Oh, I Come from a Land down Under, Where Women ???? and Men Thunder!

The title line is from "Men at Work", An Aussie band that had a big hit with the song it's from, here in the colonies. Somehow it seemed appropriate.

Obviously, the digital vs analog issue is more market related than I expected. I live in Philly, pretty much dead center of a large market area. I suppose I'm too lazy to hoist a huge outdoor antenna to the roof, with a rotator and all that nonsense. But, I figure when you're not more than 5 or 6 miles from a major network, full power transmitter, you should be able to receive it in pristine quality, but no so here. The RFI signature is lavish, abundant, and omnipresent. An FM trap must be used (for Ch6, and it far from cures the TVI), and an external amp just brings up banding in the higher UHF channels.

I understand what you're saying about the blocking, but it is at least partially related to signal strength, and (in my high signal area), tuning the antenna directionally, helps quite a bit. The blocking is funny, kinda makes the signal look like bad living room porn, with a cheapie camcorder.

Anyway, in this particular marketing area the digital signal is the 1000% improvement I'm claiming.

Before I was able to receive my coupons for the converter boxes, I purchased a DVD recorder (Toshiba
D-R 550) so that I could receive digital TV. Two weeks later, I received my coupons and bought 2 converter boxes. Much to my surprise, the cheapie converter boxes, have a much, much better tuner than the Toshiba. The GUI is better, the signal is hotter, and they lock in on the channel in less than half the time. This is a (sort of) "scientific" comparison as these results are from the same antenna, with the same distribution amplifier, at the same time. Way off topic, but interesting enough to warrant it, I hope.

If the Austrailian airways are clear enough for analog TV, consider yourself (fullmetalvegan) fortunate. This is the point where I would normally make some off key remark like, "you could only get away with analog TV in such a backward country as Austrailia". But that might be taken way more seriously than it was meant, so I won't

Well, not in my household. I needed an OS, I bought a copy of XP, it works dandy.
Of course, I realize that I'm not the center of the satistical universe. I don't want that to be true, but I've come (barely) to accept it.

I understand hard drive and processor sales are up (. )or (?) (Since I'm not really sure). It might help to compare one to the other (Vista sales).

Please, we prefer to be thought of as "Microsoft Malcontents". Or perhaps "Microsoft Pundits" to give homage to the political establishment. LOL

PS: It's actually "Where women glow and men plunder?" . My bad, sorry!

PPS; I'm putting an extra LOL, here > LOL < . In case of irritation, copy and paste it as necessary.

.

1. I never implied that you were the author of the 'loaded statement'

2. The quotes support the fact that the statement is 'loaded'

3. I am not a Vista basher. XP had its problems too. I'll wait till Vista matures.
I have no doubt that after maturing, Vista will be great.

I just feel that Vista was 'forced on', and the slump in sales is indicative of that.

Sure, the economy is in bad shape right now, and has contributed too.

I hope there is a recovery soon (though I doubt that a dole out will help much)

Sorry, if I hurt you feelings, SNGX

First dole outs.

Now bail outs.

I hope they work (lousy English). Unfortunately there is a global economy now.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/10/06/stock.markets/index.html

I've felt all along that Vista really doesn't have anything extra special that XP can't do already. In fact, I even own a copy of Vista ultimate that I bought 2 years ago. (still sealed!). I haven't had a need to upgrade. The hardware requirements of Vista now, are not too bad (2 years later), but still, the OS is cumbersome compared to XP.