Verizon Netbook Deal
No! I have NOT drifted to the dark side known as wireless carriers, but do want to pass this along for those interested. This deal is NOT for me, but I hate AT&T enough that I will pimp another providers wares! Also, I am in no way, shape, or form affiliated with Verizon.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, here's the deal. Verizon is offering a HP Mini 110 Netbook for $29.99 with a 2-year contract. Not bad, considering the HP Mini 110 retails for approx. $299.00 +/-.
Xbox 360 Price Cuts
A couple of days ago, I published a post regarding the new and "affordable" PS3 Slim. I gave Sony credit for that one, but think I need to down grade it because Microsoft just cut the prices of their Xbox 360 Elite and Pro models.
Yup! The Xbox 360 Elite has been slashed to $299! Also, Microsoft is discontinuing the Xbox 360 Pro. If you can find the Pro model, it can be yours for a "slim" $249 + tax. Gamers have some choices to make. PS3 Slim or Xbox 360 Elite?
PS3 Slim Update
Wow! A back-to-back PS3 Slim post. I had to post this one, because it puts Sony back in the crapper. If you do not know, the new PS3 Slim is not PS2 compatible. What does that mean to PS2 users with large collections of PS2 games? Three words, "You are screwed!"
Actually, Sony dropped PS2 backward compatibility long ago but it would be a nice-to-have feature. Sony's response? Buy PS3 games, of course! I am holding on to our 1st generation PS3s with hardware-based PS2 compatibility. Lame move Sony, go straight to jail!
PS3 Slim Edition
Too little, too late comes to mind, but it is about time Sony releases a cheaper and slimmer PS3 console. Sony, it took you three (3) long years to design and manufacture what should have been the 1st generation console!
I am not in the market for the new PS3 Slim, but wanted to report it as I have been bashing on Sony for their idiotic moves in the past. The latest news does not grant them a "get out of jail" free card, but it's a move in the right direction.
So, if you have been holding out for the PS3 for the past three years (HA!) then it might be your chance. The new PS3 Slim with 120GB drive and DualShock 3 controller is priced at an "affordable" $299.00. The release date is August 24, 2009.
iPhone 3GS
The new and improved iPhone 3GS ("S" for speed, lame) is right around the corner! Apple, kick AT&T to the curb and distribute the device through other channels. Consumers need to be given choices, not this one-sided "exclusive" vendor crap.
Anyway, the new iPhone Ricky Racer Edition is on its way and the old 8GB iPhone is marked down to a clearance-like price of $99.00. "iPhone, no longer for the iCrowd". The iPhone is going to sell like crack on the corner of AT&T Street and Crap Boulevard, ha!
E3 On G4
I have been watching coverage of E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009) on G4. There are some cool products in the queue, including new game titles. Below are a couple of notable items announced at E3.
It looks like Sony and Microsoft are finally releasing their versions of the motion controllers in the near future. The Sony offering uses the PlayStation Eye Toy to track movements and Microsoft will utilize a motion bar similar to the Wii.
Notebook Memory Sale
This evening, I stopped by Frys Electronics to pick up a new mouse and pad. On the way to the cash register, I walked by the memory section and noticed a deal on 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 667mhz notebook memory. $49.99 ($39.99 online) - $20.00 mail-in rebate. Sale thru the 9th.
HP Notebook V
What the hell is wrong with HP? I had a total of four Pavilion notebooks serviced in the past couple of months. Tonight, another notebook (one of the previous four) died again! Do not purchase the HP Pavilion dv9000 model, because it is crap! Time to call support again!
HP Officejet Installer
I purchased a handy-dandy HP Officejet All-In-One thingamajiggy, because I often find that I need to make copies, scan receipts, or just send a fax. I have been using it for a couple of hours off and on. It is not bad for the small investment, I like it.
One item that I found odd was the software installation. The installer insisted that I install the software to a specific directory, because it had to upgrade existing HP software. What existing HP software? Prior to this device, I did not own an HP printer. Wassup?
Video MacGyver II
This is an update to a previous post regarding the Xbox 360 video capture solution. It works as intended, but there is a "catch". The cable that is included with the Elite-Pro version of the XBox 360 is an HD cable with composite and component inputs. See the problem?
I plugged the standard composite cables into the capture device and the component video cables into the LCD television. Doh, I have no audio inputs for the television. This is so Rube Goldberg-ish. I need a long-term solution versus this !#$%^&.
It is time to fix this mess, but what options are available? I do not want to do the "cheesy" RCA splitters, because that is Rube Goldberg cubed. Until I can MacGyver together a high-definition capture device, I will stick with the standard composite cables for now.