The "New Toys" Thread

ZeDestructor said:
We don't get netflix where I am. so no real use for me :p
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No other streaming services? Also if TV is a DLNA/iTunes client you could stream your digital media from your PC's to it. I'm doing something with similar with HTPC's, I have Hulu and Netflix streaming + 7MC with a shitload of content, like Top Gear :)
 
Logitech G27.

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Damn GT5. Even though it is a disappointing game on many levels, it still is addictive, and the controller sucks so bad that I had to buy a wheel. Now I will probably have to buy a WheelStand Pro.
 
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ZeDestructor said:
Why not upgrade your laptop with a new mini-PCIe card? If its your desktop, then SHAME ON YOU! desktops need wires!
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Not really, no. My desktops are all HTPC's, which are used only for torrents and streaming 720p video. They are currently on the 10/100 wired network and I have no problem with the streams. 802.11n gives you nominal speed of 300mbps, in my experience real life speed of Wi-Fi is around half of nominal, meaning that you would get 150 or so on an 11n connection. Considering that my internet is only 30 down and my media streaming works fine over 100 there isn't any real need for a wired connection. In fact unless you are doing massive and time sensitive* file transfers across the network there is no real need for a wired connection. Which is why there will be an 11n upgrade in the near future for all my systems, will also take away a shit load of wires.

*If transfers aren't time sensitive they can be set up to run during the times when the network is not being used. After all if you are sleeping you don't care if a transfer will take 2 hours or 6.
 
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prizrak said:
No other streaming services? Also if TV is a DLNA/iTunes client you could stream your digital media from your PC's to it. I'm doing something with similar with HTPC's, I have Hulu and Netflix streaming + 7MC with a shitload of content, like Top Gear :)
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I guess you're right, but I'd just plug my laptop in using HDMI if it came to streaming content eitherways, so no real loss. And I'm known to keep stuff in the original (some say annoying) rar filesets straight from The Scene

prizrak said:
Not really, no. My desktops are all HTPC's, which are used only for torrents and streaming 720p video. They are currently on the 10/100 wired network and I have no problem with the streams. 802.11n gives you nominal speed of 300mbps, in my experience real life speed of Wi-Fi is around half of nominal, meaning that you would get 150 or so on an 11n connection. Considering that my internet is only 30 down and my media streaming works fine over 100 there isn't any real need for a wired connection. In fact unless you are doing massive and time sensitive* file transfers across the network there is no real need for a wired connection. Which is why there will be an 11n upgrade in the near future for all my systems, will also take away a shit load of wires.

*If transfers aren't time sensitive they can be set up to run during the times when the network is not being used. After all if you are sleeping you don't care if a transfer will take 2 hours or 6.
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True, true, but my experience with wifi has yet to begin (yeah, still on an utter crap router for at least another week), so I can't really comment on reliability. Plus wires go to gigabit :D
 
ZeDestructor said:
If it works for you, then go ahead by all means :)

Its just been my experience that Seagates are the absolute worst. I personally recommend (in order of preference) Samsung, Western Digital, Hitachi
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And yet the Hitachi Deskstar has the unfortunate nickname of "Deathstar." You can guess why. I never pay much attention to HDD brand myself.
 
ZeDestructor said:
I guess you're right, but I'd just plug my laptop in using HDMI if it came to streaming content eitherways, so no real loss. And I'm known to keep stuff in the original (some say annoying) rar filesets straight from The Scene
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If I can say one thing about you based on this is that you are not lazy :)
True, true, but my experience with wifi has yet to begin (yeah, still on an utter crap router for at least another week), so I can't really comment on reliability. Plus wires go to gigabit :D
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Good luck and post your experience :)
 
I got myself a new laptop.

The asus u30jc, looks nice and is really quiet :O
 
RdKetchup said:
Logitech G27.

Damn GT5. Even though it is a disappointing game on many levels, it still is addictive, and the controller sucks so bad that I had to buy a wheel. Now I will probably have to buy a WheelStand Pro.
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Gargh, couldn't wait, just ordered the WheelStand Pro deluxe. My girlfriend must not found out how much this whole thing just cost me...
 
