Welcome to the IHoP v.2

[dem beats 1,223]

Should I get Windows 8?

And if I do, is a touchscreen necessary?

I use it without a touchscreen. I don't use any of the metro screen though which basically makes it windows 7 with a new style start button. Oh, way faster feeling than 7 too. Personally I would do it, but it may piss you off as it has a new learning curve.

Not worried about the learning curve, just want to make sure that Windows 8 is worth it over Windows 7. I've really enjoyed windows 7.

I found the same version as my stolen laptop with a 2nd gen i7. From what I've seen the i7 is just a bit better than the 3rd gen i5s that i am looking at. It's also the only descent small laptop I can find and cost less than $470. Not sure if I want to upgrade more though lol.

Windows 8 is not an upgrade in any real way*, in most ways it's a downgrade.

*if you want a touchscreen it has some advantages.

[sandt38 448]

LEAVING TO THE HOSPITAL! BOUT TO HAVE A BABY MY PEOPLE!!!

 

Congrats!

[sandt38 448]

Just remember guys.. If you ever get into 3d tvs, make sure whatever you are "used to watching" on your current 2d TV, double the refresh rate for 3d.

 

120hz 2d = 240hz 3d.

240hz 2d = 480hz 3d.

 

Not doing so will half the perceived refresh rate and you will not like it.

 

I haven't personally watched any, but i'd always been a fan of active plasma 3d by Panasonic Viera series.

Plasmas are of the highest refresh rate of 600hz and the picture was awesome.

 

I am biased towards panasonic's plasmas in one specific reason.

 

When Pioneer shut down their TV line, many of the engineers that designed Pioneers high-end Plasma TVs went to Panasonic to resurrect the Plasma technology.

 

Panasonic has been booming ever since.

 

Of course Panasonic doesn't sell $7,000 55" tvs either but what they do sell is awesome.

 

Let's not forget that Panasonic was also the first to make a 150" 4000p TV.  

Of Course it's not on their website so it may have been a marketing stunt but still a unique design.

600Hz plasma is actually a gimmick, but an acceptable one for plasma TVs. A plasma screen has no refresh rate because the picture is always fluid (like old school TVs), thus it is more like an infinite refresh rate. Plasma only markets a HZ rating to give consumers looking at specs something to compare to.

As far as TVs go a plasma is the only TV to ever "wow" me.

 

Indeed. Plasmas are the only way to go as long as you have light control.

[sandt38 448]

I thought Panny stopped making plasma's as well. Not interested in a leftover anything from anywhere...

 

They have, leaving Samsung at the top of the heap... as far as non-boutique brands is concerned.

[sandt38 448]

Seth here's a list of some vapes on sale, http://www.vaporreviewblog.com/black-friday-2013/

 

Figure you might see something.

 

Thanks. I actually just bought a ton of new shit yesterday. But I do like what I see there...

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

At the hospital now. Wife says she wants an SSA beanie for the baby asap and for me to make sure I order my amp O.o what kind of awesome wife?!

 

[Congrats sir!!!  We do need to order beanies.

[Julian 641]

Should I get Windows 8?

And if I do, is a touchscreen necessary?

I use it without a touchscreen. I don't use any of the metro screen though which basically makes it windows 7 with a new style start button. Oh, way faster feeling than 7 too. Personally I would do it, but it may piss you off as it has a new learning curve.

Is it a standard pc or is it custom built? For custom built pcs it's epic, especially with an ssd. My computer has a boot time of about 2 seconds and it's to the Windows screen no problem it's pretty nutty. If you don't have a touch screens I would suggest getting a program called start 8. It gives you back your normal start button and boots straight to desktop

[Aaron Clinton 2,372]

The spammer edited posts are getting better.

[nem 2,019]

I have 3 kickass plasmas at the haunt.

[MKader17 332]

Should I get Windows 8?

And if I do, is a touchscreen necessary?

I use it without a touchscreen. I don't use any of the metro screen though which basically makes it windows 7 with a new style start button. Oh, way faster feeling than 7 too. Personally I would do it, but it may piss you off as it has a new learning curve.

Is it a standard pc or is it custom built? For custom built pcs it's epic, especially with an ssd. My computer has a boot time of about 2 seconds and it's to the Windows screen no problem it's pretty nutty. If you don't have a touch screens I would suggest getting a program called start 8. It gives you back your normal start button and boots straight to desktop

This will be a 13-14" laptop.

[MKader17 332]

I wonder if I'll have any problem with a 768 pixel 14" screen. I'm not a fan of 768 on 15.6" screens, but liked it on the 13.3" screen.

However my 17" work laptop screen is 1080 though and is WAY plenty for me.

