Friday five + stuff

[heidi]

Just finished a week of total hell at the Scholastic Book Fair at my son's former preschool, where Jon will start possibly this summer. But the good news is, even with fewer board books and pricey gift books - and NO cookbooks! - we beat last year's intake by around seventy dollars. Well, it's something!

So I'm returning to real life with the Friday Five, gacked, as usua, from fridayfiver:

1. Your most favorite gadget:
See icon.

2. Your most useless:
My waffle maker. I used to be good at making waffles with a maker, and now, for some reason, I've lost the knack.

3. Your most useful:
What, you mean after the toaster oven, the computer, the baby monitor which ticks when he breathes, and the ipod, all of which are vital for daily life? My sidekick. Definitely.

4. Best-bargain gadget you've purchased:
My Belkin iPod FM transmitter, which allows me to take over the stereo system at my gym with my iPod's music. Wheee, total control and no headphones needed.

5. The one you would love to receive this holiday season:
I am getting a Roomba, because with another baby, I think it's the only way I'll be able to keep the wood floor in the kitchen & playroom vaguely sanitary. I may be getting a tivo, but with the whole removal-of-commercial-skipping feature thingy, I'm now rethinking it. I don't really care to upgrade to a new iPod - I love the one I have already - so the one thing I really want, but am probably not getting, is a MAC G5. SO shineeee! And so unlikely!

Comments

[nsmom.livejournal.com]

From what I understand, Tivo isn't taking the FF feature away - but they are supposedly adding ads during ff of comercials, but I have a feeling it will be something that can be ignored. BUT I've been a Tivo user for over four years now, and it's absolutely fantastic, it's the one home entertainment thing I really can't do without.

[verstehen.livejournal.com]

One of the new versions of the Induce Act (or a variation thereof, I don't remember the specifics) supposedly wants to make it illegal for consumers to skip commercials.

Aside from the crack Orrin Hatch is on, given the climate of the industry, I don't really blame Tivo.

[heinous_bitca.livejournal.com]

Find someone with an old ReplayTV for sale (refurb, or there are still some new in box on eBay). The 50xx series (Not the 55xx series). They have commercial advance, and can be hooked into the net with an ethernet cable. Plus, you can have shows sent to you and send shows to other people!

I love mine (now two, since blithedale sold me her refurb). The commercial skip is great (though lately I do it manually, as sometimes there are commercials I want to see, as with the new Ocean's 12 trailer!.

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

Like this? Is that a reasonable price?

[heinous_bitca.livejournal.com]

Just like that. :)

That's a good price, when you consider that, if bought new, a lifetime activation is $300 itself.

Oooh, a 5060! That's 20 gig more than either of my 5040s!

[selinakyle47.livejournal.com]

How well does the iPod transmitter work in the car? I held off on getting it because the reviews I read mentioned that it was difficult to get a clear signal if you're in a big city.

[heidi8.livejournal.com]

I don't use it in my car, because I have an "external" instal of my satellite radio, which is wired into the stereo system through a cable that I can unplug from the satellite and plug into my ipod, but I have used it in my mom's car, and while traveling, and I haven't had a problem. But if you have a cassette player in the car, use that thingy instead.

[minorparadox.livejournal.com]

Book Fairs!! There's something I really miss about elementary school.

[sundancekid.livejournal.com]

Is the Roomba that vacuum that moves itself around? Those things scare the bejesus out of me. :/

[nut-shell.livejournal.com]

Ooh ooh! I want a Roomba, too. They've just come out with a new line of them. Very cool.

[kokopoko.livejournal.com]

That is cool you can broadcast your iPod tunes over the stereo system! Did you have to clear it with the gym first? I'd love to do that!

(belatedly)

[sff-corgi.livejournal.com]

I third the request for a Roomba review -- I'm thinking it's the only think that'll keep this place decent-looking at floor level (too much stuff to look decent in general), even though I'm not sure how I can afford it.

Which model are you getting? The Discovery SE comes with accessories that cost a good $50-60 if you buy them separately....