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User: samtihen

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Comments · 35

  1. HDTV on Windows Media Center Edition vs. The World · · Score: 1

    I agree. Cable companies have relatively cheap PVRs available for a monthly fee that gets tagged onto whatever service you already have, which actually makes it bearable.

    However, Media Center PCs have lots of other uses too, such as music hubs and DVD management systems.

    That said, I am in the market for a Media Center PC. I am putting of building/purchasing one because HDTV support (especially cable HDTV) is not that great (or even available for cable, if I remember correctly).

    With single drives in the 400gb range for reasonable prices, I feel that it is time to start pushing HDTV PVRs.

    So, what I am waiting for is a (relatively) cheap HDTV cable tuner card.

    Anyone got any suggestions?

  2. Internet Access on FCC to Allow Wireless Access on Planes · · Score: 1

    I'd rather just have cheap, fast internet access.

  3. The Mall on Nintendo's Lawsuits Aided by Fans · · Score: 1

    The mall where I live has a guy selling these "game systems" at a kiosk. I always wondered how it was legal. I guess the answer is "It isn't."

  4. Applications? on PDA Designed for the Great Outdoors · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Wow. I think that is pretty cool. It is obviously a bit bigger than what you would expect from a PDA, but it might have interesting applications for forest rangers or nautical police.

  5. Re:Progress on More Calls for Patent Reform · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Well, that is only partially true. The technical people do have power to change things, it just takes time. That is to be expected though; when was the last time you saw public policy changed very quickly (outside of the patriot act)?

    In fact, the technical people are probably the only ones who will change things. I strongly doubt that the average Joe on the street will ever care about patent law. I mean, that is unreasonable to expect from today's public.

  6. Pollution on BMW Shows Off World's Fastest Hydrogen Car · · Score: 5, Insightful

    What I find moderately interesting about the hydrogen fuel idea is that, despite the fact that it emits only steam as a byproduct, it still takes a lot of energy to produce hydrogen. As a result, it pretty much will cause pollution regardless.

    Don't get me wrong, this still reduces our dependence on oil, and will be a huge help to city pollution, but I think we need to quickly figure out some way to make hydrogen cheaply and cleanly. Maybe nuclear powered hydrogen production plants? Just thinking...

  7. Re:Don't be a metrosexual on Home Defense, Geek Style? · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I own multiple guns, all of which stay locked, and unloaded, until I plan to use them for reasons other than home defense. The reason? "A gun kept in the home is 22 times more likely to kill a family member or a friend than it is to be used against an intruder" - Arthur Kellermann, MD, New England Journal of Medicine, 1998. It is NOT smart to use a gun for home defense.

  8. Smart Design on Apple VP discusses iMac G5 Hardware Design · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I think Apple always goes the extra step when designing their products. I think that one of the most interesting parts of this new iMac is the fact that it has air holes in the top of it so that the hot air can rise out. Now why hasn't anyone else thought of that? I mean, my computer has a ton of fans to move air around, but that could definitely be lessened by air slits in the top. Thanks Apple!

  9. Service in Texas on Internet Heading to Light Speed · · Score: 5, Informative

    I few weeks ago I saw that Verizon is starting with some 15mbps lines in Kellar, Texas.

    http://news.com.com/Verizon's+fiber+race+is+on/210 0-1034_3-5275171.html

    I heard the price was going to be only 44.95 a month. With this kind of speed VoIP and Video communication, as well as video on demand, finally seem pretty feasible.

  10. What about ethanol? on Getting Serious About Fuel Cells · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have heard that Washington University in Saint Louis is getting quite close to making a useable ethanol fuel cell that could potentially power a laptop for a month. I really just think that alcohol based fuel cells make more sense; ethanol can be easily made from corn, and we make enough of that to have our government pay farmers to not grow it for economic reasons. I say that ethanol fuel cells will change the world more dramatically than the internet, and that is a pretty powerful statement to make.