OT: Paid my DTV tax ...

[krw]

Plus shipping. But that's still quite decent, not like my $10 cable, but ...

I paid $6 for my last couple of (6') HDMI cables. Cables are only
expensive if you buy them at an "electronics" store.

 

[krw]

True. I forgot my ThinkPad has VGA. I never have an external monitor
plugged in unless it's docked. The docking station has only DVI.

P.S.:

HDMI carries the stigma of media control, DRM and such. So people like
non-censored paths.

Buy a DVI to HDMI cable. ;-)

 

[Joerg]

I paid $6 for my last couple of (6') HDMI cables. Cables are only
expensive if you buy them at an "electronics" store.

That's how you and I behave, I also bought my last HDMI cable via mail
order. But uncle Leroy and grampa Miller just go to the next store. The
price there is what determines acceptance of a technology by the masses.

 

[Joerg]

True. I forgot my ThinkPad has VGA. I never have an external monitor
plugged in unless it's docked. The docking station has only DVI.


Buy a DVI to HDMI cable. ;-)

Nah, I just plug in the VGA cable, set the resolution to what the teevee
likes best, works, done

 

[krw]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98308

12 Ft. HDMI® Cable $9.99

http://www.trianglecables.com/516-806bk.html

6tf. $9 (supposedly a sale)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882418002

6ft. $7.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882379005

6ft. Belkin $9.99

http://www.computercablestore.com/HDMI_HDMI_catID483.aspx

1M $7.85

A web search will bring up kabillions of 'em. Anyone paying more than
about $15 got screwed.

 

[Joerg]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=98308

12 Ft. HDMI® Cable $9.99

Quote "High purity metal conductors, nitrogen injected for quality video
transmission".

Ahm, does this cable need special incantations before use?

 

[Jamie]

If you ask the clerk at the check-out register at Harbor Freight, I suspect
you'll just get a confused stare...

Branching out into consumer electronics is as interesting move for Habor
Freight...

I wonder how much lubrication a shop has to do before it makes sense to buy
one of these:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90319 ...

Our PM crew use those things every day!

 

[Joerg]

My favorite: http://www.usa.denon.com/ProductDetails/3429.asp

I especially like how the cables have an arrow (this is on an ethernet
cable) for the direction of data transfer.

Check out the comments at amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Denon-AKDL1-D...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1245888746&sr=8-1

Quote "A caution to people buying these: if you do not follow the
"directional markings" on the cables, your music will play backwards.
Please check that before mentioning it in your reviews.

ROFL!

<cleaning up spilled water>

 

[krw]

Quote "High purity metal conductors, nitrogen injected for quality video
transmission".

Yep. Just as good as Monster. ;-)

Ahm, does this cable need special incantations before use?

Nah! The marketeers have taken care of all that for you.

 

[krw]

Quote "A caution to people buying these: if you do not follow the
"directional markings" on the cables, your music will play backwards.
Please check that before mentioning it in your reviews.

ROFL!

I remember a troubleshooting guide for GE toasters, telling the
customer to reverse the plug if it didn't heat. Quite a good hint,
actually.

 

[Anssi Saari]

HDMI carries the stigma of media control, DRM and such. So people like
non-censored paths.

Well, sure, but it's the content that's protected and that's easily
avoided. Well, maybe not, if Blu-Ray takes off for real. Otherwise
HDMI is a nice small connector and thin cable. I actually have an Xbox
and PC connected to the same monitor via a HDMI switchbox.

HDTV pay-TV around here at least will probably flop hard, they are
going to require actual mating of cards and set top boxes together...
You'd have to be crazy to buy into that.

 

[Joerg]

Well, sure, but it's the content that's protected and that's easily
avoided. Well, maybe not, if Blu-Ray takes off for real. Otherwise
HDMI is a nice small connector and thin cable. I actually have an Xbox
and PC connected to the same monitor via a HDMI switchbox.

So far we only use regular DVD. But one from Europe (which you can't buy
here because not in English) refuse to play because DVD players over
here are crippled into only our zone. Stupid. I don't want this to
proliferate so while this DVD is now connected via HDMI I want to l;eave
it at that.

Blue ray? It was all the hype a year ago. Haven't heard anything about
it in months.

HDTV pay-TV around here at least will probably flop hard, they are
going to require actual mating of cards and set top boxes together...
You'd have to be crazy to buy into that.

Probably another thing that mankind doesn't really need. Like analog
HDTV where some people in Sweden actually bought (!) sets and ended up
with the most expensive desk light ever. In media, early adopters get
bitten over and over again.

 

[Martin Brown]

So far we only use regular DVD. But one from Europe (which you can't buy
here because not in English) refuse to play because DVD players over
here are crippled into only our zone. Stupid. I don't want this to
proliferate so while this DVD is now connected via HDMI I want to l;eave
it at that.

Next time you are over in the UK buy a cheap supermarket model that is
zone free chipable or slightly more expensive one from Tottenham Court
Road in London. Official DVD chippers for NASA.

Blue ray? It was all the hype a year ago. Haven't heard anything about
it in months.

Now fairly common in the UK. I haven't quite got around to buying one.
It doesn't ay to be a too early adopter of new formats in case they go
the way of Betamax (better product technically but failed dismally).

The rival standard appears to be in terminal decline now.

Probably another thing that mankind doesn't really need. Like analog
HDTV where some people in Sweden actually bought (!) sets and ended up
with the most expensive desk light ever. In media, early adopters get
bitten over and over again.

The early Japanese HDTV was analogue in the mid 1990's. I don't think it
ever got past test transmissions but it was quite impressive to see.

Regards,
Martin Brown

 

[Joerg]

Next time you are over in the UK buy a cheap supermarket model that is
zone free chipable or slightly more expensive one from Tottenham Court
Road in London. Official DVD chippers for NASA.

But it might not play back in NTSC. Anyhow, PCs are much better, they
play anything and the newer TV sets have a VGA input.

Now fairly common in the UK. I haven't quite got around to buying one.
It doesn't ay to be a too early adopter of new formats in case they go
the way of Betamax (better product technically but failed dismally).

The rival standard appears to be in terminal decline now.


The early Japanese HDTV was analogue in the mid 1990's. I don't think it
ever got past test transmissions but it was quite impressive to see.

It sure shows that being an early adopter can (financially) backfire.