RdKetchup said:
Gargh, couldn't wait, just ordered the WheelStand Pro deluxe. My girlfriend must not found out how much this whole thing just cost me...
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LOL, I am willing to offer you political asylum as long as you bring the wheel and the PS3 with you :p
 
prizrak said:
Not really, no. My desktops are all HTPC's, which are used only for torrents and streaming 720p video. They are currently on the 10/100 wired network and I have no problem with the streams. 802.11n gives you nominal speed of 300mbps, in my experience real life speed of Wi-Fi is around half of nominal, meaning that you would get 150 or so on an 11n connection. Considering that my internet is only 30 down and my media streaming works fine over 100 there isn't any real need for a wired connection. In fact unless you are doing massive and time sensitive* file transfers across the network there is no real need for a wired connection. Which is why there will be an 11n upgrade in the near future for all my systems, will also take away a shit load of wires.

*If transfers aren't time sensitive they can be set up to run during the times when the network is not being used. After all if you are sleeping you don't care if a transfer will take 2 hours or 6.
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N-Wifi goes up to 150 or so with 2.4GHz, with 5GHz it can be 300Mbps, but cheap routers don't support that. Also most routers are on 20MHz bandwidth by default, changing it to 40 will increase speed. That was the difference between not able to stream 720p and streaming 1080p for me.

I also added one extra antenna to my parents HTPC which has a mini-pcie wlan card:
https://pic.armedcats.net/h/h-/h-p/2011/01/04/Pair_wifi_Antenna_For_Laptop_Wireless_Mini.jpg

That improved the signal a lot.
 
h-p said:
N-Wifi goes up to 150 or so with 2.4GHz, with 5GHz it can be 300Mbps, but cheap routers don't support that. Also most routers are on 20MHz bandwidth by default, changing it to 40 will increase speed. That was the difference between not able to stream 720p and streaming 1080p for me.

I also added one extra antenna to my parents HTPC which has a mini-pcie wlan card:
https://pic.armedcats.net/h/h-/h-p/2011/01/04/Pair_wifi_Antenna_For_Laptop_Wireless_Mini.jpg

That improved the signal a lot.
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Thanks for the tip, definitely helpful. I'm looking at the Airport Extreme to do my Wi-Fi bidding :)
 
thevictor390 said:
And yet the Hitachi Deskstar has the unfortunate nickname of "Deathstar." You can guess why. I never pay much attention to HDD brand myself.
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My Deskstar's been running 24/7 for the last 3 years, 12/7 for a further 3 years before that. Never crashed

prizrak said:
If I can say one thing about you based on this is that you are not lazy :)

Good luck and post your experience :)
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I'm too lazy to redo my linux install. That should five you an idea. I only keep scene rars because i has a slight OCD relating to keeping stuff the same way they get released.

I'll be sure to post my times with wifi, flashing dd-rt and openwrt and do comparisons :p

h-p said:
N-Wifi goes up to 150 or so with 2.4GHz, with 5GHz it can be 300Mbps, but cheap routers don't support that. Also most routers are on 20MHz bandwidth by default, changing it to 40 will increase speed. That was the difference between not able to stream 720p and streaming 1080p for me.

I also added one extra antenna to my parents HTPC which has a mini-pcie wlan card:
https://pic.armedcats.net/h/h-/h-p/2011/01/04/Pair_wifi_Antenna_For_Laptop_Wireless_Mini.jpg

That improved the signal a lot.
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I'm planning to upgrade my wifi chip and add another antenna to my laptop... soonish :p

narf said:
Let's see...

...watch YouTube videos.
...browse Google Maps.
...twat around :yucky:
...lots more
...most importantly: Stream videos off network drives.
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nsx_23 said:
narf said:
...most importantly: Stream videos porn off network drives.
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FTFY
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Someone knows how to quote :p
 
nsx_23 said:
FTFY
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Dude who the hell downloads porn these days? There is so much of it on demand :p
I'm too lazy to redo my linux install. That should five you an idea.
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Hehe, I remember the good old times when I used Linux for fun at home. Gotta say when it comes to HTPC duties its hard to beat the damn near zero conf of 7MC.
 
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ZeDestructor said:
My Deskstar's been running 24/7 for the last 3 years, 12/7 for a further 3 years before that. Never crashed
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I have one myself, no problems so far. I'm just pointing out why I don't swear by (or avoid for that matter) any one brand.
 
killpanda said:
I got myself one of these:

ipod-touch-4g-1-e1283371232872.jpg


But in 8GB form as I pretty much only need it for iOS app development purposes :)


The display is pretty awesome and it's mighty fast compared to my old iPhone 3G!
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And I just got myself one of these for Android development purposes :)

nexus-one-1269816018-806.jpg
 
ZeDestructor said:
A TV these days is but a giant screen. imo it has no business having WiFi connectivity
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Come on, you gotta have BookFace and MyTube when you're watching Top Gear.
 
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