own web site when you put them up to the monitor (they read a bar code). I laughed when I heard it from someone who swears his was 'talking' to the web site, but I still bought a bunch ($14.00 at KBToys and others) for my neices and nephews, and extra for me of course!
Web site is www.testtubealiens.com, but it doesn't have a good photo of the product.
Apparently today, if the C2D MacBook (vanilla) intro page is anything to go by, along with the yellow 'back soon' sticky note to the rest of the Apple Store.
How are sites slashdotted when nobody reads TFAs?
Looks like I got beat to the punch... Wwwwwiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!! I will be waiting outside the store like a fat kid in southpark...
Whatever will we do? I guess we'll just have to -- I don't know -- spend time with our families or something...
So you believe that Africa, Australasia, Asia (excluding Japan), the Indian sub-continent, South America and Antartica are all getting their PS3's this year then?
No? That's what I consider to be "The rest of the world" (with Europe as well I might add)
So there isn't any compelling must have Christmas gadget this year, well, that is readily available (I am talking to you PS3). Boo hoo. How about sitting around the Christmas dinner table with your family and friends and give thanks for your good health, good friends, a place to live, a job and a full stomach?
Since I became an adult I am far less worried about what gifts I receive at Christmas and far more thankful for the gifts I already have. Not all gifts come wrapped in pretty paper and bows.
Merry Christmas!
The gadgets of 1492 were pretty simple....
But more seriously, I had to settle for a plastic JAWS and a Tonka fire engine. What are they whining about?
I hate call waitin`~+~~~
NO CARRIER
What the hell are they talking about???
There are a crapload of cool gadgets coming out. Want an example??? sure...
Mediagate MG-35 or the MG-350HD is a extrnal hard drive that acts as a movie player/server that has wowed everyone I have shown it to. It will play DVD's as a normal dvd with menu and extras from iso files. I have a demo unit with about 40 movies on it that blows away everyone thta asees it on the small 42" plasma we demo with.
Granted it's not a gadget for the techie that has no skills at all but its really stinking cool.
How about the top of the line whole house audio from Crestron? The adagio is way cooler than all other whole home audio systems, far more extendable and all around cool.
Cnet simply did not look very far. I could spend 20 minutes on several sites and come up with lots of cool tech gadgets that would be high on someone want list this year. (HDDVD did they forget that? the Wii? duh?)
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
I also give a part of my own self with each family member.
I always thought sending body parts through the mail was illegal,
"Informative!? I see toys, clothes and video games, but no gadgets."
Sorry. Gadget-wise, he used to sell a "remote anti-gravity flying saucer (for $625,000.99 U.S.)", but I can't find it in his catalogue anymore. He must have sold out.
Where were you when the voynix came?
"Asia (excluding Japan), the Indian sub-continent"
Kind of redundant: India is entirely part of Asia.
Where were you when the voynix came?
Can I get a copy of duke nukem forever for this Christmas?
There is a spark in every single flame bait point.
I'm not sure what the commercial-advertising agenda is, exactly, nor how it might have impacted what certain hype-swallowing editors have been told believe are the best gadgets for Christmas. But I do know they seem to be overly looking more cool stuff than you can shake a stick at!
Who in their right mind could *possibly* hungry for Vista? There are new MacBook Pros with dualcore processors and a vastly superior operating system! I guess Santa won't be visiting Ballmer, if that's what C|Net meant. Certainly impacts ad sales.
Playstation 3? Not at that price, thank you very much. The Wii looks to be a quite a fun gaming platform with far more imaginative games. Keep in mind not everyone is frothing at the mouth with a life-defining need to get HD/Blueray on the first round. That's just what the companies want. And not everyone wants an all-in-one device that attempts to constrict you ("give you new entertainment opportunties") into their service offerings. I want a gaming machine. I want fun games. I don't want to have to outlay for HD big screens for each of the kids to have fun. Next!
Zune? Zune?! I mean, really. You lost all credibility by pretending there's any strong demand for that thing. And you plain lied when you say there are a million "iPod haters." There is no significant base of people who *hate* the iPod. A small minoritymight prefer another option, but that's a far cry from hating.
Basically, the list was highly conservative. Sticking with big names. Nothing new or innovative.
