TV TALK (PART ONE) (2011) (ongoing thread for 2011)

[Jim]

Joy H. wrote: "What's Pong?"

Really?!!! Has it been that long?!!! LOL! It was the very first home computer game, Joy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pong#Hom...

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Do you see Eric often? You must miss him a lot.

As for video games, I never used them. So I don't know anything about them. I do remember our kids using a "joy stick". I suppose the word Pong derived from Ping Pong?

As for the etymology of the term "ping pong", below is a link to a long article which Roger Ebert wrote about it: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/p...

In the end, it all seems to come down to the following:
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Word Origin & History
ping-pong
1900, as Ping-Pong, trademark for table tennis equipment (Parker Brothers). Both words are imitative of the sound of the ball hitting the paddle; from ping (q.v.) + pong, attested from 1823. The verb is from 1901; in the figurative sense, 1952.
FROM: http://dictionary.reference.com/brows...
==============================================

"Contrary to a common folk etymology, the word does not originate from the Chinese language."
FROM: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ping_po...

[Jim]

Pong actually came out in the 70's. I was thinking it was the early 80's. Over 30 years ago. Wow.

Sound card is the line that goes to your speakers.

Monitor output is the line that goes to your computer screen. On a laptop, there is a jack where you can plug in a monitor. You just press Function F7 to toggle around to how it displays: both on the laptop & TV, just the laptop or just the TV.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

OK, I looked at Wiki's description of Pong. It says:
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"Pong (marketed as PONG) is one of the earliest arcade video games, and is a tennis sports game featuring simple two-dimensional graphics. While other arcade video games such as Computer Space came before it, Pong was one of the first video games to reach mainstream popularity. The aim is to defeat the opponent in a simulated table tennis game by earning a higher score. The game was originally manufactured by Atari Incorporated (Atari), who released it in 1972.
===========================================

Well, I DO remember the word "ATARI" !

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jim wrote: "... Sound card is the line that goes to your speakers.
Monitor output is the line that goes to your computer screen. On a laptop, there is a jack where you can plug in a monitor. You just press Function F7 to toggle around to how it displays: both on the laptop & TV, just the laptop or just the TV."

Jim, I'm going to relay all that to my boys when I see them during Thanksgiving. I'm curious about it.

[Earl]

Jim wrote: "My TV is the monitor for one of my PC's. Now it's a 47" LED LCD, but I've done it since we had a 27" CRT. "

I flirted briefly with putting a larger tv monitor on but the clerk discouraged me, said the pixels were bigger and speed slower. Anyway I don't have room on my desk for a 47" Wow! The 27" fits into my space snugly and I run it at 1440x900, well below its 'native' resolution. I hate squinting to read type on a computer screen. Those little tablets hold no interest for me, I don't care if you can stick them in your pocket.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Earl wrote: "...I hate squinting to read type on a computer screen. Those little tablets hold no interest for me, I don't care if you can stick them in your pocket."

Earl, I too feel that the small type on those little pocket-sized devices would be annoying for me. Also, I like being able to touch-type. I doubt if anyone can touch type on those tiny keyboards they provide.

I suppose the advantages of those tiny devices outweigh the disadvantages. But it's all a matter of what's best for the individual's lifestyle.

[Jackie]

Joy, I miss Eric but it was time for him to go out on his own. I saw his last weekend, we went to visit for the day and he'll be here this weekend for a dentist appointment. Then he's coming back for Thanksgiving.

Jim, OK, I think I could handle that. The word 'card' had me at a loss.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Jackie, is Eric at school?

[Jackie]

No, he moved with his GF.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

Oh, I see. That's a big adjustment. I finally got used to the idea of "girlfriends" when it comes to our sons. It's a new world out there.

[Jim]

Earl, we don't use the PC hooked to the TV for much except watching movies on. Unless a TV is HD, it's about impossible to read an Internet page on. This new 47" does make it pretty easy, but it's still not as good as a real computer monitor. It's excellent for TV & movies, though.

[Joy H., Group Founder]

I've started a new thread for 2012.
See it at:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...