1. Where is the power button on the remote?  I know they use the same remote for every other computer, but it would be nice to turn if off with a button and not have to navigate a menu.
2. Great Quality!!!  I had some Digital Downloads from Blu-Ray disks and they look great!  I am thinking I will keep it and not send it back :)
3. Unable to Multitask?  It appears that while I was watching a movie from iTunes, Apple TV was unable to download my rental.  I figured I would do something else while I waited for my slow DSL connection to grab the HD rental.  The progress bar on the Download did not move at all.
4. Unable to Buffer Rental.  I was a little bummed to find out that I needed to download the entire rental before I was able to play it.  Amazon UnBox lets you download movies locally, but also lets you start playing them about 10 seconds after you start.  That would be nice.  Apple TV told me:  Ready to watch in 10 hours.  Granted if I had a faster connection this would not be a big deal, but until now, I did not see a need to have the $100 /month Internet Speed.
5. Shady HD Rentals – I should not have to pay an extra $1 for and HD rental.

So…my initial reaction so far….I like it and it will do what I ultimately wanted it to do, play video files at a DVD quality level.  I don’t think I will dump my Blu-Ray anytime soon, but I may start picking up old movies from Apple for $4.99 if I don’t see the need for the Blu-Ray edition.

Why pay the same money for a digital movie as a DVD?

If the price were cheaper I could see possibly switching.  While I am good about recycling and do bike to work, I still do get my bank statements via mail and magazines.  There is just something about getting “less” for the same price that did not appeal to me.

Sharing Movies

I have let others borrow my movies for a while now.  Having the hard media has made that possible.  If I get a digital download, I won’t be able to let others borrow them.  This is something that apparently the Barnes and Noble “Nook” can do with books that the Amazon “Kindle” cannot.  I have yet to hear of any online movie sellers / renters offering this service and really doubt we will see it any time soon.  In fact, it is probably bad that I let friends borrow my movies now.

Move toward HD

As new movies come out, I have been picking them up on Blu-Ray.  Those that I don’t think are worth the premium price, I wait until they come to the local “Red Box” for $5 previewed on standard DVD.

I do own more than 400 standard DVDs and do watch them on occasion. There are some I enjoy so much that I needed to pick them up on Blu-Ray if the price was right to experience them in High Definition.  My goal now is to reduce the number of DVDs I own, and get that smaller collection onto my computer so I can put away the obsolete DVDs.

Digital Media Receiver

So….here we go.  I really have no idea how to setup a digital library other than iTunes.  I know some people have servers where they store all of their music and movies, but I am just getting started and wanted to keep the cost relatively low.  After looking at my options, it seemed like iTunes and the Apple TV were the answer.  I have some movies already loaded into iTunes and since I am a Mac user, seemed the easiest.

Apple TV not only allows you to stream movies purchased / rented from iTunes, but allows you to access your music and movies as well.  I was originally going to just get a HDMI adapter and cable to connect my iMac to my TV, but the idea of a wireless device that can work virtually anywhere the network, ultimately made up my mind.

10% Restocking Fee

I am skeptical about the quality of digital media, and since I don’t have HD Cable, have not even considered replacing my Blu-Ray collection.  I was once told that current, and likely future, delivery systems will NOT be able to provide end users with 1080p quality video and sound due to the extremely high bandwidth required.

Apple has a 10% restocking fee, and that likely means I will need to pay for the return shipping, but buying the unit from Apple online as “refurbished.” it was still cheaper than going to my local store and picking on up.  The only downside..it just left Sacramento, CA, when I could have one right now!!

More to follow…

I will let you know more after it arrives and I have a chance to test it out to see if it is a keeper or just not enough for the discerning audio/video phile.  Well, I don’t listen to LPs, so I am not that much of an audiophile :)

There are some that watch shows on Hulu and other free sites and no longer turn on their TV, but I don’t think the quality is there.  This is probably because I have the slowest DSL available because I am cheap.  LOL.  Perhaps If I enjoy digital media I will upgrade my DSL, but with my roommates in love with TV, will likely not be able to dump cable just yet.