By the way, software and games aren't gadgets. And the inexperienced Chris Stevens isn't an authority.
"It's enough to make you slit your wrists with the shards of a smashed Christmas tree bauble."
Clearly Chris Stevens has far bigger problems than suffering production delays from Microsoft or Sony. Who really ASKS for Vista as a Christmas present? (or any kind of holiday present, actually) How bizarre. It's an insult to suicidal people everywhere.
$nice = $webHosting + $domainNames + $sslCerts
> this will be the most disappointing Christmas ever for gadget-lovers
I think that's putting it a bit strong.
Most of the dark ages pretty much sucked
for gadget lovers [in Europe at least].
http://rareformnewmedia.com/
That's the wisest thing I heard today.
Slashdot: stuff for news, nerds that matter, matter for news, stuff that nerd
The article talks about the delays for the new FF game and questions why its taking so long to release in europe. The answer probobly has to do with the various national ratings boards and the need to make sure that the european release will meet the (generally more conservative than the US on violence) standards set by those various boards. (either so they can release it at all or so they can get the rating they want)
Vista won't be out for home users before the big day
Sounds like it will be a good Christmas after all!
back a while back i made 3 predictions.. 2 of which i remember and 1 so far has come true. the first was that SGI would file bankruptcy, the 2nd would be the PS3 would not be released this year. again this was at the beginning of the year. where can i go and look and comments made by me beyond the first 50? i would love to give that link.. thanks.
Oh No! How can we live without the latest plastic crap?!?! If I don't get an iPhone-Core-4-Quad-Duplex-Vista-Premium-Ultimate-C apable-DSLR-Zune I won't be able to live. And it had damn well better run linux.
Well, considering that the only locations intended for launch were Europe, Japan, and North America....Europe, still isn't "most of the world". So that just throws your comment out the window. I don't think Sony had planned to release PS3's in Antarctica on launch day...glaciers lack opposable thumbs.
that good gifts come in smaller and less expensive packages?
This sig donated to Pater. Long live
Simply Next year more excitement.. Pets? I ve one allready.. http://www.champi.nl/champi/
[hippie] Maybe my Christmas wish of ending world hunger could finally come true? [/hippie]
It's time now to make the calendar more flexible than ever.
Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Independence, Mom's and Dad's days are to be adujsted accordingly to product release dates.
This way we all have a better year experience than ever.
Maybe Computers will never be as intelligent as Humans.
For sure they won't ever become so stupid. [VR-1988]
I have a hard time believing this is the worst Christmas for gadgest ever. Ever is a strong word. I can't help but think Christmas used to be a bit more boring. Take 2006 years ago for instance. Aside from the fact that only a handful of people knew it was Christmas, there were no great gadgets to give each other anyway. I mean, sure we got the Son of God that year, but does that really count as a technical advance?
CNet is absolutely right about this being the worst Christmas for gadgets - hell, this year will even beat the Christmas I spent alone in a snowy foxhole somewhere in the Ardennes, my buddies dead around me, with nothing but a few clips of ammo for my rifle, a can of corned beef hash and a broken can opener.
RTFM; please, I beg you.
I thought Christmas was about being together en caring about other people. We must be happy that all these gadgets are delayed and/or cancelled, because that leaves us more time to spend with our loved ones!
-- Cheers!
It seems to me that this is the year that HD has come of age. DVD players that finally play 1080, and Tivo is out. And to top that all you can now get a reasonably priced camcorder to record HD. Merry Christmas.
I could do entirely without a new video game or Microsoft software package.
.. Blub falls right in the middle of the abstractness continuum. -- Paul Graham
I'm thinking of getting one of those VCR/DVD player/recorders that are around a $100 at Wal-Mart for the folks. It'll make the tape to DVD conversion easier. Plus all the other benefits that digital provides.
...compared with, say, Christmas 1347 (or 1918)? Which is worse - no "Zune" or the Black Death?
Oh heavens forbid! With no cool toys for Christmas it is in serious danger of becoming a religious holiday.
It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
>
I have a friend who's hobby used to be "glass", but I think the parole board might not like him delving back into it, even if it was in the christmas spirit.
