Posts by Andrew C

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  • Hard News: Goodie Bag!,

    Well off topic, but recently the embedded youtube's in Russell's posts have not been showing up in my browser (IE 7.0.5730.13). It shows a big square with a picture placeholder icon.

    However it works fine in Firefox, so its probably not the page, its probably me... ALTHOUGH on some other web pages I *do* see embedded youtube.

    Can one of the comp savy out there help a computer nub as to the likely cause? I did an internet search but didnt find anything, but perhaps I need a few better key terms.

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report

  • Hard News: There is History,

    Notable about the 1918 flu pandemic is how badly it affected young and fit people and affected some areas more than others.

    There was a very interesting virologist on the radio this morning (either National or Radio Live, was flicking between the two) who had an explanation for this.

    He said that the troops on the front lines during the war were generally extremely fit and healthy young men. An earlier and milder version of the flu hit them first, and then through the usual mutation/evoloution adaption to environment it became a virus which was very very good at killing fit and healthy people. ie because it only had fit and healthy men to breed on this is what it mutated/evolved to becoming good at killing.

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report

  • Hard News: TiVo and some tunes,

    I am sure PA readers can come up with some appropriate suggestions.

    Trickle down table?

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report

  • Hard News: TiVo and some tunes,

    @paul campbell

    it also means that if TVNZ tires of Tivo the box you paid $500 for wont continue to work with the freeview on-air feed.

    what do you mean by this paul?

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report

  • Hard News: TiVo and some tunes,

    Im a *total* techno noob, but I got a lot of info on a PVRs from very helpful posters last time I asked, so Im hoping people can help me out here again.

    We dont yet have freeview, but were going to get it when a PVR + freeview combo came down in price enough. Last time we asked we were recommended one of the Zinwell range as it recorded in HD, and that is something we were hoping to get. Unfortunately it was ~1000 at the time (but a bit cheaper now) so we have so far put it off.
    Perhaps Tivo is a good alternative? So as far as questions go:

    -what are the disadvantages of Tivo vs a Zinwell (or similiar) PVR?

    -does tivo record HD programs in HD so when I watch them they will be in HD still?

    -does 2 channel mean I can watch 1 and record 1 other at the same time (or alternatively record 2 at the same time), or is it some other techno term?

    -Can I start watching half way through recording with the tivo box still recording the remainder (im sure there is a term for this...)

    -How do I get stuff from my Tivo to my computer, and vice versa, assuming I have a wireless adsl2 modem. Can i do it wirelessly, or do I need to use a usb thumb drive (or similar) each time. Especially worried about the EPG if it does not go via the air. Our TV is not really in a place I can connect my computer to it via wires easily.

    -"There are no buttons to jump either forward or back, just fast-forward and reverse." What does this mean? Is this for the ondemand stuff, or permanently? As i dont currently have a pvr I am not quite sure what this is


    All help appreciated

    Cheers
    Andy C

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report

  • OnPoint: Being a dick about Earth Hour,

    If you have purchased quality bulbs and have more then one blow out in under a year I'd say that suggests your wiring is wonky, not the bulbs are crap.

    Fair enough, although I am not certain I did in fact get quality brands... Can anyone give a recommendation of a brand? Perhaps I can help if someone is not allowed to suggest/recommend a brand: reply if you consider "ecobulbs" a high quality brand

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report

  • OnPoint: Being a dick about Earth Hour,

    Our experience mimics a few other posters', the lifetime of the CFL bulbs has been so appalling we have pretty much given up.

    To date we have one still going at 2.5yrs old, but the next longest was only 1 year, and the majority less than 6 months. This was in a brand new house, and we fitted them in almost every single room.

    Generally they just stop working, or simple emit a very very soft purple glow, but a couple exploded.

    Given how expenisve they are we have given up. We bought them at regular retail prices, which is not cheap, and are no longer prepared to throw our money into experimenting.

    Someone mentioned harmonics, maybe that is our issue? Could be our wiring, but a brand new house (2.5yrs old now)...?

    Perhaps if someone can recommend a good quality brand we would get a couple and try again. The shop retailers dont really seem to have any idea. Also I would love info on the different "hues", and info on speed of warm up etc. We would like ones which look most like a "regular" bulb colour (warm etc). Again the light shop retailers didnt seem to have any idea [they gave advice but turned out to be wrong, and would give the opposite when returned a month later etc etc *sigh*]

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report

  • Hard News: It's not OK to just make…,

    Not trying to throw fuel on the fire, but I thought people may be interested to hear about my good friend's [male] experience with the police re domestic violence.

    My friend married a very hot tempered woman from Brazil and regularly had hammer and tong arguments including plenty of pushing and shoving from both sides [she was particularly prone to dishing out violence including hitting with objects, she used to say its part of her culture and her 'energy'].

    On 2 separate occassions neighbours called the police because of the noise, and on both occassions the police arrested my male friend even though they both fessed up to pushing and shoving. On both occasions the police said its almost always the man who they take away and arrest in these situations.

    I have no idea if this attitude is common or not, just posting it for what it is worth. It may be useful reading the stats in light of this observation.

    This post is not intended to excuse either of their behaviours, it just opened my eyes somewhat when it happened as I didn't really expect that sort of bias from the police nowadays.

    Cheers

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report

  • Hard News: Speaking Freely,

    Another question...

    What are the adv and disadv of going with an aerial vs a satellite dish.

    In case it is useful for other pepole, some info I was told by some installers is that I can run a cable for an external freeview aerial or an external freeview dish for 50m without getting many issues with the picture quality (our garage where we would mount the aerial/dish is quite a way from our house)

    Thanks
    Andy C

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report

  • Hard News: Speaking Freely,

    Andrew - not all Freeview boxes are also DVRs/PVRs (in fact I'm not sure any are yet - Russell's article, in part announces what are probably the first ones) - most just replace the analog channel tuning with digital tuning

    I was more thinking about dvd/hd recorders not related to freeview.

    I guess the question is:
    If i were to go and buy a tv and hd recorder this week, if i get the one with the freeview decoder built into the tv set, can I record my freeview hd programs on the hd recorder in HD, so that when I watch them again they are in HD?

    Or does the dvd/hd recorder just record whatever turns up, and it would be decoded on the way back into the TV when watching the program i recorded on the dvd/hd recorder?

    Basically we want to buy something which lets us
    1. watch hd tv live and in hd
    2. record shows in hd so when we watch them later they will also be in hd

    Thanks
    Andy C

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 169 posts Report

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