[dem beats 1,223]

Mike, if you still need kitchen knives.

http://www.epicedge.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1321

[ricksi30 923]

I wonder if I'll have any problem with a 768 pixel 14" screen. I'm not a fan of 768 on 15.6" screens, but liked it on the 13.3" screen.

However my 17" work laptop screen is 1080 though and is WAY plenty for me.

My 14" asus is 768 and it's fine for me.

[Godsmack 361]

Anybody find any great DSLR deals on glass or bodies?

J

[dem beats 1,223]

Anybody find any great DSLR deals on glass or bodies?

J

I will watch for you. Tell me the style you want. I only see 3 bodies as a great deal.

T5i

70D

5Diii

Unless your rich, then the 1Dx is fun.

[dem beats 1,223]

I don't know dick about nikons anymore. Those are fine cameras but once you invest in lenses, you wouldn't want to change unless it's for a specific reason.

Example is the 5diii is much more user friendly in the field, but the top Nikon of similar design has a significant use for studio work with it's super high detail.

[MKader17 332]

Mike, if you still need kitchen knives.

http://www.epicedge.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1321

Okay, you creeper. HOW did you know I was at a kitchen store today looking at knifes.

[dem beats 1,223]

Your wife was texting me about it.

;-)

[Tirefryr 1,742]

Your wife was texting me about it.

;-)

Because her mouth was too busy with my sausage to speak to you via phone. 

 

Don't worry Mike, she never tells me she loves me.

[///M5 2,833]

Mike, if you still need kitchen knives.

http://www.epicedge.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1321

Okay, you creeper. HOW did you know I was at a kitchen store today looking at knifes.

Please don't look at knives, but a KNIFE. Buy a chef's knife that fits your needs and then add a pairing knife from the same set to finish off what you need. All other speciality knives you can get by with cheap ones. ie, cheap bread knives, serrated, are okay. Hell even cheap filet knives are good although they have to be sharpened for every use. I'd then grab a diamond hone off Amazon and call it a day.

And DON'T be scared of the $200 chef's knives. They ARE what you want. If you were going to use $240 on a knife set I'd put $180+ into the chef knife, whatever "matching" pairing knife (you could even cheap out here as an ultra sharp pairing knife isn't always a benefit - I have one sharp and one dull for doing things depending on how much the blade will hit my thumb.)

Seriously. And this is from experience. I probably have over $2500 worth of knives in the house and I know how to use them.

I'd also say that buying your knife from a kitchen shop that TEACHES knife skills courses is a must. Most will match internet price and still give you lessons. Knife skills are BY FAR the most important kitchen skill. If you've got one hour for dinner and need 45min to cut the veggies and proteins you aren't going to make the dish.

In an hour I can easily break down a whole chicken, cut veggies, and prepare a full meal that could be from a variety of different ethnicities: from fresh pasta, to stir fry, to southern bbq, to a french pan sauce, german schnitzel, japanese noodles, and I could keep going. For any of those the prep alone would easily take my wife 45 and most of my friends a couple hours.

Focus knife skills on bases: trinity/soffrito/mirepoix. If you can rapidly nail down those the quality of your food will SKYROCKET. I also firmly believe in buying the animal as whole as possible. Fish always with skin & bones if I can, same with chicken and larger pieces of beef and pork. Learning your way around an animal is huge.

[///M5 2,833]

I'd also add there is only one use IMO for a non-stick pan. That is warming leftovers on milder heat. The stupid teflon is a crux that cause most to never be able to cook well either. Hides all the beauty and interaction of the food and the pan which is terrible IMO. I also feel this way about cast iron although I keep two cast iron pans for a different reason. Cast is extremely useful when you don't have enough heat for what must go in the pan. You can overheat the pan so that it never cools below where you need it to. This of course is also the disadvantage of cast. It is therefore superb for long and slow methods where you want a consistent temperature. Just not the right choice for a controlled sear and they also flavor pan sauces in a way I don't like.

[///M5 2,833]

Do NOT let her talk you into different knives. Sets are STUPID. ALWAYS a waste of money.

[///M5 2,833]

If the knife store doesn't let you demo the knives you don't want to buy it either. Bring a bag of carrots.

[Quentin Jarrell 671]

I'd also add there is only one use IMO for a non-stick pan. That is warming leftovers on milder heat. The stupid teflon is a crux that cause most to never be able to cook well either. Hides all the beauty and interaction of the food and the pan which is terrible IMO. I also feel this way about cast iron although I keep two cast iron pans for a different reason. Cast is extremely useful when you don't have enough heat for what must go in the pan. You can overheat the pan so that it never cools below where you need it to. This of course is also the disadvantage of cast. It is therefore superb for long and slow methods where you want a consistent temperature. Just not the right choice for a controlled sear and they also flavor pan sauces in a way I don't like.

The only pans I cook in are cast iron. The only pots I cook in are copper.

[///M5 2,833]

i love steel