- woot
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“Keep in mind that this only plays Blu-rays. It cannot write to them as it can with DVDs and CDs. I can't tell you how many people mistakenly believe that they'll easily back up their laptop using a built-in Blu-ray drive. While some notebooks may offer a Blu-ray writer as an upgrade option, I don't believe any stock models have that feature. Certainly none under $500.”
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posted in
HP Dual-Core Notebook w/ Blu-ray
(Woots)
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2 days ago
- woot
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“I assume you mean DVD, and not CD. If you have a standard DVR, you'll have to transfer the recordings the old fashion way: using analog and in real time. In other words, the copy will be somewhat degraded and a one hour movie will take you an hour to copy. You simply hook up your DVR like oldtimers did with VCRs. A/V output from your DVR to A/V input on your recording device. You will most likely be using RCA composite jacks (the yellow, red, white ones) or if you're lucky, a SVideo jack for video. Your recoding device will be either a DVD recorder (which you can find for less than $100) or your computer. If you use a DVD recorder, see if you can find one with a hard drive (VERY rare in the US. Pioneer stopped selling them in the US many years ago) and high speed transfer. The hard drive allows you to do some editing before finalizing everything on DVD. You can do even more sophisticated editing on your computer but it's more complex and time consuming. If you really did mean CD and not DVD, you'll definitely need a computer since standalone VideoCD (VCD) recorders don't exist anymore. LiteOn made one about 8 years ago that recored VCDs as well as DVDs. The computer is needed to compress your video to fit the CD/VCD, which holds much less data. There are very few reasons to make VCDs, however, since most US DVD and BluRay players won't play them. And the quality is MUCH worse. Furthermore, blank DVDs are often cheaper than blank CDs (I bought 100 blank Memorex DVDs for $6.99 at Staples). VCDs and SVCDs are only used in Asia these days. Another choice is to convert the videos into a file, i.e. AVI or MP4. Depending on your bitrate and what compression scheme you use, i.e. XVID or H.264, you can often fit many hours of videos onto a single DVD -- often at a higher resolution than a standard DVD (720x480). In fact, that is the only way to save HD videos without using BluRays. Please note that any HD programming on your DVR will transfer in standard resolution since you can't transfer HD data through composite A/V or SVideo. The only way to currently transfer HD data to your computer is through your network and most DVRs don't have this capability. Tivo does, but you stated that your DVR is not a Tivo.”
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posted in
TiVo Premiere DVR - 45 Hour HD
(Woots)
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17 days ago
- woot
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“This is statistically untrue. A Lifetime plan pays for itself within 3 years (36 months x $14.99 = $539.64) and most Tivo DVRs outlive this by many years. For example, I just bought a Series 2 Tivo off ebay that is about 7 years old (calculated from the date of manufacture). Based on the programs that was left on the hard drive by its previous owner, the thing was in use until it was sold to me. I also have a Pioneer 810HS, a Tivo/DVD recorder hybrid. The hard drive lasted 6 years. And after it failed, I just replaced the drive and it's now functioning fine again -- while retaining the original Lifetime subscription. Unless you expect Tivo to go out of business in 3 years, a Lifetime subscription is still the best deal. You also seem to misunderstand the concept of reselling. Since a Lifetime subscription (on a single device) is transferable from owner to owner, used Tivos with a Lifetime subscription are in high demand. HD Tivos sell for about $330 on ebay and bidding is usually fierce. Most non-collectibles -- especially electronics -- go down in price with time. That's certainly true of Tivo and other DVRs. HOWEVER, the opposite is true of a Lifetime Tivo subscription. As subscription prices rise, Lifetime plans actually increase in value over time (albeit somewhat offset by the fact that the Tivo unit itself is more likely to die as it ages). In other words, a Tivo with Lifetime subscription is very resellable. Here are some very rough calculations. If you buy this and a lifetime subscription, you'd shell out $550. At $14.99/month, the lifetime plan will play for itself in about 3 years (36 months x $14.99 = $539.64). You can then sell it on eBay for the $330, assuming the current selling prices. You just made a $330 profit! No one is expecting Tivo to go out of business in 3 years, and most units will last beyond that. Furthermore, I see no technology -- including streaming services like Netflix -- that will significantly impact Tivo within the next 3 years. I think it's a safe investment.”