"you dont see many laptops out there with the intel core 2 duo yet"
I'm in the US so for me: FFXII (check), Wii (Nov 19, check); no complaints here, this is shaping up to be one of the best years in a long time for console gamers :)
So there will be cool hacks for it by the end of christmas vacation.
Right now I can just browse and skype on it... but its linux dammit!! Wheres my command line hack so I can install any linux programs I want on it??
Aside from the big releases, I like not having tons of tech dropped like a blizzard. The Wii and the (lack of) PS3 is enough. The unicorn of a true video iPod can wait until January when the kids have their money and need somethign trendy. Personally, I'm hoping for some Zen Vision action and I'm buying a Sansa e250 for a friend. Other than that, it's candles for the chicks and gift certs. GO CORPORATE CHRISTMAS AMERICA!
In Soviet Russia, dots slash you!
Yep, there have been some genuinely interesting board games out recently, and of course there are always classic games like chess and bridge if you have the right numbers, or poker if you have the right group of friends. Quite a few of my friends -- geeks and otherwise -- wind up spontaneously going around to someone's place on a spare weekend day to play whatever takes our fancy at the time, and it's far more fun than sitting at home reading $GEEK_NEWS_WEBSITE all day or watching endless reruns of $OLD_SCIFI_SHOW.
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
I'm getting everyone a Sony Walkman. Or a GoldStar knockoff if they're cheaper.
I don't know about linux cds for X-Mas.. What happened to that cd iso that had all the great free/open source windows apps on it? Wouldn't mind that myself (hint. Oh, I only wish..)
I've just spent maybe five minutes reading this thread, before it dawned on me that it's not even December yet and I'm reading an article about Christmas.
Yes, we should really go back to the old days, when Christmas didn't start in September and the season still felt special.
If you disagree, post your argument. (-1, Overrated) isn't your personal censorship tool for views you don't like.
Nov 15. I've made sure to remind myself to skip class :)
"I think an etch-a-sketch with an ethernet port would beat IE7 in web standards compliance."
the mini uses laptop cpu, ram, and hard dirve.
Can stand up and sit and lay down. Not bad for a cheap robot toy.
quakewars isn't here yet! cry! santa help!
In 2006 all US stations are supposed to be broadcasting digital and in 2009 end analog broadcasts. I notice the low-end TVs at Walmart and Target are $600 for wide monitor with built-in receiver. Perhaps lower with Thanksgiving teaser.
I dont watch TV that much so really havent been worried too much about this issue.
And here I thought that my Windows Mobile-based phone had the portable Hell market covered!
When did the future switch from being a promise to a threat? -C. Palahniuk
Vista for Christmas? Must be what the bad children were going to get.
Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
The bottom line here is that we humans are in an inventive slump. The uprocessor has nothing new invented in the line of software and the gadget business is in a real slump. Even if the Zune came out, there is nothing really 'new' about it. the PS3 is just a gadget to make the existing lot of games look better. There is nothing new in games, computers (maybe the UMPC, but it isn't going over too big becuase the price is too high) of software.
Everything that can be invented with the current state of technology has been invented. We need a totally new concept in technology itself.
M$ is the king of "Nothing New Invented Here".
Athiesm is a religion like not collecting stamps is a hobby.
And what does that have to do with anything?
What so the nitnendo wii is not a gadget. it seems pretty popular to me?
Want a good present? How about skype phones? If you actually like your family, they can help you stay in contact dirt cheap. That's kinda what xmas is all about.
People who think they know everything really piss off those of us that actually do.
Simultaneously snide, shitty and unfunny.
Fortunately it has an obligatory M$ dig and so gets to run.
'Imagine the stability and usability of Windows migrated to an MP3 player. In short, imagine a small portable version of Hell.' In that case MacOS must suck, since my iCrash (iPod) hangs several times per day, reboot is the only solution
Better yet, since no one will have Vista there will be NO ONE CALLING ME ON CHRISTMAS DAY FOR VISTA INSTALLATION HELP! Many more people will also postpone buying a computer until Vista comes out, so I may not even get any "where do I stick this cable" calls!
Oh. My. God. Best Christmas ever!
Life is short: void the warranty.
Ob link to the excellent I'm a Wii ad.
Yes, I know you've already seen it...
