The Spam Thread!

[cpd2009]

I may as well wait to buy an HDTV. It has come to the point where I must budget my finances, and if I get an HDTV now, I can kiss an entire month's budget goodbye.

Perhaps I can use Max for an HD display of sorts for an Xbox 360, BluRay and Elsie. Max only has one set of component inputs, but with a component video switch, I can expand that to three or more, and hook up all three devices to it. Since BluRay and Xbox are the only primary reasons why I want an HDTV, I don't really need to replace Anna-Lena completely since she already fulfills my TV needs, and provides proper resolutions for my retro video games.

So yeah...I'll hang on to Anna-Lena and integrate Max as a secondary HD display over the summer. If my dual TV setup lasts longer than a month (I have attempted a couple times before), then Anna-Lena will always be CRT based while Max and his successors will be HD.

[cpd2009]

Big package day. 3 packages from eBay!!

First package... my monthly Eisbär purchase...discs 3 and 4 of the audio drama series.

Three more to go after this, and Im planning on just importing those in one go next month, finances permitting.

Second package... my new Sega Genesis controller.

This is a NAKI Action Pad for my Retron3 console. I previously had a very cheap no-name controller that isn't very good. The B and C buttons refuse to work at times. This new controller fixed that. The NAKI controller is also better built, as NAKI was a rather respectable third party manufacturer of peripherals for systems like the SNES, Genesis, and so on.

Third package was nothing special...a VHS head cleaner for my DVD/VCR. It hates my Maxell head cleaning tape and refuses to play it. I tried this one, and it worked like a charm!

[RAMChYLD]

I may as well wait to buy an HDTV. It has come to the point where I must budget my finances, and if I get an HDTV now, I can kiss an entire month's budget goodbye.

Perhaps I can use Max for an HD display of sorts for an Xbox 360, BluRay and Elsie. Max only has one set of component inputs, but with a component video switch, I can expand that to three or more, and hook up all three devices to it. Since BluRay and Xbox are the only primary reasons why I want an HDTV, I don't really need to replace Anna-Lena completely since she already fulfills my TV needs, and provides proper resolutions for my retro video games.

So yeah...I'll hang on to Anna-Lena and integrate Max as a secondary HD display over the summer. If my dual TV setup lasts longer than a month (I have attempted a couple times before), then Anna-Lena will always be CRT based while Max and his successors will be HD.

Well, you can use Max for HD with a Xbox360 using the VGA or component cable. Blu-Ray, however, no go. Since the MPAA demands that all component output be downscaled to SD anyway.

[cpd2009]

Well, you can use Max for HD with a Xbox360 using the VGA or component cable. Blu-Ray, however, no go. Since the MPAA demands that all component output be downscaled to SD anyway.

Well, I just Googled it, and apparently, any player made after January 1st 2011 will no longer output HD via component. Analog outputs will be completely removed by 2013. This is the so called "analog sunset" as I read it is called.

That means I can still get a pre 1/1/2011 model from eBay or Amazon, but I need to make the purchase as soon as I can before such players become too expensive to acquire.

Hmm...guess I will just have to go for the OREI RegionFree model off eBay. Im sure I can get a good BluRay player there that can output analog HD so I won't have to replace Max with Max II, or use converter thingys.

EDIT: Wow...this is the third time I edited this post, but reading more about this "analog sunset" worries me. It makes me want to keep Anna-Lena even more. I may still get a BluRay player someday, but for now, no way. Even if I got one that allowed HD via component, new BD movies can use some sort of flag that can force those players to output in SD.

It's things like this that can force people to upgrade their equipment. And the MPAA is responsible. SOPA/PIPA may be gone, but limiting how one receives HD content is just wrong. HDMI is a better signal than Component I know, but I would rather keep Max instead of buying an all new TV with HDMI.

More info in this helpful PDF:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://media.extron.com/download/files/whitepaper/analog_sunset.pdf">http://media.extron.com/download/files/ ... sunset.pdf</a><!-- m -->

[cpd2009]

Wow...not only is the chat room quiet, but so is the spam thread.

Anyway...preparing to order a new A/V selector switch since the current one I have has issues...mainly with picture quality. It also has problems displaying screens with an overly white image, causing distortion or brightness issues depending on what TV or DVD/VCR it is connected to. Current switch box also has a remote, which is nice, but it also causes functions on the Black Friday DVD player to activate due to crosstalk between the devices. The DVD remote does the same thing, so I have to place something (like an SNES cartridge) in front of the switch box before using the DVD player.

As for my new monthly budget....Im going to really hunker down this semester. I will only eat out once a week, and monthly budget will be $150 per month. That should allow me to get through to May. The money is mainly for entertainment expenses, but as well as living expenses, like haircuts, unexpected medicine purchases, unexpected supply purchases, laundry, etc. But, since the DSU food service changed their dining program, my meal plan actually lasts all semester, unlike in the past.

I should really have adjusted the loan amount before I approved it last fall, as I felt I got a little more than I needed. (Fall worked out well since I had enough to get Lilly and save the rest for the semester) That means I have to pay more back in the future unfortunately, but by then, I should have a stable, decent job somewhere.

[RAMChYLD]

...
or use converter thingys.
...
It's things like this that can force people to upgrade their equipment. And the MPAA is responsible. SOPA/PIPA may be gone, but limiting how one receives HD content is just wrong. HDMI is a better signal than Component I know, but I would rather keep Max instead of buying an all new TV with HDMI.

SOPA/PIPA isn't dead - they're hiding in the shadows, recovering and waiting for the time to strike again. We must be vigilant and keep guard to see that they're given the proper treatment (read: all-out protest) when they reappear.

And the converter thingys... they're expensive. I know. The one I have is currently being used to provision a second HDCP-compliant HDMI port ot Quetzal II (where the Astro decoder is hooked up to). And that darn thing costs RM650.

[cpd2009]

SOPA/PIPA isn't dead - they're hiding in the shadows, recovering and waiting for the time to strike again. We must be vigilant and keep guard to see that they're given the proper treatment (read: all-out protest) when they reappear.

Well, they are dead for now at least. I read somewhere that some of the congresspeople are going to amend SOPA/PIPA, hopefully removing the domain blocking stuff. Who knows how well that may work out? It could be worse that before!

[RAMChYLD]

Well, they are dead for now at least. I read somewhere that some of the congresspeople are going to amend SOPA/PIPA, hopefully removing the domain blocking stuff. Who knows how well that may work out? It could be worse that before!

Which is why I consider it not yet dead. It's not over unless they're both dropped permanently.

---

Queen Lampshade clip obtained!

[RAMChYLD]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoKNjILXYsQ[/youtube]

[RAMChYLD]

Also, this will come back to her a few reincarnations down the road...