OT: Technology and Geek Stuff Thread

[nhwbrooklyn]

I've got this one (which i just stick in my attic not even mounted). I'm in Ann Arbor.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Antennas-Direct-DB4-Multi-Directional-Antenna/dp/B000EHYG9K/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1295224201&sr =1-1"]Amazon.com: Antennas Direct DB4 Multi-Directional HDTV Antenna: Electronics@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CXDF3BWVL.@@AMEPARAM@@51CXDF3BWVL[/ame]

It doesn't do VHF though so no fox in detroit but I get PBS, ABC, NBC, and CBS, all HD. And a couple of odd non-hd channels.

[Sweatpants Murphy]

I'm never close to the limit, but I don't stream much. I don't know how big Netflix movies are, either...

250 GB is a LOT of data...I used to stream netflix over my sprint MBB connection, which had a usage meter, and I don't think I even came close to 10 GB. I read through Buckeye Cable's terms & conditions and saw nothing about a usage cap, so I think I should be OK.

I've got this one (which i just stick in my attic not even mounted). I'm in Ann Arbor.

Amazon.com: Antennas Direct DB4 Multi-Directional HDTV Antenna: Electronics

It doesn't do VHF though so no fox in detroit but I get PBS, ABC, NBC, and CBS, all HD. And a couple of odd non-hd channels.

I checked what range I needed on antennaweb.org and it said I need a small multidirectional antenna since I'm right in the middle of the city, less than 15 miles from any given station.

My neighbor gets all the local stations with a passive antenna and I recall, when I was younger, when we had the rabbit ears with the aluminum foil, we were able to pick up Detroit stations. So I'm hoping for the best!

[gjdodger]

I don't know anything about this stuff. However, my old (5 years +) laptop is out of memory; I thought I had cleared some a couple of months ago, but it's gone. I've got a external drive coming from Amazon (a few bucks for Deb); what do I do, plug it in, send everything over to it and work off it? Or what?

[-Deborah-]

Your external drive will be used for storing files, dodger. So once you get it, plug it in and move some of your current files over there...and you can save future ones there or save them to your local hard drive now that you made room.

[gjdodger]

Your external drive will be used for storing files, dodger. So once you get it, plug it in and move some of your current files over there...and you can save future ones there or save them to your local hard drive now that you made room.

Should I put applications like YIM on there, or won't they work?

[LionsFanInJapan]

You could and it would work fine.

It's probably more common though just to move all your files over to the external drive and leave your programs on the laptop hard drive. You should be able to free up plenty of space just by moving all the data over to the external drive.

[gjdodger]

okey dokey, thanky

[DanO]

....spanky.

GO LIONS "11" !

[Coop]

found this interesting...are we going to see all carriers raising data rates?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703954004576089851888900750.html

[Topweasel]

found this interesting...are we going to see all carriers raising data rates?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...888900750.html

To a degree. I think across the board there will be a 4G cost. Up till now Sprint had actually been one of the cheaper options by a couple of bucks, with their history of the shittiest customer service I think they should have held back on this hike.

[Malto Marko]

T-Mobile offers two different 4 G plans. One has a ceiling of 200 MB (.10 overage for extra MB) the other is unlimited.

How would one that had not previously used a phone to connect to the internet know how many MB they are likely to use?

[LightninBoy]

In my experience, unless you are downloading large files like streaming music or movies, 200MB is typically more than enough.

I use my phone all day nearly every day for checking/sending email and web surfing and rarely approach 200MB.

ATT allows you to monitor your data usage and change your plan retroactively if you go over the limits in the middle of the billing cycle. If T-mobile is similar then there is no risk in trying the cheaper plan first.

[nhwbrooklyn]

I think you can switch data plans mid contract from what I understand (I'd ask first though)... i'd start with the 200mb one.. monitor closely enough as to not totally abuse yourself if you end up streaming a whole lot and switch if needed.

Your smart phone can use your homes wifi (or any wifi really) so thats a good way to keep your usage down. It's also faster than 4g even. So turn on your wifi when in range (it does drain your battery faster though... but since your home that shouldn't be an issue).

[nhwbrooklyn]

I just downloaded this app called ROM Gripper for my android.. it has like every single nintendo and super NES game on it.. the screen super imposes see through nintendo style buttons/controller on it... its pretty wild. It's like a time machine hearing some of those early game sounds. Mmmmm techmo bowl. It's all free too.

[bimmer84]

Cool! thanks.