How Much Are You Involved in the Newer Consumer Electronics?

Tomkitten- Great- Now you'll have some impetus to learn how to use the darn thing.

soz- That's right. You messed up my entire premise!
Anyhow, if you wait a bit, all that stuff will be more affordable. It is amazing how electronics have come down in price over the last few years.

Egads. I can remember in the 1970s when I went back to school. I needed a calculator that would do square roots. I paid $90- for a Texas Instruments calculator. You can get one now that does the whole scientific thing for ten bucks.

Oh, by the way, I remembered that I had a DVD player that I got as a reward for doing Harris polls. It was not a very good one, so I never really used it. Actually, I thought that I had blown the headphones. Looks like I didn't.

Went to Amazon, and bought my favorite workout album on CD, to replace the tape that is somewhat shredded. It was one of those deals where the product is sold by an Amazon "partner". Anyhow, it is a new disk, and with the shipping, it will cost a little over 4 bucks. I am in hog heaven!

Re: How Much Are You Involved in the Newer Consumer Electron


32 years of age

LCD HDTV capable, but not utilized.

iPod (one of the first ones that came out, still works great).

Hand-me-down desktop computer hooked up to TV that functions mainly as a jukebox and internet-video machine.

Laptop that does all the dirty computing work.

Couple of DVD players, cheapies, not hi-def.

Point and shoot digital camera.

The cheap cell phone that came free with the contract. Doesn't work so great, which is just fine.

Somewhere in the basement there's a $20 electronic dart board and a bunch of broken dart tips.

Re: How Much Are You Involved in the Newer Consumer Electron
Your age: You don't have to be exact. Just a general idea.

50 (how the hell did that happen?)

Do you have?

HDTV- LCD or plasma?

HDTV-LCD, but never utilised the HD part. Don't have television services, so it's only used for watching DVDs.

Personal music player.......What kind?

No, never.

More than one computer? Desktop or laptop? How much do you use your computer?

One desktop, used daily for work and play.

Broadband connection or dialup? What kind?

DSL, through the telephone line.

Satellite radio? In car or home model?

No

GPS- In car or portable?

No

Portable DVD player?

No

Regular DVD Player- Standard or Hi-def?

Standard, regular, old (so old it won't play pirated or copied DVDs)

PDA, Blackberry, etc.?

No

cellphone?

Yes -- so old that it's been called "retro - cool" by some kids. So old that it could be classified as a weapon. So old that it does nothing but function as a telephone.

Digital Camera- Point and shoot, or SLR? How many megapixels?

P&S SLR, 7.1 megapixels

Anything else that I have forgotten?

Um ... cordless electric toothbrush, cordless electric flosser (I have hi-tech teeth )

Re: How Much Are You Involved in the Newer Consumer Electron
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Age: 46

Do you have?

HDTV- LCD or plasma?
NOPE, just13 inch TV that's probably 10 years old with no cable or satellite.

Personal music player.......What kind?
NO - I'm an NPR addict who owns two very old radios and a really cool NEW SOLAR FREEPLAY RADIO

More than one computer? Desktop or laptop? How much do you use your computer?
ONE COMPUTER FOR BUSINESS & SURFING - very high tech printer and scanner for the biz. It's used everyday.

Broadband connection or dialup? What kind?
DIAL-UP

Satellite radio? In car or home model?
NO, DON'T WANT IT

GPS- In car or portable?
NO

Portable DVD player?
NO, BUT MY 1985 SONY WALKMAN STILL WORKS

Regular DVD Player- Standard or Hi-def?
NEITHER

PDA, Blackberry, etc.?
NO, I JUST CARRY ONE OF THOSE OLD FASHIONED BLACK AND WHITE NOTEBOOKS AND A GOOD PEN.

cellphone? NO, THEY DON'T WORK WELL IN MY HICK TOWN. I AGREE THEY ARE GOOD FOR CAR TROUBLE CALLS.

Digital Camera- Point and shoot, or SLR? How many megapixels? WE HAVE A HIGH END DIGITAL FOR OUR BUSINESS

I prefer not to have a great variety of high tech entertainment or gizmos, some of it has to do with the price and I like living a low cost, simple life. I worked in the computer industry for a number of years until I burned out. After I dumped that career, I lived for a year in an off grid house in the backwoods to let my brain heal and my soul resurface. I never got back into the techno stuff and hope I won't ever have to.