We all know what that means….time to start tanning!  In my case I live with a “farmers” tan in the summer and become a ghost in the winter.  I imagine my ghostly appearance yesterday as I commuted home likely blinded a few drivers, but kept me safe on my bike.   :)

For those if you close to the equator, you are not allowed to comment.  Those north of DC, sorry, but if you want warmer weather, you need to move south :)  I am from Upstate NY originally and they have a high of 52.  Glad I don’t live in Ankorage, Alaska…. 13 degrees and partly cloudy.

Have a great day!  Think Spring!

1. 400 Disk Blu-Ray DVD Changer $633 (Waiting until below $300)
2. 1 TB External Portable HD $113 (Auction, waiting until below $100)
3. 256 GB USB Key (I would like 1 TB, but can settle for this one.)  $879 from Newegg with FREE SHIPPING!!!! Glad shipping is Free, It would be too expensive otherwise ;P
4. Internal 1 TB Laptop Hard Drive just to give my laptop a whopping big drive, though I doubt the BIOS can handle it. (Does not seem to exist yet, only as a portable external in item 2 above.)

I was joking about the USB Key.  For that chunk of change I would get a fully loaded iPad!!!  Something else I don’t really need.  People have been asking me when I am going to get one, and I really don’t have an intent at this time.  I have an iPhone, and I have a Macbook Air, which give me apps and portability.  It also allows me to leave my reading glasses and tiny keyboard fingers at home. LOL

We in the Nation’s Capital are calling for a larger size for those long commutes into the city.  We suggest the “secchio.”  Italian for Bucket or Pail, this larger size should be able to keep us awake during our 10 mile commute which can take 2 or 3 hours during rush hour.  The only problem?  Drinking that much is going to make urinals a necessity on buses, and many passenger vehicles, or perhaps evenly spaced port-a-potties along freeways across the Metro DC area.

He mentioned that this type of shoe became famous when a well known runner, who’s name eludes me, not because it was forgettable, but because I don’t follow the sport professionally, wore them in a race.  I asked about arch support, the most important job of a shoe besides protection in my mind.  He said that if we were to “go barefoot” effectively, our muscles work more and are feet don’t become fatigued without the support.  I don’t think cavemen had them, though they probably did not have podiatrists either to tell them their feet are in bad shape. 

So….since I have ugly toes, I think I am going to pick up a pair of the summer variety to wear as sandals.  Wear them around the apartment when doing laundry or taking out the trash and perhaps they can help keep my feet in shape and me walking longer in life. 

I downloaded the app when I got home and was pleasantly surprised at the configuration screen when I was prompted for blog address :). I entered in my web address along with password and viola, I am writing this on my iPhone now!!!

In the past I had tried to login from my iPhone, but safari had crashed on load of the management page. I tried to configure “posting via email,” but my web host apparently blocked the necessary ports and I was nit successful. So, be ready for more posts :). Now all I need is for tmobile to get the iPhone so I can get a data plan and post anywhere!

BF 2009

This  year I was looking to get several Blu-Ray movies, a second Blu-Ray DVD player for by bedroom, and potentially a 500 GB portable external hard drive.  In years past I have picked up external hard drives, but mine are only 120 GB and it is much cheaper to buy a whole new setup than to attempt to open up an old enclosure and replace the internal hard drive.

As in years past, I have attempted to find deals online in order to avoid the long lines, and getting offered a blanket by the mobile homeless shelter vans waiting outside late Thanksgiving evening.

Two years ago, Best Buy had the same prices online as in the store.  I was able to order them very early in the AM…Best Buy would pull the items before opening, and at my convenience, stroll in with my ID and in less than 10 minutes be out with my loot!!!  Last year they decided to have “in store only” specials so many of the items I wanted could not be ordered online.  I guess this is only fair for those poor souls who waited all night for something I ordered from my couch just after midnight and got a good nights sleep.

