Spending Christmas Money
December 30, 2003 1:13 PM Subscribe
How should I spend my Christmas money? [more inside]
Response by poster: I was given some money as surprise by my parents to buy a Freeview digital terrestrial box, but I already have one (and the home also has a Sky Digital service as well (long story). I've got some extra top up money from some other relatives so now I've got roughly a hundred pounds. Since I've agreed to a DVD embargo (buy far too many already so the Alien Quadrilogy boxset will have to wait) I've set myself the restriction of buying something electrical to keep in the spirit of the present. I was thinking of covering the difference for a Playstation 2 but I'm not sure if they're actually any good, and whether the experience would be any different to using my juiced up PC for playing games on. What would you buy?
posted by feelinglistless at 1:19 PM on December 30, 2003
posted by feelinglistless at 1:19 PM on December 30, 2003
Well, I don't know what a "Freeview digital terrestrial box" is, but if you want something gadgety, how's about a Tivo?
As for a PS2, if you enjoy PC games you'll probably be disappointed with it. The graphics aren't prettier, but the gameplay and designs are, as a general rule, much more restrictive.
posted by majick at 1:23 PM on December 30, 2003
As for a PS2, if you enjoy PC games you'll probably be disappointed with it. The graphics aren't prettier, but the gameplay and designs are, as a general rule, much more restrictive.
posted by majick at 1:23 PM on December 30, 2003
Response by poster: Ooops. Sorry. Freeview. It's multi-channel tv through an ariel.
posted by feelinglistless at 1:30 PM on December 30, 2003
posted by feelinglistless at 1:30 PM on December 30, 2003
PS2's get a bad rap as far as quality of games go, because there is an awful lot of dross. However, I do think it is the console of choice and *the* gaming machine to own, arguably along with the gameboy advance. I could reel off a big long list of software (email me if you like), but I would say that Ico and Rez are incredible, mature, artful games. As for more restrictive... maybe, but it's the restrictions that define the game, in my opinion. It's also the machine with the most exciting roster of forthcoming releases.
posted by nthdegx at 1:34 PM on December 30, 2003
posted by nthdegx at 1:34 PM on December 30, 2003
Response by poster: Just checked the Tivo idea (seemed like a cheaper option to Sky+), but they don't seem to be available in the UK anymore .. not a bad idea though -- I might check in the Jan sales to see if their are any stock clearances. But in lew of that, any other ideas?
posted by feelinglistless at 1:36 PM on December 30, 2003
posted by feelinglistless at 1:36 PM on December 30, 2003
one of the upcoming mini-ipods would be cool (about a hundred bucks they're saying, and to be announced jan.5th i think)
posted by amberglow at 1:39 PM on December 30, 2003
posted by amberglow at 1:39 PM on December 30, 2003
Didn't Tivo become defunct in the UK? I'm sure that's what I heard. There are other HD-based video recorders out there but they're more than a hundred quid.
amberglow, makes a good suggestion. I'm kicking myself for buying a CD based mp3 player a few weeks ago, really.
posted by Blue Stone at 2:33 PM on December 30, 2003
amberglow, makes a good suggestion. I'm kicking myself for buying a CD based mp3 player a few weeks ago, really.
posted by Blue Stone at 2:33 PM on December 30, 2003
I don't want to bog the discussion down with a debate about the relative merits of console vs. PC gaming -- I've got plenty of both and they each serve distinct purposes -- but in answer to the actual question: Yes, PS2 games are markedly different from PC gaming, chiefly in the smaller designs of the games. Side by side I'll choose PC gaming over a console, but that's because I don't have the time or patience to sit and repeat the same actions over and over to "unlock" more gameplay (a common theme in console game design, even among the better games). For some players, that kind of small design is considered to be a feature rather than a bug.
Also: There seem to be plenty of Tivos on eBay UK (as I'm guessing you're in the UK), ranging from 80ish to 300 pounds.
posted by majick at 2:34 PM on December 30, 2003
Also: There seem to be plenty of Tivos on eBay UK (as I'm guessing you're in the UK), ranging from 80ish to 300 pounds.
posted by majick at 2:34 PM on December 30, 2003
From Tivofaq.co.uk:
>Are TiVo going to pull out of the UK? Dixon's say the product has been discontinued?