Re: How Much Are You Involved in the Newer Consumer Electron
Your age: 37

HDTV- LCD or plasma?
No. One normal.

Personal music player.......What kind?
Sony cd player with paint on it.

computer?
Desktop

How much do you use your computer?
Too much

Broadband connection or dialup? What kind?
DSL

Satellite radio? In car or home model?
No

GPS- In car or portable?
No

Portable DVD player?
No

Regular DVD Player- Standard or Hi-def?
one, I think it's Standard

PDA, Blackberry, etc.?
No

cellphone?
Yes, got a new one a year ago. We still aren't getting along. Hate it.

Digital Camera- Point and shoot, or SLR? How many megapixels?
Cannon PS A620, 7 megapixels

I'm not big on the gadetry. I like my life simple.

The boyfriend's teenagers have more electronic toys than me.

Your age: You don't have to be exact. Just a general idea.

40s, but some of the stuff we have, is for the kid

Do you have?

HDTV- LCD or plasma?
HDTV - LCD

Personal music player.......What kind?
iPod, portable CD player

More than one computer? Desktop or laptop? How much do you use your computer?
three laptops (for every family member)

Broadband connection or dialup? What kind?
broadband - cable

Satellite radio? In car or home model?
No

GPS- In car or portable?
No

Portable DVD player?
yes

Regular DVD Player- Standard or Hi-def?
yes, code-free DVD

PDA, Blackberry, etc.?
No

cellphone?
yes, bluetooth

Digital Camera- Point and shoot, or SLR? How many megapixels?
Canon Powershot S600 6.0 megapixel

Anything else that I have forgotten?
Fax machine

I am really curious if there is any correllation between a person's age, and level of involvement with the newer types of electronic equipment.

Your age: You don't have to be exact. Just a general idea.
53

Do you have?

HDTV- LCD or plasma?
no, but may buy the $50 digital converter when they are available via the government's plan if there is anything worth watching on broadcast TV at the time.

Personal music player.......What kind?
Used to have a portable CD player, didn't replace it when the motor burned out about a month after purchase. Now I consider the clock radio/CD player on my nightstand my personal music player.

More than one computer? Desktop or laptop? How much do you use your computer?
Have three desktop computers, only one works. I use it a lot. The rest are in the "too costly/old to repair but might need the parts some day" closet. Used to have a laptop, haven't replaced it when it finally died after 12 years of use.

Broadband connection or dialup? What kind?
Dial-up 56K. Would love to have a broadband connection but refuse to pay Comcast $60 a month for it. Anyone using wireless?

Satellite radio? In car or home model?
No. When it doesn't require a subscription to listen to it, I'll consider one.

GPS- In car or portable?
No. Don't need it. I make it a habit to always have a Mapquest map and directions if I am unfamiliar with where I'm going and also carry paper maps and my car has a compass in it.

Portable DVD player?
No.

Regular DVD Player- Standard or Hi-def?
DVD came with the VCR I purchased 5 years ago. I mostly watch those available through the library.

PDA, Blackberry, etc.?
No.

cellphone?
No, and never will unless an employer requires it and pays 100% for the phone and the air time.

Digital Camera- Point and shoot, or SLR? How many megapixels?
Both, also have an old 35 mm SLR camera that I love to use when the film processing isn't so expensive. 3.2 mp

Your age: You don't have to be exact. Just a general idea.

Do you have?

HDTV- LCD or plasma? Oops! No television
Personal music player.......What kind? Personal? I've got a CD changer hooked up to a receiver. Does that count?

More than one computer? Desktop or laptop? How much do you use your computer. Two desktops at the moment. The old one works with the non Vista ready software
Broadband connection or dialup? What kind? Dial up

Satellite radio? In car or home model? No

GPS- In car or portable? No.


Portable DVD player? Uh, I think the new desktop does DVDs

Regular DVD Player- Standard or Hi-def? No

PDA, Blackberry, etc.? Huh?

cellphone? Yes. Still haven't figured out how to make the ringer audible.

Digital Camera- Point and shoot, or SLR? How many megapixels? My SLR is 35mm.