My God, it's Full of Source!
OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
Is that located next to the Superdome, or the Metrodome?
in 1971 Xmass was worse for gadgets (IMHO) ;-)
One category of gadget lovers can (mostly) rejoice, as four out of five of the new generation of c. $1,000 10-megapixel Digital SLR's are here. Those are the Canon 400D (Digital Rebel XTi), the Nikon D80, the Sony Alpha A100, and the Pentax K10D [which isn't here yet but is supposed to be available before Christmas]. The last one is the Olympus E-400, which they have decided not to sell in the US. (I'm an Olympus fan, but I'm moving to Canon because, (1.) I decided I'd get a new 10 MP DSLR a long time ago when I heard this generation was coming out, and Olympus decided not to release theirs here, and (2.) I think not releasing it here reveals a basic lack of commitment to the US market that scares me about the future of the system here.)
Anyway, please excuse my Olympus rant, the point was that, unless you're an Olympus fan living in the US, this has the potential to be a very Merry Christmas for photography enthusiasts, as there are four gorgeous new cameras available that are all raking in rave reviews. And if you live in Europe or Asia, you may have access to all five highly rated new 10 MP DSLR's before this Christmas. They're all so good, you may make yourself miserable just trying to choose.
FYI for those of you who aren't camera enthusiasts: this is probably the most exciting lineup of competitive "prosumer" cameras that have ever been released together.
Can anyone tell me how to set my sig on Slashdot?
This Christmas, give the greatest gadget ever invented: The Thermos. It keeps hot stuff hot. It keeps cold stuff cold. How does it know?
How ya like dat?
This season is so bad we may not even have a decision in the Virginia senate race by Xmas, and won't know which party will control the new Senate. The recount won't even start until Nov. 28. Virginia has about ten different voting systems, including all the bad ones, and doesn't have a paper trail on the touch-screen voting machines. The current tally is 1,170,708 (Webb) vs. 1,162,576 (Allen).
The gadget we need, a voting system that doesn't suck, didn't make it in time for this year either.
Thanks for the correction.
And I'm sure you'll get modded up if you can say the sentence in German. Without any spelling mistakes, that is.
English isn't everyone's native tongue...
I cant believe everyone completely ignores this fact and I know its hard to swallow.
Vista RC2 was released to the masses and thousands are using Vista RC2 perfectly fine right now; they enjoy it so much that they want to make sure that this enjoyment lasts.
Games, Non-DRM music/video all play fine in Media Player Classic, I can still control the other 3 desktops in our home and things still work like in XP with a few more easily navigatible additions.
ATI/Nvidia both just released some offical RC2 drivers.
Additionally they just released the upgrade prices if you originally owned Windows XP and it is not that expensive for home users to upgrade.
Personally I don't mind spending $79 to upgrade one of our XP Home to Vista Home.
Windows Vista just went RTM today also.
I for one want a kick-ass Transporter!
I'll take a Wii and a PS3 too... The only reason I want a PS3 is for Winning Eleven. The best sports gaming experience ever. Okay maybe Metal Gear Solid too when the new one's unveiled.
?giS
Ritual seppuku involves slashing your belly.
Slitting your wrists is just committing suicide.
But remember kids! Killing yourself just isn't cool.
What about Firefly: The Complete Series. Perfect for Christmas, Birthdays, Hanukah, Weddings, etc.. Plus this gift will work for your non-nerd friends too.
Only bad for MS fanboys. Ok, and the Sony ones. Aside from that, there's the Wii coming our way on schedule, there's new stuff from Apple across the board, and if you look at the world aside the top-5 or so, there are tons of cool gadgets.
Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
Yes, that and also wobbly windows.
If they go the trouble mentionning Vista, they should also consider new interfaces on Linux.
Aiglx/Xgl and Compiz/Beryl are going / are currently proiminently featured in most Linux distibution currently avaible or that will be released in the near future.
Granted most Linux distro don't make shiny christmas presents (because a significant part of them don't even have a boxed version).
But at least a brand new graphic card with well behaving linux drivers, or even a second Display to span the desktop-on-a-cube graphical madness over several screens, this makes a nice box to put under the christmas tree, and then a nice thing to show off.
