Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
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What are U reading these days? (PART SIX) (2010)
If it wasn't for the DVR, we'd never watch anything. We rarely watch live TV any more. Besides being able to skip ads, it allows us to watch when it is convenient & that's rarely when the show is on.
That's the same with us. We missed everything all the time. I never know what day it is, so I can't reliably know what's on TV. The commercials are what really get me, 20 minutes of commercials during a one hour program. If you watch 3 hours of live TV, you just watched on full hour of commercials. Life is way too short to waste watching commercials.
I know what day it is, but since TV Guide got its new look, we quit getting it. It became worthless, so the only way to find out what is on is to look at the guide on the TV itself or look it up on the computer. It's easier just to look up a show, set it to record or not.
I dropped the TV Guide at the same time. It used to have programming for almost 24 hours, maybe an hour or two short of 24, but then they changed it and only focus on primetime. Daytime gets a blanket entry, ie Sci Fi Channel: various Sci fi programs. Great! I really couldn't figure that out on my own, LOL I think they lost a lot of customers. The only issues I buy now is the New Shows preview and Returning Favorites because it tells about the new shows and what day and time everything premieres.
Jackie wrote: "I dropped the TV Guide at the same time. It used to have programming for almost 24 hours, maybe an hour or two short of 24, but then they changed it and only focus on primetime. Daytime gets a bl..."What I don't like about the "new" TV Guide is the double issues. There are one week's features instead of the two weeks that are featured, but the subscptption price remains the same.
When I was called to renew my subscription, I mentioned this and said that if I'm getting half the features the price should be adjusted. Like that will happen.....
I'm done with it as well.
Katherine, that's a really good point. That's the attitude of big businesses that I don't like; they want something for nothing. And that attitude doesn't fly with me no matter who it is.
Is it possible to buy a separate DVR instead of renting it from Time Warner as part of our box? If so, would it work the same way as the set-up which Time Warner offers?
No. You can only rent them. You already have the box. Most boxes have both HD and DVR capability. If you box doesn't have DVR capabilities, you switch it for one that does at no extra cost. What you'd be paying for is the DVR service just like you're paying for the HD service every month.For example, my box has both HD and DVR capabilities, but I only pay for the DVR service so HD doesn't come through for me. If I want HD, it's a matter of calling up and having them turn on the HD service for about $10 or so a month. I don't have HDTV so it's pointless for me. Eric has the opposite, he has the HD box and service because he has HDTV but no DVR. If he actually watched certain programs I would get it for him.
Jackie, thanks for the excellent explanations about DVRs. I would probably get my money's worth because it would make available so many programs I would ordinarily have missed.
When we got the DVR it was because our VCR died. Anthony really didn't want to get it but I had to have something to record my shows. After about a week, he admitted that he loves it and can't live without it. A DVR will make a believer out of the most obstinate, LOLIt's just so convenient on so many levels.
PS: Joy did you ask about the contract while speaking to TW? They don't bring it up, you have to ask them about it. See what your savings would be. In the very least, that DVR service would wind up being free. I've told all my friends about it and they all called and got the contract and saved a good amount of money. Any savings is good these days.
Jackie, the next time I call TW, I'll ask about the contract. BTW, we don't use the telephone service because we don't like to lose our phone capabilities when there are electricity outages. They told us about the battery back-up, but that didn't convince us.I did find out that if I got the DVR, I could have it shut off without any penalty if I decided it wasn't worth it. It would be shut off remotely without having to change the box.
Yesterday I finished reading The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I gave it 4 stars. Thanks to Jim for the recommendation. I notice that one of our library groups has the book on a future reading list.In my review, I said the following:
This story is narrated by a dog named "Enzo" whose mind is almost human. He tells the story of his family from his point of view. He even philosophizes about life! The title represents an allegory about life itself, comparing life to car-racing. He explains the optimum mind-set necessary for a driver to be successful.
