talkin tech
Monitor Mania
Last week my KDS XDS 19" flat screen CRT monitor was doing weird glitchy things (displayed image would shrink in horizontal length slightly, and then expand back into position, staticy streaks would flash across portions of the screen) and I was on IRC talking about it. I wanted to discount that the problem could be my video card. So I hooked up the monitor to another computer, and had the same glitchy problems. So I knew the end was coming, but had no idea it was so near.
Saturday afternoon, in the middle of a game of Star Control 2... er... I mean The Ur-Quan Masters, the monitor blinked out. It would no longer show an image and the little green light that usually comes on when I press the power button didn't come on. So I removed the monitor from its perch. I noticed that it was really hot and briefly thought that ventilation might have been a problem since the top of it is nearly flush with the top shelf of my desk. But then again, I've had the monitor for some time now, I bought it back when it was worth $250 and paid $250 for it.
I had previously communicated that my monitor was on the road to its grave to my roommate. He, being so wonderful and attentative, already had a spare Viewsonic 19" CRT on the living room floor for my use. We hot-swapped the Viewsonic into place and my computer was good to go again.
Now there was a dilemma of my need for a new monitor. Now the need isn't hurry hurry immediate, since I have a working interim display. But still it's nice to be using your own things. A few weeks ago there was a Hanns-G 19" HC-194D flat panel LCD monitor for $110 after rebate (free shipping). I had missed out on this deal and was kicking myself because I didn't buy it then. At that time I was weighing spending $100 compared to a monitor that didn't need replacing at that time (unbeknownst to me, the fates were conspiring against me). But then, do I want to go cheap with a hundred-dollar display? Or should I go for something nearing $300? I had loved my old CRT. I thought I might be disrespecting its memory if I went cheap. I spent $250 on it back in my pizza delivering days. I make more money now (not much more, but more) so I am in a position to get something better. Some people have said "Who cares? It's $100! It works!" And others have said, "You're spending lots of time using your computer, you should spend the money for quality and to save your eyesight."
A friend recommended a Dell monitor. At first, I didn't think much of it, because Dell batteries explode, and their outsouced computers suck ass. But I decided to do some searching about this 20.1" widescreen monitor. The more I looked, the more I liked it. It has gotten very good reviews, and has some nifty bells and whistles like built-in USB ports. So now, I pretty much have my mind set on the Dell 2007WFP. My time frame for this monitor is to get it by the end of October.
But then this morning I woke up and found that the Hanns-G 19" HC-194D flat panel LCD monitor was back on sale for $110AR (but not free shipping). Now I had to think. I had set my mind on the Dell, but the Hanns-G is back in my life. I would need a couple hours to contemplate this. Newegg has rave reviews about the Hanns-G. And it's only $110AR. But the R is big... it's a $120 rebate. I decided to buy the Hanns-G. I sent in the order today during work. But does this dash my hopes of the Dell. Nope.
I'm going to use the Hanns-G as my interim monitor until I get the Dell. And when I get the Dell I'm going to combine the Hanns-G with the computer I'm building for my niece. (Now some of you are gonna go, why not keep the Hanns-G as a secondary, dual monitor? Well, my current vid card would need both monitors at the same resolution, and having a wide screen and normie monitors would not match.)Originally we were going to give my niece an old CRT monitor with the computer I'm building, but her room is small, and both her brothers have LCD monitors. Now I just have to find a new 100GB-ish hard drive for this computer, as when I was testing my busted CRT on it, I found the HD in it has gone bad.
More Air
As if I don't have enough things in my computer. On techbargains, I spotted that Nexfan.com was selling the Vantec UV LED Blue Spectrum Fan Card for half price with some $4 flat rate shipping. I'm not trying to make my computer internals all blinky blinky, because I keep my opaque computer covers on, but I can't help it if it comes with LEDs. I decided to buy it, but wanted to make the shipping worth it and looked around for other things to add. I needed to replace my case fans, after my tornado case fan fiasco a few months back. I decided to get a pair of Vantec Stealth 80mm case fans. During the weekend, I also spotted that Circuit City had the Targus Chill Mat laptop fan dealy for $10AR. I bought that as well.
Can You Hear Me Now?
Fry's/Outpost.com has a pair of Motorola T7400 two-way radios on sale for $20AR. I bought those. My current pair of Moto radios are down to a solo, so they needed replacing. The reviews on these pair of radios are very polarized. Some say they're exceptional, others say horrible. I will be testing the new pair for my airsoft and convention applications soon. And can buy more before the end of the month if need be since the rebate allows up to 6 submissions.
Bring The Music
And a few days after the radios, Fry's/Outpost.com had the PQI 2GB 150X SD card for $20AR. $10 per gig was my price point, and I wanted specifically for a 2GB card at that price for my Creative Muvo Sport mp3 player. Now I will be able to include higher quality music as before I was using the stock 256 meg capacity. The Sport model is the only one of the Muvo line that is expandable by adding a SD card. At least this was true when I bought it a while back.
