It’s going to be quiet around here the next few days…
Not only is it March Madness (Go Retrievers?), tomorrow’s the move. And I haven’t even finished packing, plus it’ll take me awhile to dig out. However, once I do my home work environment should be much improved. Examples: I intend to upgrade my “walking desk” by wall-mounting my current 19″ Samsung desktop PC LCD, which in turn will be replaced by a 21″ – 24″ television – better suited for HTPC duty and improved “lab” conditions for the Battle Royale. (Unless it waits until I’m in the office, where I can use two Westinghouse HDTVs side-by-side.) My Airport Extreme base station and 750GB Maxtor USB drive are currently 15 miles apart, but one of my first post-relocation tests will be with the new firmware enabling network Time Machine backups. However, I’d be happy with just improved disk access.
FYI In the course of clearing out my stuff, I had decent results unloading maybe 15 items through the ebay consignment shop and finally figured out how to recycle useless tech via Office Depot (PDF link).
did you see USPS is doing the same for recycling?
http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2008/pr08_028.htm
Where ya moving to?
Jon, hadn’t seen that – nice!
Jason, suburban Rockville… quite a change. The first time since moving to the region (1993) that I haven’t been within walking distance of the subway. Though, I’ll be a 7 minute walk from Starbucks, Panera (I think), FedEx Kinkos, EB Games, etc – some new urbanist pseudo downtown, which should be fine. It’s a better commute for Melissa and the amenities are more modern. Plus I get a ton of extra space. We still need to get together one of these days.
Given how I often feel about them, it’s surprising that one of the final straws that led to a move was the doorman not allowing Comcast to park in the circle to “install” my M-Card a month or so ago. He had to circle the block for about 30 minutes before finding a spot to leave his van (and called every few minutes to give me status updates). (And it’s yet to be seen how well my Comcast migration is going to work out… my rep was supposed to call me back Tues with a possible install window on Saturday, but it’s been radio silence.)
Ahhh Dave…Leaving downtown DC and becoming a real suburbanite. Too bad. We’ll miss you in the district!!
PS Since I work in Rockville, I wouldn’t mind being part of a DC/MD/VA meet up if someone planned it.
Funny you should mention that… my new apartment complex has a party room (with four televisions) I was thinking could be fun to rent out ($250). Apple TV, Vudu, SlingCatcher, and TiVo demo stations? Order some pizza? Something to think about…
Dave: “…do they have Comcast HD using Cable Card 2.0 in Rockville?”
Dave’s real estate agent: “..Ummm I don’t know, but surely there are more important requirements for you to move…”
Dave: “No. That’s the only requirement….”
Agent: “…Mr. Zatz what about the neighborhood, and schools, and the quality of life for your….”
Dave: “Don’t care. Cable Card 2.0 – yes or no?”
Agent: “I have never heard of anyone moving to where ever some specific technology is….”
Dave: “Pardon me, I gotta watch this replay” ( starts watching Final FOur basketball being slung to his phone )
Agent: “Mt. Zatz?”
Dave: “Shhhhhhhh….go call Comcast, Mkay?”
Yes, fortunately the new area has M-Cards and the top tier Comcast broadband package is 18Mbps down. All is well. If they ever hook it up. (FiOS and FiOS TV are not yet available. Though, I do have Southwest exposure and a balcony.)
I had my first ‘cable-card experience’ yesterday. i had requested an m-card and the guy showed up with 2 s-cards. apparently he was placed on my call right before it was scheduled so he had to go find cable cards from another tech and thats all he had. the install of each card went flawlessly and we both bitched about comcast and their cable card practices. im wondering if its worth calling back and having the m-card replace the s-cards. i guess it will come down to how the bill me….
Go UMBC!!!!!!
Glad the consignment shop worked out.
Hmm… I live in Silver Spring, and I called Comcast last week and they told me they didn’t have any M-cards, just S-cards, for my new Tivo HD. What gives? I should be in the same market as Rockville, right?
I bought a TiVo HD when Woot had them. I called Comcast to get an M-card, they were very persistent that they did not have them, only S-cards.
When the tech showed up he had 4 M-cards with him. I was presently surprised. I was even more surprised that he already knew he would only have to install one of them.
Phil, they have M-Cards – keep calling until you get someone who understands. Actually, the person who schedules doesn’t really NEED to understand as long as he/she makes a note on the computer that the installer should bring an M-Card.
I still haven’t been able to transfer my service yet. My EVDO router is saving us – works on Xbox with CoD4 too. The plasma looks pretty nice above the fireplace, but now I wish I had sprung for the 50 incher. Damn. ;)
hey dave thanks for the tip. I could have used that last week. I wiped the hard drives and deposed of my Pentium 75 computer and a hand me down from my dad. There were two other computers in the dumpster also. I resisted the temptation to check if they had scrubbed their drives. But still that can’t be good for the environment.
If I’d known of a relatively easy recycling method in Fairfax I would have used it.
Sorry to hear you’re on the wrong side of the river. ;)
Hey Dave – I live in Burtonsville…Email me if you need any moving help!