CinemaQuest, Inc. – Home Page. Believe it or not, a big improvement for me at home was having the right backlight on the television. This is actually pretty important and it is cheap to get the right light. However, Cinemaquest seems like the only folks with the exact right color light bulb. Check it out.
Archive for March, 2003
Speaker Mounts and Stands
Mar 31st, 03
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Axiom Forum. I’ve always been looking for speakers stands and mounts. here’s a list from Axiom forum:
* “Btech”:http://btech-usa.com
* “Omnimount”:http://omnimount.com
* “Vogels”:http://vogelsusa.com
* “Racks and Stands”:http://www.racksandstands.com/. And amazingly, there is an entire online store dedicated to just mounts
Network MP3 Players
Mar 31st, 03
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So I have an Audiotron that takes MP3s from my PC and plays them over the stereo. Need another one now. Here are the latest ones.
* “PC World Overview”:http://www.pcworld.com/resource/article/0,aid,108818,00.asp. A good overview of Primiq, HP, Cd30. There are five others not mentioned, but they were announced at CES.
* “TechTV: cd3o first look”:http://www.techtv.com/freshgear/products/story/0,23008,3414506,00.html. YOu install software on your PC, then you search tracks and then their c300 connects to your audio system. $250 list for extended range, $150 for wired ethernet version.
* “HP Digital Media Receiver”:http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,856957,00.asp. Both Ludwig and “GuavaMundo’s”:http://guavamundo.com Sam McKelvie got these for $200. Has a proprietary software connection.
* “Prismiq”:http://prismiq.com. Supports both MP3 playing and low bit rate MPEG.
* “Grid Connect”:http://www.gridconnect.com/. An el cheapo box, but they bought the right keyword on Google.
* SLIMP3. It’s very hackable.
* “Yamaha”:http://www.yamaha.com/yec/products/PDFs/MCS_bro_v2s.pdf. It stream over 802.11b to small boxes you can distribute in the home; but depends on a proprietary server.
Powell vs. Rumsfeld
Mar 31st, 03
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More on what is supposedly happening inside the administration:
* Advisers Split as War Unfolds (washingtonpost.com). Interesting inside view on what is happening and how Powell is playing consumate insider vs. Rumsfeld. Also on Rumsfeld’s larger ambitions.
* “Offense and Defense”:http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?030407fa_fact1. Seymour Hersch is another reporter with view on the inside. Has some interesting things to say about planning for all of this.
Home Theater Reviews and Direct Sellers
Mar 30th, 03
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Figuring out who to listen to (no pun intended) for home theater equipment isn’t easy. Here are the places I check out:
* “Home Theater Spot”:http://hometheaterspot.com. OK, so I know Paul who runs it, but he’s an expert at great home theater video particularly.
* “Home Theater Magazine”:http://hometheatermag.com. They have most of their reviews archived.
* “The Perfect Vision”:http://theperfectvision.com. Unfortunately, most of their reviews do require you put down some cash. Easiest thing to do is to actually subscribe.
* SoundStage! Reviewers’ Choice. Not sure how good these are, but an interesting list of reviews.
Another interesting thing is how you can pretty much buy some great equipment direct from manufacturers rather than via dealers. Here’s a list of equipment that have gotten great reviews that are available:
* “Outlaw Audio”:http://www.outlawaudio.com/home.html. They have a very good, but inexpensive receiver the Outlaw 1050 for $500. They also have a well reviewed pre-amp/amp combination for $1,700.
* “Better Cables”:http://bettercables.com. Great high end cables at a low price.
* “SVS Subwoofers”:http://svsubwoofers.com. I don’t have a set myself, but I’ve heard great things about their subwoofers.
* “Axiom Audio Speakers”:http://www.axiomaudio.com/products.html. I don’t own this set, but the Reviewschoice.com seems to love these speakers. Very reasonable prices. The M2i is just $255 a pair.
Long War
Mar 30th, 03
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I’ve been following the news like everyone else. Since everyone is giving opinions, I thought I’d give mine based on years of in-fighting in a big company. Here’s my bet about what is going on:
* Rumsfeld Faulted For Troop Dilution. First, I don’t know, but I would bet that Rumsfeld is one of those classic CEOs I’ve met many times. Incredibly great infighter, never going unstealth, but always pushing. This latest report about him denying more troops is a classic to me. He can always claim that someone below asked for it. I just love the part where the civilians (Wolfie no doubt) call the generals stupid. Sigh.
