apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Looking for insight on those USB sticks that supposedly let your computer receive television...

The clerk at Fry's said the stick is sufficient to pick up broadcast signals, with no antenna or TV needed elsewhere in the apartment. But there were reasons to believe he would not have passed a Turing Test. Is he correct in this case?

Wendy,

He is basically correct. The USB stick is a small TV tuner. However, if you have trouble with decent broadcast signals with a normal antenna, don't expect miracles. They do work, but they aren't the "magical" solution. If you are simply opposed to a television and want a decent setup (and assuming you have a desktop computer) I would recommend a TV Tuner card from Hauppauge. They are wonderful quality and you can hook an antenna or cable line right in. Good luck!

Joe

Thanks, Joe! I guess even a stopped clerk is right twice a day.

Actually, we're opposed to both televisions and desktop computers. We have satellite and an old, small non-HD TV in our current place, but we're downsizing (because having a large suburban-ish apartment gives me hives, literally) and realized we don't watch enough TV to justify trying to find space for the current one, much less letting a big flat-screen dominate the living area. (We thought of hanging one in the loft portion, but the husband is opposed to having to crawl over the bed to get to the closet, and the clearance is really that narrow.)

But I need my American Idol fix. If I could talk a sports bar into showing that and a couple of decorating/cooking shows, we'd be golden.

I have a question!!

I have a crap tv in the living room on which we watch movies - it was from wal-mart like 5-7 years ago and it is an EMERSON with a dvd player in it - who's ever heard of emerson? - anyway, it's getting to where it doesn't want to play dvds anymore and freezes when going from video-dvd-tv. I want a flat screen to mount above where would be the mantle above what was at one point a fireplace (but is now boxed in by sheetrock or something because there was a fire about 15 years ago in the building - long interesting historical story but this is tech, not history class). The problem is I am strapped for cash - we just got 2 puppies and I am paying for school out of pocket. I don't want to buy another tube tv and I don't want to have to open up a credit card somewhere.

So, what is the cheapest brand of flatscreen I can get that won't crap out like the wal-mart tv - I really don't have a grand to spend on a tv, so.... and I do realize you get what you pay for. Or, is there somewhere I can get one and pay monthly on it? Without interest? Am I dreaming?

Really, any suggestions will help out. Thanks guys!

Wow, I'm starting to feel like the friendly tech neighboor here...

Wende, there is also the option of something like the iTunes music store. You can buy MANY shows there on a per episode basis. I'm not sure if Idol is one of them, but check it out anyway.

Elizabeth,

Monthly with no interest usually only occurred with the now mostly defunct layaway, but the Rent To Own stores may be your best bet. In my experience, most have either 90 or 120 day same as cash and the piece is in your home the whole time. Be warned though...if you end up making all of the payments they want, you may end up paying 2x the price you would retail. If you can break it down over 3-4 months however, its not a bad deal.

Joe

As a follow up for Wende.....

You can also get a USB box that connects to your computer as well. You would do the same with it as you would with basic coax connections; plug it into your USB port and run the cable from your satellite box to it. Set the channel to 3 and away you go. I don't know if your satellite box is close to where you would sit or if you are looking for portability, but it is an option.

Here's a link for you...
http://www.hauppauge.com/html/usb_data.htm

wait - joseph - what do you mean end up paying 2x than i would retail - do you mean 2x what i could sell it back for? what it's worth? and how would i break it down over 3-4 months.

i guess i'll just go to bestbuy. i think they usually have, on big ticket items, something where if you pay it off within a certain length of time you pay no interest.

i guess i'm better off just buying a nice one if that's the case. ohwell.

elizabeth, go to costco. you'll get your best deal there.

Thanks, Joseph -- that's extremely helpful!

I agree with mscot if you are going retail. My suggestion was only in the event that credit was an issue in a same as cash option. I was saying that if you complete the rent to own payment plan then you would end up paying 2x what you would to buy it retail. If credit isn't an issue then by all means find what you want at a price you want to pay and go with a same as cash option.

Joe

Vizio was just voted #2 behind a Pioneer Elite for its image processor and scaler by ExtremeTech. they're a GREAT value.

check out costco, and then go look at best buy, sears, etc. you should be able to get 12 to 18 mos interest free. figure out how much to pay a month and you might be able to afford more than you think.

I read something in the last week about a small low power notebook computer that weighs about 2 pounds and costs about $300. Its use is just for word processing, email, and light surfing. I already have a "real" computer but this would be great for taking to classes and off-site blogging. The maker's name was not familiar. Anybody know about this?

Wende - are you still with us, or have you melted?? I just heard this morning on CNN that you've had 29 days over 100 (or is it 110?)...

Kate - It's 29 days over 110, leaving me with no energy to go to Fry's for equipment. It hit 113 yesterday. The newspaper is comforting us by pointing out that it gets way hotter in Libya.

I could say something cheesy like, "Don't fry on your way to Fry's!" but really, can you let the newspaper know that that's one of the reasons nobody really lives there?? I don't know how comparing y'all to Libya is supposed to be comforting...

Oh, everyone really lives here... we're the fifth largest city in the U.S., having edged out Philadelphia recently. The metro area is #14. (Of course, counting in the winter would make a difference.)

After a frustrating attempt to stop at the hardware store on the way home from work yesterday, I have a new bumper sticker I want:

Phoenix Rush Hour: Hell on Wheels.

Sorry, should have been clearer - I meant Libya, NOT Phoenix!

As for the bumper sticker, the weather lately makes that truer than ever, though from everything I've heard, the traffic's bad enough to make it true!

Or I could learn to read... :-)

We have been to Fry's and acquired the right sort of USB stick to get TV on a laptop, and it works! The little antenna attachment needs to sit on a hunk of metal for us to get clear TV reception, but that should be do-able. It's amazing how much more interesting television programming seems when it's on the laptop.