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posted in
TiVo Premiere DVR - 45 Hour HD
(Woots)
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17 days ago
- woot
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“Yep. That's because OnDemand and other similar features rely on memory that is in the cable box. Essentially, the cable box is a mini-computer which downloads programs from the cable company. A CableCARD has no independent memory and is basically just a device that lets you decode info from the your cable provider to be used by the Tivo's tuner. That's why it's cheaper to rent a CableCARD. Read this post I wrote earlier.”
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posted in
TiVo Premiere DVR - 45 Hour HD
(Woots)
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17 days ago
- kids
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“According to several reviewers on Amazon, the old "Chlorine-Free" version is prefereable to the new "Free & Clear" one (first available in March 2011). The top review, by Elizabeth M. Callahan II, is the most comprehensive about why the new version is bad. Woot's description says that these are the new "Free & Clear" diapers”
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posted in
Seventh Generation Diapers - 4 Pack Case
(Kid Woots)
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22 days ago
- kids
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“It would be nice but that's the responsibility of the buyer, just as those living in WA, TX and NY have to factor in sales tax (and any coupon codes) by themselves. It's no different than looking at a circular for a local store. Most people won't factor in subway/bus fare or gas, not to mention the time it takes to travel. Shipping is trasnportation, except that it's the item that's being transported and not the shopper.”
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posted in
Seventh Generation Diapers - 4 Pack Case
(Kid Woots)
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22 days ago
- kids
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“Those living in a state where Woot collects sales tax (WA, TX, NY) will actually pay a bit less if you buy 2. Simply use code "TAXSUCKS" to get $5 off (you have to spend >$40 for the coupon to work). Since your sales tax will be less than $5, you'll end up paying a bit less than those who don't pay sales tax. The savings is insignificant, but it's still nice to have. For example, being a NYer, I have to pay $4.79 in sales tax. With the $5 off coupon, I pay a total of $58.77 shipped, which is a whopping 21 cents cheaper than you folks who don't pay sales tax!!! For a sale that totals about $40, the savings is obviously more.”
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posted in
Seventh Generation Diapers - 4 Pack Case
(Kid Woots)
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22 days ago
- woot
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“Fingers aren't the only things at risk. I've seen a woman's hair get pulled in and tied into knots. I've also had a rag pull into a fan. As for pets, that's not true. Yes, the outgoing air in the front provides an indicator to stay away. But there is no such warning in the back and my cat has been known to play with the back of a fan, which is no less dangerous than the front.”
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posted in
Dyson 10” Bladeless Fan
(Woots)
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24 days ago
- woot
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“Buyer's remorse. Many people have unrealistic expectations given their reputation and price. Hence they return it and it becomes a refurb. That's why I actually went to a store to try out this Dyson fan before buying it from Woot. And BTW, I have not noticed that Dyson has more refurbs than other companies. The fact that Woot likes to sell refurbs from certain companies is not a reliable indicator.”
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posted in
Dyson 10” Bladeless Fan
(Woots)
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24 days ago
- woot
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“Ripoff is relative in this case. I don't have one but I've seen one at a friend's house and it certainly circulates hot air around a large space more effectively than other space heaters, especially if the space is large. And it does look like a sculpture so he leaves it out year round, even when neither a fan nor heater is needed. If something functions exceptionally well and its form gives pleasure beyond functionality, is it really a ripoff? Of note, Dyson doesn't claim anything that isn't true. For example, buffeting is indeed eliminated. Whether that matters to you is subjective, but can you call it a ripoff if there is no deception? Like Vornados, I expect these to last a lifetime. That was one way to justify my purchase of the fan and I have not been disappointed. As for the IR heaters, you're really paying for the [Amish?] cabinet. As with all furniture, value is again subjective so I'm not sure if "ripoff" is appropos. After all, it dies warm you.”
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posted in
Dyson 10” Bladeless Fan
(Woots)
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24 days ago
