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Re: Question for our good friends at OWC - 2 years ago

My desktop is now littered with OWC firewire drive cases that don't work anymore with the new mini (they do have various USB options though still) and so will look forward to more thunderbolt/SSD options.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: OK I bit - 2 years ago

I bought the new base config mini (128/8/i3) to replace my 2009 mac mini and spent yesterday setting up. I had a 128 SSD in the old mini, and so do plan to keep all my user files on an external drive.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: Costco extended TV warranty - yea or nay - 2 years ago

Well first, doesn't Costco automatically extend the warranty for one year, just by buying it from them? So you get two years free out of the box? Do you have a credit card that would also extend the warranty for another year (Costco used to take Amex so any purchase at Costco would include 3 years of warranty). Anyway, if this is $35 for year 2: maybe $35 for year 3: probably not; $35 for ye

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: hmm. New Mac Mini. First time I've ever thought about getting one - 2 years ago

I have been waiting for a new mini for a while. I am not sure about 128 SSD though so haven't ordered yet. I am too cheap to pay for 512, so that means I am going to still have a tangle of external drives connected no matter what and will have to get a firewire to thunderbolt adapter to connect that mess (I assume I can daisy chain firewire drives still using one adapter).

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: I'm ready. - 2 years ago

It seems like we haven't had a new mac keynote/thread in forever. I also plan to buy a new mini if we see one today or soon. I have a 2009 mini that is still sputtering along and probably worth upgrading.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: leaving for tokyo/kyoto/japan in four days-recommendations? - 2 years ago

Although you may not get to hiroshima, i would still try Okonomiyaki if you find that.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: Hack for custom watchfaces - 2 years ago

the idea of using the last app as the face has been around since S0. But Apple won't allow apps that are just watches, and so no one has been able to build or release an app that could do what is talked about here.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: Fall Snow - 2 years ago

Are you skiing yet? Folks around here call those conditions "fast grass".

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: TRAIN WRECK - 2 years ago

He likes beer though. We know that for sure. Not sure what kind and of course, never too much.

by michaelb - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: "Senate probing new allegation of misconduct against Kavanaugh" - 2 years ago

Quotetimg Wasn't saying he was falsely accused or not, just wondering what happened to due process in this country. But, by all means, if there is evidence somewhere please post it. this may be obvious, but just to be clear: the sworn testimony of Ford that she was assaulted by Kavanaugh is "evidence". Sworn testimony by witnesses from memory is the principle source of evidence even

by michaelb - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: "New Kavanaugh accuser Julie Swetnick details parties where girls allegedly were drugged and raped" - 2 years ago

It is shocking and potentially huge news that Judge's girlfriend from that time in HS and college is now willing to come forward and say that Judge at least confessed to her about what would likely be described as gang rape.

by michaelb - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Apple Watch and iPhone. Can iPhone display heart rate in real time during workout? - 2 years ago

I like the app WorkOutDoors. I think it is one of the best watch apps overall. the original focus was on maps, but the latest version has expanded to include tons of data fields, and that includes real time HR and a real time HR graph. I was looking at that actually biking and it does seem to update both the HR display and the graph on the watch. I haven't installed watchos 5 to try that, and

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: man up?!.....Manafort close to pleading guilty.... - 2 years ago

This gets complicated and so maybe I have this wrong, but a pardon in the future does not lessen the impact of cooperation on impeachment of Trump now. In order to plead, he gave material info now. He is likely agreeing to be interviewed now or in the near future. They can use him against Trump based on that information given. Trump pardoning doesn't stop that process and doesn't make the info le

by michaelb - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: bad boys, bad boys, Watcha' gonna' do?!......Apple Watch 4 vs. 3 comparison..... - 2 years ago

the issue of battery life has been extensively discussed and tested over the years. 18 hours is based on some assumption about use, including the use of cellular without a phone and exercising, which includes HR tracking. Anyway, my experience with a S3 is that I can easily go 2 days without charging. I don't wear it at night, but when I do go to bed it is at 60-70% remaining on most days, and

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: "Mysterious observatory evacuation stirs alien conspiracy theories" - 2 years ago

this is an interesting event and we should follow it closely. Presumably, if they were rushing in as a result of an Alien conspiracy, of course they would say they were the FBI. But does anyone verify that?