The story gets more compelling as you get into it. So you're almost guaranteed to finish the book.
Joy, I have regular wired landline and cordless. When the power goes out, I only lose the cordless because it's plugged into the electricity. I've never lost my regular phone during an outage, it's what I use to report the outage. I'm not really sure but I do think some people lose their phone but I'm not sure exactly why since mine always works. ??? Maybe it's the phone itself, it's a cheapy $10 Walmart phone from 10+ years ago plugged into the wall the old way.
Jackie wrote: "Joy, I have regular wired landline and cordless. When the power goes out, I only lose the cordless because it's plugged into the electricity. I've never lost my regular phone during an outage, it..."Jackie, I thought you were talking about online phone service as part of the Time Warner contract. We have landline and cordless, but not online service.
I have TW digital phone, the 3-in-1 service, internet, cable and phone. I kept the phone I had when I was with verizon and only my provider changed. All my services stayed the same but significan'ty cheaper. I paid $90. a month with verizon and now I pay about $25-$30 a month for the same telephone services.Online phone service, do you mean dial-up? I don't think TW offers that, it's all broadband now. I pay extra for Road Runner Turbo, they guarantee 15,000 mbps but my internet is rated to a little over 28,000 mbps. Almost instantaneous. Having that kind of speed is worth paying for. No waiting for anything to load. I click and it's there, ready to use.
Who's your phone services provider right now, for the landline and cordless?
No, I don't mean dial-up. I meant digital phone service via cable. Our phone service isn't via a cable connection. It stays on when cable goes off due to an electrical outage.PS-We use Verizon.
Mine is via cable and it stays on when the power or cable is out. Maybe it's separate lines. Sometimes it'll go out for a few minutes, not often, but the cable is still on. I've never experienced everything being at out at the same time.
Jackie wrote: "Mine is via cable and it stays on when the power or cable is out. Maybe it's separate lines. Sometimes it'll go out for a few minutes, not often, but the cable is still on. I've never experience..."Hmmm, this calls for another phone call to TW for further info. LOL
I finally finished reading Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth GilbertIn my review I said:
This book was a selection of one of my reading groups. Because I didn't find it compelling enough, I had to force myself to finish reading it. I understood what the author was saying, but it didn't move me or resonate with me. I gave it two stars.
Verizon Turbo reminds me of a phone call I received when Verizon was heavily marketing their broadband service. The young man was expaining to me how much faster their service was. I said that since he was talking to someone who was alive when the ballpoint pen was invented, I considered myself very lucky to even have a computer, no matter how fast is was.Of course, that's a moot point now that I have Roadrunner.
I started buying vcrs in the 80's so I could get my money's worth out of cable (and of course miss the verdammit commercials). I kept adding them and wound up with 4. Several had to be replaced during the interval since. And now you CAN'T buy them anymore. None of the 'combinations' (dvr/vcr) will program worth a damn. I tried buying some second hand vcrs on eBay but none worked well. I have 4 that still work, but not as well as when new. I took pains to buy VCR+ capable, but now the Post Star has dropped the VCR+ numbers from their tv listings. One of the few things that still made it worth subscribing to the printed version. I wrote a nasty letter to the Editor, which they ignored. I really resent being forced to pay Time Warner for the privilege of being able to record on their hardware. I'm holding off as long as my vcrs continue to work. (right now I have about 40 tapes of recent unwatched shows) The tv industry's new practice of spreading series throughout the year has alleviated the 'dead spot' that used to come every summer. So I'm even running out of tape to record on! I think it's sinister that no one will make a programmable vcr any more. How can the industry control that? Isn't there an enterprising asian that wants to cater to my consumer interests?
Started the fourth Harry Potter book today---HP and the Goblet of Fire. Over 700 pages--I will be reading this for a while.