>Thomson have now stopped manufacturing TiVo boxes, however TiVo still plan to continue to provide a service to existing boxes. The remaining stocks can be picked up quite cheap if you can find it, but second hand prices may go up to meet demands. TiVo said at their CES conference call: "The UK is a small market"; They will "not invest incrementally in the UK"; It is a "loss making venture"; They will "continue to support the service indefinitely"; They are hoping some of TiVo's partners will bring new hardware to the UK; Tivo will "only do it if profitable" (invest in the UK). It is hoped a new manufacturer will start producing TiVo's soon, however there is no word on this at the moment.
posted by Blue Stone at 3:42 PM on December 30, 2003
>Are TiVo going to pull out of the UK? Dixon's say the product has been discontinued?
>Thomson have now stopped manufacturing TiVo boxes, however TiVo still plan to continue to provide a service to existing boxes. The remaining stocks can be picked up quite cheap if you can find it, but second hand prices may go up to meet demands. TiVo said at their CES conference call: "The UK is a small market"; They will "not invest incrementally in the UK"; It is a "loss making venture"; They will "continue to support the service indefinitely"; They are hoping some of TiVo's partners will bring new hardware to the UK; Tivo will "only do it if profitable" (invest in the UK). It is hoped a new manufacturer will start producing TiVo's soon, however there is no word on this at the moment.
posted by Blue Stone at 3:42 PM on December 30, 2003
[annoyingly nudgy mother-type whisper] Invest. Save. Do not blow all your cash on depreciating toys which will eventually break or become obsolete. A little money socked away at even a minimal interest eate will serve you better in the long run than a game console. [/whisper]
posted by Dreama at 5:08 PM on December 30, 2003
posted by Dreama at 5:08 PM on December 30, 2003
Response by poster: [annoyingly nudgy mother-type whisper] Invest. Save. Do not blow all your cash on depreciating toys which will eventually break or become obsolete. A little money socked away at even a minimal interest eate will serve you better in the long run than a game console. [/whisper]
Good advice, but I'm already doing that, large part of my monthly salary at a time as part of some greater master plan. This was a christmas present, and for once I want to have some fun.
posted by feelinglistless at 5:42 PM on December 30, 2003
Good advice, but I'm already doing that, large part of my monthly salary at a time as part of some greater master plan. This was a christmas present, and for once I want to have some fun.
posted by feelinglistless at 5:42 PM on December 30, 2003
[fun, black-sheep uncle-type whisper] Enjoy it while it lasts kid! Maybe a little weekend away with one of those cheap airline specials? Some beachtime? Some Ibiza? ; >
posted by amberglow at 6:07 PM on December 30, 2003
posted by amberglow at 6:07 PM on December 30, 2003
donation to Iran relief
posted by carfilhiot at 7:20 PM on December 30, 2003
posted by carfilhiot at 7:20 PM on December 30, 2003
If not a TiVo, how about a TV tuner/PVR software for your computer?
posted by benjh at 4:03 AM on December 31, 2003
posted by benjh at 4:03 AM on December 31, 2003
Ask MetaFilter is as useful as you make it. Please limit comments to answers or help in finding an answer. Wisecracks don't help people find answers. Thanks.
posted by majick at 7:12 AM on December 31, 2003
posted by majick at 7:12 AM on December 31, 2003
adopt a gorilla.
posted by specialk420 at 9:53 AM on December 31, 2003
posted by specialk420 at 9:53 AM on December 31, 2003
Read Matt Haughey's review of [forgot name] software that is tivo-ish at http://pvr.com and then buy it along with a cheap hauppage tuner card and roll your own tivo-thing.
Or get one of the new $100 ipods that are coming out. Drool.
posted by mecran01 at 6:27 PM on December 31, 2003
Or get one of the new $100 ipods that are coming out. Drool.
posted by mecran01 at 6:27 PM on December 31, 2003
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posted by majick at 1:18 PM on December 30, 2003