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: lets talk mountain bike components - p/b kid hauling cargo bikes - 2 years ago

It is an interesting looking bike. But why have the load in front of you? I just worry that would be unstable and would impact steering. Obviously you can see if stuff falls out, but that may not be worth the trade offs. I think there are lots of options for cargo bikes including Surly We used a trailer and then a tag along when our kids were young, and both of those were Burley's.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: Woodward's new book about Trump White House- WaPo article - 2 years ago

Quote“He’s an idiot. It’s pointless to try to convince him of anything. He’s gone off the rails. We’re in Crazytown. I don’t even know why any of us are here. This is the worst job I’ve ever had.” Democrats have been saying this about Trump for years, but this is what his Chief of Staff says about his boss.

by michaelb - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: Apple watch charging question - 2 years ago

nightstand mode vs not nightstand mode. That is probably a setting somewhere, but it may be on by default. But it won't go into nightstand mode if the buttons are down, so my guess is you put the buttons up and she puts the buttons down.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: Medigap supplemental Insurance in NJ - can anyone recommend a seller? - 2 years ago

I would call the SHIP counselors in NJ for input. I have no idea about them specifically in NJ, but every state runs this program to counsel Medicare beneficiaries about their options.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: UN attempts to regulate killer robots. On related note: Skynet becomes self-aware at 2:14 a.m. Eastern time, August 29th. - 2 years ago

But does skynet become self aware this year, 2018, or hasn't that already happened yet?

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: Guilty *17 - 2 years ago

this is premature until the jury comes back and announces the verdicts, we don't really know what they are going to do.

by michaelb - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: I was wrong! Help me ID this thing-it's not a plastic bag... - 2 years ago

I appear to the only one searching for some sort of actual explanation. My first thought is that this some sort of trap for an invasive species, like the mountain pine beetle. But I can't find an image of anything like that. Traps for the emerald ash borer are hung in trees and can look strange (they are purple). but if this is the top of the tree, it seems like a strange place to hunt out beetle

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: Manafort trial: Judge T.S. Ellis III is irked - 2 years ago

It is a judges job to hassle the attorneys, so all this seems normal. He has a jury in the room and wants to keep things moving, and so while he is going to give the prosecution plenty of time, he has to keep them on track. None of this matters unless he excludes evidence or witnesses.

by michaelb - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: What will the Trumpers do when Donald gets indicted? - 2 years ago

I think an indictment is unlikely for a variety of reasons as noted here. I am looking forward to civil forfeiture of Trump's assets as the illicit product of a criminal enterprise that involved laundering money from the Russian mob. A pardon, including of Trump himself, may not stop civil forfeiture.

by michaelb - 'Friendly' Political Ranting

Re: 2020, Apple Pay could make up one of every two mobile wallet users globally - 2 years ago

I agree that Apple Pay on an Apple Watch is obviously the future. There really isn't any better way. Yes, more stores need to support it, and for me most importantly, gas stations at the pump. But it is very nice. Moving to an elicense for driving would complete the loop. Much like ATMs replaced checks and Debt cards replaced ATMs, we will all move to an e-payment system relatively soon.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: The death of the Home button in 2018? - 2 years ago

I would want a home button and touch id and so that would be a reason to stick with models that continue to offer that. The 8s should still be avail in Sept though, even if new models come out. the X idea seems like a mistake, but maybe I will come around to that at some point years from now.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: When was the last "Masterpiece" pop album released? - 2 years ago

QuoteN-OS X-tasy! Something by Radiohead, perhaps? the better answer may be "everything by Radiohead" since Radiohead is most likely best answer to this question post 1995. Other than hip hop, which is too vast to really even think about in this context. QuoteActually, quite a few reviewers referred to Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy as a masterpiece. My son, wh

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: Cut the landline; keep the number? - 2 years ago

we ported to Ooma too. We don't use the landline much either, but it was worth keeping it. there was some advantage to Ooma over google voice, but I can't remember. the cheapest Ooma plan is basically just the fees and costs, so it is nominal (it may be $6 a month, but I though ours was cheaper?).

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: American Express Increasing Extended Warranty to 2 years Aug. 1 for original 2+ year warranties - 2 years ago

amex is awesome and the extended warranty is one of the best features. I don't see many warranties longer than 1 year, but the AC+ aspect looks great. I will think about that when the new mac mini comes out in Sept.

by michaelb - Tips and Deals

Re: Used Toyota RAV4 or Honda CRV..others?..for my Wife - 2 years ago

I tend to think subarus are overrated and overpriced and not nearly as reliable as they were in their good old days. so the 80s and 90s, when they were both cheap and reliable. So hard to choose a suby over the rav4 or CRV in any segment of the market, so not cheap used, expensive used, or new, IMO. I half disagree with JDC on the price question. I think used CRVs and Ravs in the 8-10,000 ran

by michaelb - Tips and Deals