Calling all geeks: Now Including Tech-o-Wienies!

[theavrock]

Alright guys I have to geek out a little. I thought maybe we could start an all things tech thread if there is enough interest.

I have had some sort of home theater PC/media for a while now, but I think its time to update everything. Anyone else out there have and want to share their HTPC set up?

 

I am looking at a ReadyNAS NV+ coupled with a Mac Mini hooked up directly to my LCD via HDMI. I plan on using Plex as my media interface. The NAS will free up my computer and host all of my music in addition to the 1.5 TB of movies and what not I have.

 

Anyone else out there have a HTPC setup they want to shar or have experiences with a home NAS like the one I am looking at?

 

More geek talk is welcome here as well!

[burniebrewer]

Is there a geek to english translator out there so I can understand what he just said?

 

I need a geek...I can't even get my daughter's laptop to work with the new wireless router I picked up. I got online once and only once. Better than never, right? I get some error message that might as well be in hieroglyphics because I don't know what the hell it means. I'll probably blow up my other modem trying to get the other one to work.

 

Oh well, just having fun with the topic.

[TheCrew07]

As I'm lovingly referred to as the Tech-o-Wienie at work, I'm unable to assist you since I'm not a geek.

[1992casey]

Well, now I see the significance of theavrock's handle. Maybe he'll adjust the topic title to include Tech-o-Wienies in addition to geeks. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

Clicking through to the MacWorld Plex Review, I see it says, "Unlike iTunes, Plex doesn’t make a copy of your media files and pull them into its own organized hierarchy, opting instead to let you control the folder structure of your media." I find that iTunes copying business annoying. I'm going to need to look into Plex.

 

At any rate, I have my Mac Mini hooked up to a 46" HDTV. There's no need for external storage yet. The 500 GB hard drive and the Time Machine backup are plenty for the time being.

 

The most annoying thing is the mouse. The first thing I did was find a driver that would speed it up. But I'd really like a decent pointing device that's something other than a mouse. Frequently, I'll just use screen sharing and run the Mini from my MacBook Pro.

[1992casey]

The new Mac Mini was announced today, and it looks really cool. It's a total redesign that includes an HDMI port, an SD slot, and user access to change out RAM. I think the most significant improvement is that it eliminates the external power supply.

 

I hope Apple considers eSATA and USB 3.0 sooner than later. The BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle actually requires USB 3.0.

[Diskono]

I'm just using an Xbox 360, connecting to the open source UPNP server ushare which I'm running on a FreeBSD server. Works great for whatever file formats I've thrown at it.

[theavrock]

The new Mac Mini was announced today, and it looks really cool. It's a total redesign that includes an HDMI port, an SD slot, and user access to change out RAM. I think the most significant improvement is that it eliminates the external power supply.

 

I hope Apple considers eSATA and USB 3.0 sooner than later. The BlackMagic Intensity Shuttle actually requires USB 3.0.

I was really hoping that the new Mac Mini would have BluRay. If it did I would have bought it in a heartbeat. I still may use it there but it would have been really nice to have the one device that controls everything.

[theavrock]

Well, now I see the significance of theavrock's handle. Maybe he'll adjust the topic title to include Tech-o-Wienies in addition to geeks. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Done just for Casey!

[Invader3K]

I was really hoping that the new Mac Mini would have BluRay. If it did I would have bought it in a heartbeat. I still may use it there but it would have been really nice to have the one device that controls everything.

That's why a PS3 is nice http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

[theavrock]

I was really hoping that the new Mac Mini would have BluRay. If it did I would have bought it in a heartbeat. I still may use it there but it would have been really nice to have the one device that controls everything.

That's why a PS3 is nice http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

True, but I am an xbox 360 guy. That being said I have looked at switching to Playstation from Xbox in part due to the BluRay, but neither the Xbox or the Playstation can match the mac mini (or any computer for that matter) when it comes to being able to play all file formats and the sheer number of things that you can do with it.

