With all the high tech gadgets our there, it got me wondering how my Vintage buddies decide what is worth it and what isn't, when it comes to high tech toys.

Cell phone - I just got a new cell phone. A plain Jane cell phone. I do not need my cell phone to take pictures, connect me to the internet, or anything of the sort.

TV - We have several in our home. The latest techonology in our house is the flat screen TV we bought for the kitchen counter. I love it, but I'm not about to spend $$$ replacing the other TVs with the latest and greatest.

Internet - We have DSL which suits me fine. Cable would be faster, but I don't want to spend the $ for it. As long as I can connect here, quickly, I'm happy.

Cable - I'm not fond of the cable company, nor the high rates they charge us to watch TV. We have extended cable. We don't have any movie channnels, HDTV or anything of that sort. I don't need the clear picture which will enable me to see every wrinkle and age spot on my favorite actor/actresses or beads of sweat on a politician's brow (well maybe that one would be worth a few bucks). We get our movies from Net Flix.

Telephone - basic land line with Call Waiting. I don't need Caller ID. If I don't want to answer the phone I won't. I don't need three way calling or any of the other "packages" the phone company tries to sell me.

GPS - Just got one and I know I'm going to love it.

VCR/DVD Tivo

No Tivo

We still use a VCR to tape things we want to watch later, but we do have a DVD player for movies.

Computer - Desk top, no laptop. Last upgrade to computer was two years ago, (only because the other one crashed and still had Windows 98) flat screen monitor one year ago.

Camera - Small digital camera. Fits in my purse. Have not used film since I got the new camera.

I know we have some techies here. It will be interesting to hear what I'm missing. So, which gadgets are worth spending your hard earned $$ on?

 

Well, I guess I am a geek.
I have 3 HDTV, I acquired my first ~6 years ago.
My cell phone was just replaced, it has a bunch of stuff, but I really had to have Bluetooth, (may last phone did as well).
I hate my cable co., but I do have digital and HD-DVR, and cable modem
I have had a TiVo almost since they were introduced
I have a theater in my basement
My truck seems to have almost every gadget, except it doesn't park itself

I am not sure what drives my purchases other than the wow factor, or maybe it was my childhood.

The one thing that I don't carry is an organizer/blackberry...I do have my limits.

 

Cell: when we upgraded, it was the same for camera or not so we went withthe camera. Used moostly if I'm away from home or +1 is runing late from an appointment. Lowest number of minute possible.

Land Line: Comcast with unlimited long distance, great when +1 call her college friend in Kentucky. One phone has caller ID built in, the same one is our answering machine.

Computer: 3 year old gateway with Pentiium 4 regular screen; 1 1/2 year old laptop, mostly for work, i.e., taking notes in a meeting. Cable internet.

PDA: 4 year old Palm 100 which replaced clunky day planner

No Tivo/DVR; VCR for time shifting and 5 disc CD/DVD player

DirecTV Satellite: I hate Comcast cable and i'm on the Cable Advisory Committee!

TV: Analog 27 inch with a 23 inch back up in the guest room.

Camera: 2.1 mp Sony FD-90 (with a floppy disk adaptor), with a really good lens, +1 recenlty got a point and shoot Canon 5 or 6 mp.

Speakers: main ones are Bose 3.1 Accoustimass and a set of freebies for the basement, no home theatre.

 

Based on your reply you get one of these

If you had a blackberry, you would have been assigned two geeks.

Not sure who will get three.........

 

Hey it's got more hair than me.

 

We have 5 or 6 televisions, but nothing special since we really do not want television to dominate our lives and take away from reading and other more worthwhile pursuits. We do have a couple of DVD players and a VCR, but we never record anything and no TIVO.

We have cable TV and a high speed cable connection. We also have a wireless hub and there are two laptops in the house so we can get internet connections in various places throughout the house. +1 occasionally works from home, so he has some kind of hookup thingy with passwords that I have no idea how to use (and really don't want to know).

Both of us have cellphones that take pics, etc., but don't use that feature. The cellphones were freebies. We also have text messenging, voice mail, etc., but I don't use those features either. I usually forget to even turn the phone on unless I need to call out. I've had a cellphone since 1997, but feel it is there for my benefit, not the benefit of anyone who wishes to use my minutes by calling me.
I also use a pda that hotsyncs with the computer so my calendar is always updated and I have ready access to my address book electronically at all times.

I have a basic telephone line with caller id. I refuse, however, to put callwaiting on the phone because it hurts my feelings when people interrupt my conversation to say, I've got another call, can you hold on? The answer is always, "that's okay. You can just call me later." Oh, I just use a calling card or cellphone for long distance which is nationwide on the cellphone.

I have a small digicam that I stick in my purse, but I'm currently shopping for something a little bit better, but nothing with difficulty. I'm simple when it comes to taking pictures and just like to record the event and will never win any photography awards. I have serious handshake, so a camera with anti-handshake is a must.

I've had my gps for a couple of years and LOVE IT AND NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT. I've been thinking about getting another one of those maybe next year.

Large stereo in rec room with mega speakers, 5 disc cd changer and lots of other stuff. I like the way it sounds and it also has a remote.

Please do not ask about kitchen appliances. The only hi-tech thing I have in my kitchen is my superautomatic espresso machine. I don't even own an electric can opener and my kitchen is circa 1970. Frankly, I really don't even concern myself about it. I have a microwave that's probably about 20 yrs old, but it still works, so it stays. I love to cook, but since there's only the two of us (and sometimes a stray kid or two), the kitchen is just fine for now.
Downstairs I have a small fridge and microwave and they work just fine too.

Our daughter has playstations(s), nintendo(s) and other things, but I don't get into gaming. If I did, I'd probably just do computer games.

Our agenda over the next couple of years includes remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms and a couple more things downstairs in the rec-room, but for now I'm content to leave it as is.

 

Here

 

Val, Dave and Al, are, IMHO, what I shall call the norm, in gadget land.

Zippy is still the



Val, I like your comment about call waiting. I have a family member who often thinks she is the most politically correct person around. However, she frequently blows me off during a conversation for a call that comes in that is apparently more important. I finally gave up calling her to "chit chat."

My thought on call waiting is, answer the call, tell caller #2 you will get back to them, and go back to caller #1, without making them feel like you are giving them the bum's rush to complete the call. We had call waiting added when my son was a teen. Otherwise no calls would ever have gotten through.

 

This is interesting reading. I'm always blown away by how many people I know who still don't have a computer or cellphone. They think I'm crazy for wanting the gadgets. Most of my friends are in awe of my coffeepot. Several of my friends who DO have computers use them to look up craft projects . I think most of the Vintagers are wayyyyy ahead of the curve on techno-geekdom. Frankly I'm glad. I'd be totally bored if I sat on the forum and chatted with a bunch of folks who knew nothing about anything. I've learned loads of things from this group. I can only watch and read so much Scifi. Eventually I have to interact with real people some of the time.

 

I have caller ID and answercall and every other service with the exception of call waiting, I agree with you and Val, I really hate it when soemone puts me on hold. It's one thing when it's business, but most people use this indescriminately, and it's a real pain.