Earl, I was using the VCRs too, we had 4 because some shows were on at the same time and it only records one, and there's only 8 slots per VCR. One broke and the new ones will only work with a cable box which we didn't have at the time. When it broke, it meant I couldn't watch some shows, mostly due to the 8 slots thing. I got the DVR and I record everything on it except one show, there was 3 shows I wanted on Thursday 8PM. So I have 3 working VCRs and only use 1 slot on 1 of them. The DVR rules. I was annoyed that I was forced to get it but once we used it, we all feel it is worth the money.Mary JL,
HP & the Goblet of Fire remains one of my 2nd favorite in the series. HP & The Half Blood Prince is my favorite. The series is excellent! It'll probably go quicker than you think; I couldn't put it down and read it quickly.
Jackie: Yes, several frends have read HP and highly recommended it. I have really enjoyed the three I have read so far.BTW, I share the frustration you and Earl have expressed on the VCR issues. So far mine does work; when it dies, what am I supposed to do with all my favortie tapes? Some comapny could supply this need--they're missing an opportunity here.
They make VCR to DVD converters for VCR tapes. You can't find an 8 track player any more, either. Some things just fade away...
Jim wrote: "They make VCR to DVD converters for VCR tapes. You can't find an 8 track player any more, either. Some things just fade away..."I believe one of my secondhand vcr combos is purported to be one of those. Far as I could see it didn't work to convert. I'm always misjudging public sentiments, as, I suppose, I must figure they should all think like me - but in this case it seems to me that there IS a LOT of people who would still like to use cheap vcrs to record their tv shows. It seems to me some kind of deal was made amongst the powers-that-be to prevent this. In case you hadn't noticed, the tv honchos HATE that we can record shows and miss their commercials.
Earl wrote: "... In case you hadn't noticed, the tv honchos HATE that we can record shows and miss their commercials."Earl, I've often wondered about that. I wonder what percentage of TV viewers are viewing via recorded programs, and thereby bypassing the commercials.
Many people I know capture TV directly on to their computers for later playback, Earl. Windows 7 has it built in & you can easily set it up on XP. Everyone wants digital since it doesn't degrade over time.
I just finished Deepwood and I loved it! It's a rarity for me to enjoy a second book more than the first. I'd forgotten about the last two Amber books, I get sidetracked so easily. So I'll start Knight of Shadows in a few minutes. In some ways it's nice to take a break because the excitement level is way up right now. I can't wait to see these old and beloved friends.
Jackie, isn't it great to have a good book to look forward to!
Jim wrote: "Many people I know capture TV directly on to their computers for later playback, Earl. Windows 7 has it built in & you can easily set it up on XP. Everyone wants digital since it doesn't degrade over time."Thanks for the info, Jim.
Joy, Yes, when I have the book in hand, LOL
Yesterday, I started reading Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton. I've never read any of his nonfiction books (though I've read an essay or two of his); but one of my Goodreads friends recommended this one to me some time ago, and a recent discussion in one of my other groups sparked enough of my interest to move it to the top of my to-read list.
Jim wrote: "Many people I know capture TV directly on to their computers for later playback, Earl. Windows 7 has it built in & you can easily set it up on XP. Everyone wants digital since it doesn't degrade ..."I've managed to watch missed episodes live on my 19" computer monitor. I only do it in desperation. You don't get subtitles, and the picture is SMALLER than my tv set. (and I'm not smart enough to somehow transfer it over to my tv[analog:] set). I don't care if analog recording doesn't last because I immediately record over the tape after I've watched it. Sorry, Jim, but if Windows7 is as good as Vista, I'll pass. Somehow I don't want to buy all new software yet again. (Vista, BTW came on my lap top. I intended dump XP right over it immediately. But Gateway refused to write XP low level drivers for the motherboard so I was stuck. I had to buy a couple of Vista-versions of various software ($100 or so) the rest I did without, I don't use the laptop much).