Green Witch- I found your comment about formerly being in the computer industry interesting. I belong to a number of clubs, and usually I am the one designated to send out notices to members by E Mail.

I have found a similar scenario as you had mentioned in your post with people who spent most of their working lives involved with computers. Many want nothing to do with them in their private lives.

Roger-



No, that doesn't count. I am talking about something that you can walk around with like an ipod, or a cassette or cd player that you listen to with earphones..............silly!

Re: How Much Are You Involved in the Newer Consumer Electron
aww hell, I'm a geek so this is fun.



I'm an LCD and projector fan.



I have them all, but don't use any other than my phone. I have a 2GB Micro SD card in a Samsung Blackjack and use Bluetooth to stream the music to wireless headphones.

Right now people are using phones, mp3 players and pdas. These devices must/will converge. It hasn't been done well till the iPhone but soon I suspect that the standalone devices will begin to disappear.
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Desktops, laptops, pdas, smartphones. I use them all for work and any media/entertainment/research.



Cable broadband, fairly slow for cable but the best I can get in this area.



I don't listen to radio but have internet-based Satellite radio on my phone, which is kinda retarded.



I just sold my car in the US, but I was about to install a car computer with GPS. I also have Bluetooth GPS receivers that can connect to my various computers, PDAs and Smart Phones.



I've always thought that laptops were better portable DVD players than any of the ones I've seen. I have a laptop smaller than any of them that I've seen and almost any laptop has a screen larger than any I have seen.

So why not just use a laptop and skip the extra device?



Regular, but I don't use it.



Until a few weeks ago I had the top of the line in Pocket PC and Windows Mobile lines. I usually am at the bleeding edge here since these devices liberate me and let me stay away from computers.

I can reboot a server from the beach and these are where I usually am an early adopter. Or rather, earlier than usual.



Motorola Qs or Samsung Blackjacks, a RAZR or two when I was doing the phone and pda thing but the convergent smart phone is my platform from here on out.



3.2 Canon Elph. I don't ever want prints and especially not the size that would require more megapixels. Plus, I never really used it till buying a dog. Maybe I'll start keeping up here if I ever begin to take pictures (everyone I know has more pictures of me than I do).



Camcorders, VOIP, Printer/Scanner/Fax, IPTV, DVRs, Media Centers.....

Of those, I recommend paying attention to VOIP and Media Centers right away and to see just how big IPTV goes after it figures out which direction it will take.

Convergence is coming.

Cellphone, digital camera, mp3 player, pda = Next generation cell phone. All research indicates that the cellphone will be the center of this convergence

TV, Movies, Music = Media Center in the short term. There may be convergence onto the web as a platform for the delivery as well which can make everything go nuts but right now the battleground for the living room is going to be fought with hardware/software media center devices.

I'm currently a fan of Microsoft's Media Center, especially when paired with the right hardware to make it a less computer-like experience.





I'm surprised that you'd have any doubt! With home entertainment it's less pronounced than in computing but there's clearly an age factor with early adopters.

You're a projector fan? Tough job and you must be awfully tiny.



LCD is getting there in the black contrast but the best plasma displays still bet it. SONY has the blackest blacks but you'll pay a premium for their innovative electronics.

The best unit to invest in now as far as DVD is an upscaler rather than plunking down the price of a Blue Ray or HD DVD. On movies, you can barely see the difference between 420p upscaled to 1080i or 1080p unless you have a screen 50" or larger and you're sitting closer than a recommended seating distance. Also, if you are jazzed about spending the dough to get into discrete 7.1 sound which gives you two extra back surround speaker signals, or 9.1 which also gives you two discrete front DSP theater sound channels, it's only going to improve the sound on the 5.1 DTS tracks. Dolby has now also offered full PCM sound so that's going to happen in the near future as well (if not already on some Blue Ray discs). Most of the DVD with VCR players also upscale your older VCR tape images from 250p up to 1080p -- of course, you aren't going to get the detail of even 420p but the picture will be smoother.

I have a Dell laptop which is hooked up to a 23" Dell monitor, so I have a choice of screen sizes and portability. I don't believe I'd ever buy a desk top.

Re: How Much Are You Involved in the Newer Consumer Electron