* “Wars Goals”:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A49102-2003Mar29.html. Another classic problem. There is a big difference between the Powell doctrine of overwhelming force and focusing on winning vs. what is politically expedient. The only thing I hope is that there is someone at the top levels in the Pentagon willing to destroy their careers to tell the truth. Or, there is a Daniel Ellsberg somewhere who will blow the whistle. I only pray that the troops over there get enough to do the job right. Rather than having another Vietnam or Lebanon.
* “Anger in Middle EAst”:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48367-2003Mar29.html. Of course, you can easily argue that hte real hearts and mind war is already lost. Another lesson from Vietnam and Lebanon.
* “Losing the PR war”:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45187-2003Mar28.html. A good piece about how the “marketing” of the war really didn’t work.
Home Theater Recommendations
Mar 28th, 03
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At last something that isn’t about the war. I’m putting together a home theater system for my dad. This is a mid-range one and includes the following:
* “Pioneer SD533HD5″:http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=585816. Actually I probably should have gotten a unit with DVI for the future (this is a new fangled digital connector), but didn’t understand it until too late. Looks good, although I’m completely spoiled by my own Mitsubishi 73903.
* “Panasonic DVD-XP30″:http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/cgi-bin/shootout.cgi?function=search&articles=all. Secrets of Home Theater has the most comprehensive testing ever. I actually got Dad an DVD-RP56 last year which is pretty darn good, but this XP30 is superb and only “$175″:http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=608872/, it is hard to beat.
* “Outlaw 1050″:http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/1050.html. This is a mail-order only budget audio-video receiver. It doesn’t have all the sound modes (and the licensing fees) of the big boys like the Denon AVR-2803, but it sounds great and is only $500. Nice to support a little company in the world of consumer electronic giants.
* Energy Take 5. They don’t make these any more, but five years ago they were just great sounding.
* “Samsung TS-151″:http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=691699. There are equivalent Zenith and Panasonic models, but this one seems the most common. It is a high definition tuner for over-the-air terrestial signals. This is the cheapest way to get HDTV right now. You don’t have to buy a satellite or cable.
I’m also doing a budget home theater system for our family room. Here is what I’ve got for that:
* Sony 32XBR100. This is an old television set. It isn’t HDTV, but boy is it wonderful looking. When I got it five years ago it was state of the art.
* “Denon 2803″:http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=703757/blsrt=1. The current state of the art. Has every decoding mode under the sun box. All for $584 today. I love competition.
* “Paradigm Atom”:http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/paradigm_atom.htm. Top rated by “The Perfect Vision”:http://www.paradigm.ca/Website/SiteParadigmProduct/PReviews/Paradigm/PerfectVision/PV_Atom_CC_ADP70_PDR12.pdf, “Stereophile”:http://www.stereophile.com/showarchives.cgi?664 and the other reviews are glowing as well. You need a pair of Atoms ($170), a CC-170 for the center, ADP-70 for the surrounds and PDR-12 subwoofer. Main issue is that you have to find a local dealer.
* “Acoustic Research AR HC-6″:http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/acousticresearch_hc6.htm. These also got great reviews in The Perfect Vision. Much more available as well from “Pricegrabber”:http://www.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=463769.
More Factoids for Techie Geeks
Mar 27th, 03
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CDI Defense Alamanac 2002. Another great compendium of facts about the military. From the NY Times reference “Iraq Navigator”:http://www.nytimes.com/ref/international/IRAQ_NAVIGATOR.html?pagewanted=all&position=top.
Interesting facts:
US Army Divisions 1990: 18
US Army Divisions in “Desert Storm”:http://www.desert-storm.com/soldiers/army.html : 8
US Army Divisions 2002: 10
US Army Divisions in Iraq so far: 2 (+1 on the way)
US Navy Carriers 1990: 15
US Navy Carriers 2002: 12
US Navy Carriers in Iraq Theater: 5
What to do next?
Mar 27th, 03
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New Reality, Hard Choices. A great piece on what to do next. Personally, I think consolidate in the south and wait for reinforcement.
I bet that this doesn’t happen though, I would bet Rumsfeld & Co. want to just drive, drive, drive. I hope not too many folks die and he is right.
Optimists View — Hope he is Right
Mar 26th, 03
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military news about Nations Around the World. A great Jay Leno like assessment of where we are from James Dunnigan.