Werner wrote: "Yesterday, I started reading Orthodoxy by G. K. Chesterton. I've never read any of his nonfiction books (though I've read an essay or two of his); but one of my Goodreads friends recommended this ..."Werner, I've never read Chesterton. I'm only familiar with his quotes. For reference, below is the GR description of Orthodoxy:
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"Chesterton (The Man Who Knew Too Much) capped his brilliant literary career with this exploration of "right thinking," and how it led to his acceptance of the Christian faith. Although this is a very personal account of his conversion, Chesterton makes it clear he came to a rational decision based upon his scholarly examination of Christianity's arguments, intending to provide a "positive" companion to the previous Heretics."
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Earl wrote: "... Sorry, Jim, but if Windows7 is as good as Vista, I'll pass. Somehow I don't want to buy all new software yet again. ..."Earl, we've gone through so many changes: XP, Vista, Windows7... . I've tried to keep up, but, for me, the novelty of it all is wearing off. When I got my first laptop in 1995, I was very eager to learn. But now, 15 years later, I seem to be tiring of keeping up with all the changes. I'll leave that to the younger people.
Earl, if you think I'm an advocate of Win7, Vista or even XP, for that matter, think again. I am using Win7 at work now because I HAVE to get familiar with it. At the end of this year, I won't be able to buy new XP PC's. As horrible as they are, at least we know all our software can work on it & my users know it. Some of our programs costs tens of thousands of dollars & won't work properly on anything but Win98, so we still have a few of those machines around.Win7 is better than Vista, not as good as XP when it comes to allowing direct access to the hardware, which is what a lot of our sound & other test programs need. MAS90, our accounting/inventory/work order/time card system will NOT even install on a Win7 machine, though. I have to run it on a virtual XP machine in Win7. We just upgraded that system for a LOT of money 1.5 years ago.
The new security in Win7 is causing a lot of our problems & that ticks me off because that's how Windows got the market share. Novell & Unix are both far better NOS's, but they require knowledge to set up. No one has any rights until granted. Windows took the other path - any idiot could set it up because everyone has full rights unless taken away. Slowly, they've been changing that, but the damage is done.
I think what burns me the most is Microsoft's idiotic attempts to make things prettier. Since the earliest versions of Windows, we've had the same basic menus. Now they've changed all of those & you can't get them back without using a 3rd party application. This means my 'by rote' users will take tons of hand holding when I have to upgrade them. Dumb.
Years ago, Microsoft stated that the command line was dead & they kept cutting down on the utilities available there. Now they've suddenly decided that it's cool & they're adding them back BUT many can't be run in the command prompt, but have to be run in PowerShell. PowerShell is Unix-like. That means all the batch files that we've used for years won't work without a lot of tweaking which is really a PITA.
I think Microsoft is trying to get an Apple look in the GUI & a Unix (also what the Apple OS is built on) look in the command line. It's really annoying & stupid. They don't have the guts to stick with what has worked which really hurts business productivity & makes my job a lot harder.
JIm: I just wish they would leave well enough alone. I personally hate buying new software every few years.I personally wish they could do a basic, bare bones packages for younger users, or persons who just want their computers for certain basic fuctions--surfing, visiting Goodreads, chatting with friends.
I do not need all the extras a person using a computer for business does; yet I am forced to buy more computer than I need, because that is what is available.
And not everyone has the income to buy everything new every time Microsoft comes out with a new system.
Since internet access is so vital anymore, there are out be a 'basic' system available so more people can have access to the net.
Mary JL, you are so right! If my computer dies, I buy a new one with whatever it comes with, but I don't need more than half the programs it comes with. I'm sure it's great for business purposes but not everyone needs all the bells and whistles. I'd much rather buy a good quality computer with less programs for less money.
Thanks, Jackie! I was thinking partly of senoirs. I have a (slightly) older freind, retired, who likes to visit web sites, chat with her freinds; watch news videos, and so on.Some retired person do not have as large a retirment check as others.
My friend would certainly. like you and me--and I am sure many others, prefer a good quality computer with less bells and whistles for less money.