Last week my KDS XDS 19" flat screen CRT monitor was doing weird glitchy things (displayed image would shrink in horizontal length slightly, and then expand back into position, staticy streaks would flash across portions of the screen) and I was on IRC talking about it. I wanted to discount that the problem could be my video card. So I hooked up the monitor to another computer, and had the same glitchy problems. So I knew the end was coming, but had no idea it was so near.
Saturday afternoon, in the middle of a game of Star Control 2... er... I mean The Ur-Quan Masters, the monitor blinked out. It would no longer show an image and the little green light that usually comes on when I press the power button didn't come on. So I removed the monitor from its perch. I noticed that it was really hot and briefly thought that ventilation might have been a problem since the top of it is nearly flush with the top shelf of my desk. But then again, I've had the monitor for some time now, I bought it back when it was worth $250 and paid $250 for it.
I had previously communicated that my monitor was on the road to its grave to my roommate. He, being so wonderful and attentative, already had a spare Viewsonic 19" CRT on the living room floor for my use. We hot-swapped the Viewsonic into place and my computer was good to go again.
Now there was a dilemma of my need for a new monitor. Now the need isn't hurry hurry immediate, since I have a working interim display. But still it's nice to be using your own things. A few weeks ago there was a Hanns-G 19" HC-194D flat panel LCD monitor for $110 after rebate (free shipping). I had missed out on this deal and was kicking myself because I didn't buy it then. At that time I was weighing spending $100 compared to a monitor that didn't need replacing at that time (unbeknownst to me, the fates were conspiring against me). But then, do I want to go cheap with a hundred-dollar display? Or should I go for something nearing $300? I had loved my old CRT. I thought I might be disrespecting its memory if I went cheap. I spent $250 on it back in my pizza delivering days. I make more money now (not much more, but more) so I am in a position to get something better. Some people have said "Who cares? It's $100! It works!" And others have said, "You're spending lots of time using your computer, you should spend the money for quality and to save your eyesight."
A friend recommended a Dell monitor. At first, I didn't think much of it, because Dell batteries explode, and their outsouced computers suck ass. But I decided to do some searching about this 20.1" widescreen monitor. The more I looked, the more I liked it. It has gotten very good reviews, and has some nifty bells and whistles like built-in USB ports. So now, I pretty much have my mind set on the Dell 2007WFP. My time frame for this monitor is to get it by the end of October.
But then this morning I woke up and found that the Hanns-G 19" HC-194D flat panel LCD monitor was back on sale for $110AR (but not free shipping). Now I had to think. I had set my mind on the Dell, but the Hanns-G is back in my life. I would need a couple hours to contemplate this. Newegg has rave reviews about the Hanns-G. And it's only $110AR. But the R is big... it's a $120 rebate. I decided to buy the Hanns-G. I sent in the order today during work. But does this dash my hopes of the Dell. Nope.
I'm going to use the Hanns-G as my interim monitor until I get the Dell. And when I get the Dell I'm going to combine the Hanns-G with the computer I'm building for my niece. (Now some of you are gonna go, why not keep the Hanns-G as a secondary, dual monitor? Well, my current vid card would need both monitors at the same resolution, and having a wide screen and normie monitors would not match.)Originally we were going to give my niece an old CRT monitor with the computer I'm building, but her room is small, and both her brothers have LCD monitors. Now I just have to find a new 100GB-ish hard drive for this computer, as when I was testing my busted CRT on it, I found the HD in it has gone bad.
More Air
As if I don't have enough things in my computer. On techbargains, I spotted that Nexfan.com was selling the Vantec UV LED Blue Spectrum Fan Card for half price with some $4 flat rate shipping. I'm not trying to make my computer internals all blinky blinky, because I keep my opaque computer covers on, but I can't help it if it comes with LEDs. I decided to buy it, but wanted to make the shipping worth it and looked around for other things to add. I needed to replace my case fans, after my tornado case fan fiasco a few months back. I decided to get a pair of Vantec Stealth 80mm case fans. During the weekend, I also spotted that Circuit City had the Targus Chill Mat laptop fan dealy for $10AR. I bought that as well.
Can You Hear Me Now?
Fry's/Outpost.com has a pair of Motorola T7400 two-way radios on sale for $20AR. I bought those. My current pair of Moto radios are down to a solo, so they needed replacing. The reviews on these pair of radios are very polarized. Some say they're exceptional, others say horrible. I will be testing the new pair for my airsoft and convention applications soon. And can buy more before the end of the month if need be since the rebate allows up to 6 submissions.
Bring The Music
And a few days after the radios, Fry's/Outpost.com had the PQI 2GB 150X SD card for $20AR. $10 per gig was my price point, and I wanted specifically for a 2GB card at that price for my Creative Muvo Sport mp3 player. Now I will be able to include higher quality music as before I was using the stock 256 meg capacity. The Sport model is the only one of the Muvo line that is expandable by adding a SD card. At least this was true when I bought it a while back.