I was just catching up on everyone's blogs and thought I'd update my happenings, but it's so freakin' late again.  I'm just too tired...

 

But I did finish Angels & Demons tonight.  I'd read The DaVinci Code soon after it was released and quite enjoyed it.  I thought both books were fast paced and very well written.  Better than a movie anyday.

 

I bought a Windows Media Center computer a few weeks ago.  It all started with our desire to have a TIVO or something similar on our living room TV.  I've had a computer (wireless keyboard and gyroscopic mouse) in the living room before (for a MAME machine), but it really didn't work out.  The computer was too loud to leave on and it didn't get used much.  Anyway, I could buy a PVR from Shaw for something like $700, but for a mere $900 I bought a reconditioned HP Media Center - 1 Gb RAM, 250 GB HD, P4 530.  Cheaper than I could build it for, which was my original plan.  It seemed to have more features than a PVR and I figured the kids could surf on it and install a couple games.  Anyway, there was a great package deal on it for an LCD/Printer  and I succumed and bought an extended warranty (which I immediately regretted).  Now I'm sitting around $1400 after taxes.  And the more we thought about it the more we didn't want the computer causing more clutter in the living room  (we have a bit of a clutter problem).  Staples had a very nice computer desk that closes up to look like a cabinet; another $250.  But we opted to put the computer in another room and get a Media Center Extender instead.  I did some research and it appeared I could get an extender (which is a silent Windows CE appliance that basically remote desktops into a networked Media Center computer) for the same price.  I found out later I was looking at US$ prices.  Oooops. 

 

So by the time I finally get this thing working with basic TIVO functionality I'll have spent close to three times what I could have bought a PVR for.  But admittedly it is very cool, and the kids don't fight over the computer now (well, not as much anyway :).  Did I mention it was very cool?

 

I'd better get some sleep...