I just wish Apple would get their crap together and put BluRay on the Mini. There is a huge community HTPC people out there that are dying for this. I know that Apple isn't catering to them, but I really think they are missing out on a big segment of folks. The Apple TV just didn't ever fulfill its potential, but a Mac Mini with HDMI and BluRay would make my setup complete.

[Invader3K]

Not sure if this fits, but I have a cell phone related question.

 

I have had a Moto Q9C smartphone through US Cellular for a little over a year. Two year contract. Anyway, I really liked this phone in the beginning, but it's starting to aggravate me now. It tends to crash when web browsing, or even just freeze up completely while doing mundane tasks (like sending/receiving tasks). Almost once every day, I have to reset the phone by removing the battery and then rebooting it. The reception also seems to have gotten worse, somehow.

 

Do I have any options for getting a new phone before my contract is up? Would I be able to buy a phone through ebay or something, and get it activated on my account, or would US Cellular charge me a fee for that? I realize if I buy a new phone from them right now, I'd have to probably pay a pretty high price. I realize I can just go down to the store and find out, but I'd rather be armed with some info first.

[theavrock]

I used to work for USCC, so I can comment on the policies from 2.5 years ago.

As to buying a new phone. If you get one from Ebay, Craigslist etc. make sure it is a USCC one or they won't activate it. Technically any CDMA phone will work, but they won't activate a non USCC one. If it is a USCC one there was a $15 fee to have them activate the new phone. I always thought the fee was [expletive deleted] and I wouldn't charge it a lot of times especially if the person was cool.

You are correct in your thinking that if you are in a contract and want to purchase a new phone from them you will pay retail price (usually min. $150 ish) because the original cost of the phone was subsidized by USCC in exchange for the 2 year contract.

Last option is going down and throwing a fit. To be honest if you argue enough with them up to the store manager they will usually give in or do something. Not a good option but still I have seen it work.

[Diskono]

You could try resetting your phone to defaults. I had to do this all the time with my old Windows Mobile phone. Its kind of an annoying process, but maybe the store would be willing to do it for you?

[Invader3K]

Stopped by the US Cellular store finally today, and they will let me buy a new phone early. Looking at a Blackberry Tour. Anyone have this phone? It seems like it would be a nice step up from my Moto.

[kilgore37]

Check out popcorn hour. There media servers are top notch and you can get them with a blu ray player

[strawbossisevil]

Invader, if you can hold out for just a little bit longer. It looks like US Cellular is just about to come out with an Android phone. That would likely be head and shoulders better than anything blackberry puts out.

[Invader3K]

Thanks for the suggestion, strawboss; but I went ahead with the Tour. I had heard about the Android coming out, but the "iPhone-esque" one has an uncertain release date. Frankly, I don't need all the features of an iPhone. Really happy with the Blackberry Tour so far, as it's a huge step up from my Moto Q9C. Only minor nitpick I have is that BF.net does not display on it very well, even worse than on my Moto.

[1992casey]

But I'd really like a decent pointing device that's something other than a mouse. Frequently, I'll just use screen sharing and run the Mini from my MacBook Pro.

This looks like just the toy I need.

 

Magic Trackpad

 

http://images.yuku.com/image/png/a9d25245334365724f201bfb7d9f3a0bc49c47e.png

---

Magic Trackpad is just like the trackpad on the MacBook Pro — but bigger. It’s made with the same advanced touch-friendly and wear-resistant glass surface. But with nearly 80 percent more area, it’s the largest Multi-Touch trackpad made by Apple. So there’s even more room for you to scroll, swipe, pinch, and rotate to your fingers’ content. And since the entire surface is a button that clicks, you can use it in place of a mouse.

It requires Snow Leopard. I installed it on my MacBook Pro when it first came out. This will motivate me to put it on the Mini.