Any computer company reading this? Someone's missing a bet here. A basic, "bare bones" computer would enable many to get on the internet who now must go to the library to use one. If the price was cheaper, more people who don't have a home computer might buy one.
They've actually made several different kinds of attempts at 'just web' &/or scaled down machines, but they've had limited success. There was/is "Web TV", which my uncle's girlfriend uses. Typing's a drag, but she can see pics that her kids & grandkids send her.There was the eMachines, cheap PC's just for surfing the web & then there are various other scaled down machines & software. Microsoft Works was a scaled down document/spreadsheet program. All have had major failings, usually design flaws, but not always.
Works documents, by design, could not be easily converted or even read by Microsoft Word or Excel until version 7 or so. By design = stupidity. Works never gained market share because of that, even though millions of copies were given away. We avoided it like the plague because no one else could read them.
"Just surfing the Internet" is tough to do. Look at all the add-ons you need - dozens. You need to run all kinds of active content or half the websites won't work properly. A lot of web pages are built for you during that session based on where you came from & other criteria. That means complicated programs running, information exchange & stuff that a 'light' machine often can't handle. You should have tried surfing the web on an old Blackberry.
More complications means you need more & more intelligent protection. Unfortunately, that means the latest programs & the best protection is you - the wetware. It helps to understand what you're doing each time you go to a page. Even I don't & I do this for a living.
I fix a lot of home computers for people as part of my job. It's one of the perks of working at my company - my services. I have electrical engineers coming to me to get a virus off their PC or salvage what information I can before rebuilding it, so don't feel like you're the only ones who are frustrated.
Jim,Interesting. I hadn't heard about the 'just web' computers. Maybe that was the problem, no advertising, or not to the right demographic. When I think about it, 'just web' would be good for some teens, since that's what they mostly do, social networks and IM chatting.
My first computer was an eMachine, and boy, was it crap, and it wasn't that cheap either. I lost everything with that computer, it wouldn't even boot up with the disc so I could retreive my files. What a pain! If anyone asked me if they should buy an eMachine, I'd tell them to put their money in a paper shredder, same result only quicker, LOL
Jim: As I mentioned earlier, I am planning to buy a new computer this fall--my savings fund keeps growing slowly but surely.Is there any particular brands or type of computer that is better than others? Or, are they all pretty much similar?
I do have to stick with Windows; my freind who helps me said--when I asked about options--"I'm not bi-lingual"(g).
Mary JL, I just buy Dells for desktops & Lenovo laptops. I've had good luck with them & think they're a good deal. I don't buy consumer models, though. Most are junk. I go to the small business model & then usually spend a couple of days removing all the crap-ware (free, stupid programs), patching, securing & then another day putting on programs & patching & securing some more. Only then do I give it to the user.I'm not fond of any laptop since they have too many special programs & drivers running that can cause issues. I highly suggest that everyone get a desktop unless they HAVE to have a laptop. You get a much better computer for a lot less.
I also won't use any vendor's 'security suite' - they're pigs. For home users, I recommend Avast! for antivirus & Spybot with Teatimer for catching Internet bugs. Get an external hard drive & backup frequently, too. Keep the drive off when not in use. That way when you do get a bug or the machine dies, you don't lose everything like Jackie did. I've had it happen to me, too.
Jim, what do you mean by "Keep the drive off when not in use"?
Just that, Jackie. If the drive is off, it can't get infected by a virus. Turn it on & run a backup to it once a week or if you do something major, then turn it off again.
What's 'the drive'? I'm not understanding. Sorry, sometimes I need things explained explicitly.
External hard drive for keeping backups on. You can get a 1tb (1 terrabyte) external drive now for about $100. It's perfect for backups.
Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group
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Thanks, Jackie. I called TW just now, after reading your post. They said it would cost us an additional $10.95 per month if I switched to a box with DVR capabilities. I'll have to think about that. :)