Online Specials / Cyber Monday (Week)

This year stores had specials online Thanksgiving day and Black Friday.  Smart move since the retail stores were closed on Thanksgiving..making extra money!  Many “Cyber Monday” specials went on for a week this year.  Amidst the recession, a few extra days likely helped retailers.

Amazon.com (Retail Empire)

After this year I could have probably benefited from $79 prime shipping, but I am still okay waiting for Free Super Saver shipping from Amazon.com

To my surprise, prices on Amazon.com were the same or very close to that of the local retail store Black Friday in-store only offers.  Great news for me!  Not only did I not have to get up early, I did not have to pay for shipping and there is still no tax being charged.  Granted, at the time of this post, I am still waiting for some items I ordered, most have already been delivered with the others scheduled for delivery before Christmas.

5 AM Friday Morning

I did get up at 5 AM on Friday morning to see if I could get “The Wizard of Oz” on Blu-Ray for $12.99 and a 500 GB External Portable Hard drive for $59.99.  I am happy to say I got 2 copies of the movie, but due to the incompetent staff at Target, was not directed to the location of the hard drives until after they were all gone.   I asked 3 employees and each directed me to the wrong place.  I discovered the location only after asking a shopper who happened to have some in her hand!!!

I gave the second copy of the movie away as a gift to a fellow Blu-Ray watching friend.  I could not pass up the deal…$12.99 for a movie that retails for $43.99!!!

Blu-Ray Prices Dropping?

I was able to pick up a current model 1080 p Sony 2.0 BDLive player for $118 from Amazon.  Currently it is $170 on Amazon.com.  Movie prices also seem to be dropping.  New Releases seem to be cheaper.  The last 2 I bought I was able to get for $19.99, though today, $25.99 for Julie and Julia.

While DVD will not be replaced by Blu-Ray, I believe that all media will go away before that happens, I do notice and appreciate the better audio quality.  I use an HD-Projector, so cannot really discern a difference in Video Quality.

Chef Boyardee 99% Fat Free Cheese Ravioli

When at the local Harris Teeter (convenient at the end of my block) I strolled down the canned meat aisle.  While a small selection, perhaps the need for the pasta in a can has diminished and pouches / microwavable containers are the hot item, there are the usual.  Ravioli, Spaghetti with Meatballs, Spaghettios, and if you wanted more meat…Meat Ravioli with Mini Meatballs!

I noticed a new product, well, new since I last purchased this product 5-10 years ago!  Cheese Ravioli that was 99% fat free!  Even the label was green instead of red to focus on this lower fat item.  In addition to being made from sun ripened tomatoes and all natural ingredients, this product was virtually fat free.  Now I am not obese, but I am conscious when it comes to things like fat and if there is a low fat alternative such as Baked Lays, I will try them.

2.5g fat per serving (2 servings per can)

As any informed shopper, I rotated the can to see the nurtition facts.  Funny as it may be, but even junk food has some “nutritional” value.  Something about the word makes you think good for you :)

• Serving Size 251g
• Servings Per Container 2
• Fat Per Serving 2.5g (1g saturated)

250g of fat in regular cheese ravioli!

There was no “regular” cheese ravioli to see if this was the case.  You can probably guess my next question?  How can something be 99% fat free and have 2.5g of fat?  That would indicate to me that the regular product would have 25og of fat!  That is almost 100% of the serving.  Then it dawned on me, with the help of a coworker…the % fat free is really a percent of the total serving size.

2.5g Fat divide by 251 = 1% Fat which means 99% is not Fat and is Fat Free!

Hmm…very misleading don’t you think?  Most companies will say “75% less fat than the leading brand” or “50% less fat than regular potato chips.”

Email to ConAgra Foods (Chef Boyardee)

I completed a comment form basically mentioning what I have stated above and waiting for a response.  I did mention that in order to keep consistent with advertising they should list all products this way.  Example: 10g fat regular Ravioli per 250g serving is 96% Fat Free!  WOW!

All Chef Boyardee Products are at least 95% Fat Free!  Eat Often!

I will let you know what I hear back, if I even get a response.