[Invader3K]

We have an older Acer laptop that we basically just use for web browsing and a bit of word processing. It was starting to run really slow. It came with Vista, which I think is pretty terrible. Well, I had a Windows XP install disk from a previous desktop that I decided to install over Vista. Everything is working great so far (laptop is MUCH faster now), but one thing...I cannot figure out how to enable the laptop's wireless internet capability! I've already updated to XP service pack 3, and I can't even find an option to turn on wireless. Help!

 

Edit: Nevermind...I figured out I just had to download a ton of drivers (including one for the wireless device). Of course this was a clunky process as I had to transfer stuff back and forth with a thumb drive. But I think I have it figured out now.

[thebruce44]

theavrock]

theavrock]I was really hoping that the new Mac Mini would have BluRay. If it did I would have bought it in a heartbeat. I still may use it there but it would have been really nice to have the one device that controls everything.

That's why a PS3 is nice http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

True, but I am an xbox 360 guy. That being said I have looked at switching to Playstation from Xbox in part due to the BluRay, but neither the Xbox or the Playstation can match the mac mini (or any computer for that matter) when it comes to being able to play all file formats and the sheer number of things that you can do with it.

I just wish Apple would get their crap together and put BluRay on the Mini. There is a huge community HTPC people out there that are dying for this. I know that Apple isn't catering to them, but I really think they are missing out on a big segment of folks. The Apple TV just didn't ever fulfill its potential, but a Mac Mini with HDMI and BluRay would make my setup complete.

Personally, I have yet to run into a movie file that my PS3 wont play.

 

 

[theavrock]

I've heard of some issues with .mov and .avi files. That being said I have never used the PS3 being an Xbox guy and I knew the Mac would play them.

 

If anyone cares for an update I have the HTPC setup complete now. I store all of my content on my ReadyNas NV+ and directly connect my Mac Mini via HDMI to my TV and audio via Toslink to my receiver. I stream the video to my Mac Mini from the ReadyNas which then displays the content on the TV. My library is organized by Plex which is awesome to use and looks gorgeous. Plex also integrates my Netflix Watch Instantly Queue, Hulu, YouTube and my MLB.tv account. I bought a Universal remote control that controls the Mac Mini, receiver and TV.

 

It is really sweet to finally have one source for all of my content both online and off with an easy way to control all of it.

[LouisEly]

I've been having problems with my TV lately. I have Comcast Optimum cable, and when watching shows (particularly sports) I'll get short spurts where the picture and sound will occasionally scramble for a second. Hard to describe the picture, but half or more of the screen will briefly show in square blocks. The sound goes out too - makes a grinding noise when the picture goes out. My TV (not mine, technically, it comes with the place) is a Samsung 52" LCD but is only 60 Hz. I saw a similar thing at a local sports bar a couple of weeks ago, chances are they have the same cable service and they just upgraded their TVs which makes me think it might be the service. I don't have another TV to compare it to.

 

Is this a function of my TV (and being 60 Hz) or is this a function of my cable service?

[Invader3K]

*bump*

 

I've been having a weird computer issue come up. We have a Windows 7 desktop PC that's only a little over a year old. Lately I've been noticing about once a week, that I'll find the computer has turned itself off. This happens after it's been in sleep mode for several hours. I do NOT have it set to power itself down after a certain period of time. When I reboot, I get the menu screen that tells me "Windows 7 failed to shut itself down properly." I proceed in normal mode and everything is fine. Windows 7 gives me an option box, telling me that "Windows 7 experienced an unexpected shutdown", and than says it will "check for a solution to the problem". Nothing comes up, however.

 

I do not figure it's a virus. Anyone have a clue what the problem might be?

[Baldkin]

My guess would be windows updates.

I have a similar problem when updates auto install on my computer. I could be completely wrong, though.

 

You could give this a try as well (what Carlos says)

[Invader3K]

Thanks, Baldkin. I'm thinking that might be the issue.