"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
This christmas, the geeks you know want the Lego Batmobile. Who needs digital gadgets?
is competition good, or is duplication of effort bad?
Actually that's not true. There are plenty of laptops out there with the Intel Core 2 Duo in them. I sell laptops at an Office Store and at least half of the models that we sell now have the Core 2 Duo in them.
Software Reviews>
Since when is software considered "gadgets"?
My hand touched her hand. Her hand touched her boob. By the transitive property, I got some boob! Algebra is awesome!
When I speak (admittedly poor) French, I want people to corect me when I get something wrong. Why is the fact that they don't speak english relevant to him correcting them? Seems to me that if you didn't speak it natively, you would want your grammar corrected so that you can improve.
Remember kids, tin foil doesn't work, so use LeadHat.
Worst Christmas Ever for People Outside USA
Or
Worst Christmas Ever for People in Europe
It looks like all of us in the good old U.S. of A is getting our share of gadgetry.
HD Trailers
After all, they say the first step toward a solution is admitting you have a problem.
± 29 dB
Anyone who perceives getting stocked with the latest and greatest tech gadgets for Christmas as creating joyful holidays must be pretty lacking in their life. Why ruin a perfectly wonderful family feast by fighting with the new toy and NOT being able to get tech support on Christmas Day?
Sorry man... the Internet pooped on me.
What if you have no loved ones to share the days with? I'm lucky... I have my husband and my cats, but no one else. Our families all passed away already.
Sorry man... the Internet pooped on me.
You don't have to have a High-Definition capable tv to get the digital signals. They are only good for the High-Definition Antennae or receivers.
I do highly recommend it though, the programming is spectacular, the clarity is sooooooo realistic. And, for me, because of the content alone, it's worth every penny. If you are a sports fan at all or game with an XBox or X360, get the HD, it's a completely mind-blowing experience.
As for time, fuck them and their Thanksgiving sales.... wait until the week before/after the Superbowl! You'll save hundreds. We did pay a grand for our 52" HD Rear Projection (3 years ago), but if we had waited, we would have got it for $850.
Sorry man... the Internet pooped on me.
Speaking of the PS3. I just realized this High Price, Low Volume, pre order only console strategy is a valid strategy. A strategy to sqeeze one more Xmas out of the PS2.
I don't think Sony had that as a master plan, at least I don't think they have reduced the number of units produced to implement this.
However you have a really good point about the effect this will have, there are a lot of great AAA games coming out for the PS2 this season like Guitar Hero II and a new Final Fantasy. So the sales the PS2 has seen until now will probably continue for some time.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
With all the World problems, Wars, Conflicts, Starvation and AIDS i don't think we were good enough for Santa to bring us anything :)
We're used to having all the latest gadgets being released here around February or March. Just in time for early Christmas shopping ... 9 months early. So don't complain too much about this being the worst Christmas for gadgets. You will not get much sympathy from the rest of the world.
Let me say, it's very annoying to have you guys in the US go on about how great this device is, or how wonderful that game was, when we can't even buy it in our own country. Can we please have an embargo on all talk about the latest and greatest, until it's released everywhere in the world? I would much appreciate it. So would the rest of us.
If you were counting on Vista to make Christmas complete ... well, do whatever you've been doing the past 3 years.
Ouch that's hard... but maybe you can take your husband to a party downtown and meet some new people?
-- Cheers!
"The Playstation 3 is delayed across most of the world"
And yet, at the risk of sounding like a flamer I must point out that the Wii WILL. Despite a few well hyped "gadgets" being delayed and such, many "gadgets" will still be under the Christmas tree -- especially if you don't buy into marketing hype.
looks like c|net is now hiring highschool students to write their stories:
OMG this is, like, the worst christmas _ever_. That bill gates guy ruins _everything_. It is, li
We're working on it. San Diego, California is a very strange nut to crack. There are a lot of just plain vapid and selfish people. There's a *lot* of scam artists... and the hard drug scene is rampant. Most of the people who party downtown are from out of town! :P But it's ok... We do good. We were raised American Military brats, so we're used to being away from family. But sometimes... that nostalgia gets a bit tough. :)
:)
Thank you for your kind words. It means a lot to me.
Sorry man... the Internet pooped on me.