boiler

thats a LOT of stuff you want to do with a pda... for that much functionality it might make more sense to stick with a laptop...

however, I did some PDA research end of the summer for myself, and I ended going for the dell axim x51. It has a good feature set for cheaper than most other models. **Yes, I know it's a Dell** but I have absolutely no complaints with mine. If you want to do THAT much with it, I suggest looking at the top-end model Axim X51v It has built-in wireless and bluetooth capability, high-res screen (for the size), and a fast processor and integrated graphics processor. It is around $500, which is getting near the budget laptop price range, so I guess you'll have to decide if you really want to be able to do all of that with a PDA or just get a new cheap laptop

xbox 360 >> xbox

I didn't like original xbox that much, and I HATED that monstrosity of a controller, why was it that huge??

I LOVE my new 360 though, the controller is much smaller and comfortable and intuitive to use. I am starting to possibly like it more than my ps2 controllers...

Oh yeah, GoW is an awesome game and I really like it, but I think Vegas is about right there with it. Some of the save points are a little more spread out than I would like, but it forces you to be smart about your assaults in the streets/casinos. believe me, when I finally get my 360 to an hdtv, I will be playing GoW first and foremost so I can bask in it's true beauty

i finally got a couple hours to hit this game a little harder (only got to play for 15 min the day I brought it home).

great game, very fun to play, and the cover and team movement and action functions are easy to control on the fly in the middle of a fire fight.

I should have a good chunk of time saturday morning/afternoon as my woman is going christmas shopping

I gotta try this on live at some point! haven't even played anything on live yet, including GoW

I caved and picked up vegas yesterday. only had 20 min to play though cause I had to clean the dang apartment then help fix dinner with my fiance >_<

only a few more hours of work, then its game time baby....

go faster clock....

I SAID FASTER!

If he's looking to spend that much money, it would be very silly to NOT get a core 2 duo right now. Especially if he needs a new motherboard and the whole nine. They aren't quite as pricey as they were when first out. I love love love my E6600, but I hear the lower ones with a little less L2 cache are still very fast and overclock like champs.

I think evga's gotten decent reviews on their new intel core 2 duo sli motherboards, might want to look into it.

mini-dv is very good on quality, but the only downside is that you would have to hook it up to a separate recording device (or computer) to have an in-hand universally playable copy. dvd burners are coming down in price though.

 

The same goes for those that have internal hard drives, but those probably aren't in the price range that you are talking about.

 

i would recommend getting a mini-dv camcorder, then burning the movies for them when they are done shooting

 

Um, mine will convert it into a universally playable DVD if so required (I know I said I have a JVC one but in all honesty I can't remember, I'll see if I can find it online, it was a Costco purchase). But at $6 per disk, I do as you suggest above and copy it to PC/then burn the DVD.

 

edit: it's a panasonic.

Mini-dv = a small dv TAPE

mini-dvd = a small dvd to which your camcorder records directly

there is no noticeable quality difference with the mini-dv tapes (I have an HD camcorder that uses these tapes - amazing picture quality in 1080i. the tape will only play in the camcorder, hence hook it up to something else to record to dvd

mini-dv is very good on quality, but the only downside is that you would have to hook it up to a separate recording device (or computer) to have an in-hand universally playable copy. dvd burners are coming down in price though.

The same goes for those that have internal hard drives, but those probably aren't in the price range that you are talking about.

i would recommend getting a mini-dv camcorder, then burning the movies for them when they are done shooting

I just spent over an hour trying and failing miserably to beat Raam before switching to Madden in disgust. I can't remember a boss in a game that gave me this much trouble. Every time I think I'm making progress, I have to switch cover and get 'sploded by the freakin bats cause I picked a bad time to move. >_<

My next purchases will be:

1. R6:Vegas

2. CoD3

3. Halo1&2 (I was a ps2 guy, missed out completely on the halo thing... as in I have never played them)

I will be getting vegas as soon as I get my best buy certificate from work

for now I only have the one month free trial of gold, but if I deem it worth the money I will make it a more permanent upgrade

Tag: Boiler12

Right now I have GOW and Madden 07, hope to play some of ya!

I wish I had a bazillion dollars for a rig like that.....

Only thing from that list I have is the cpu...

Try pointing directly to the driver file on the install CD or driver files using the driver update through device manager instead of using the program's auto install .exe.

I tried doing that on the install CD, but I looked for the driver location for that HDA and didn't see it in device manager :/

Long story short, I installed an x-fi soundcard that turned out to be defective, and I removed it and its drivers to return it. When I tried to re-install my motherboard sound drivers, I get a message saying:

"The HDA Audio bus driver is required and not found."

To my knowledge, I have not willingly gotten rid of such a driver. At this point, the installation program quits and I am SOL. When I check Add/Remove programs, it shows "High Definition Audio Driver Package - KB888111". Here is what I have tried to this point:

- Cleaning all audio drivers and deleting the high def driver showing in my add/remove programs, then running the installation program again. The first time I run it after deleting everything, it says high def audio is enabled, please restart computer and run program again to finish install. I do so, and run install again..... and I get the same error message as above.

- I tried searching Microsoft for such a driver package to install seperately, but apparently this is not available in this manner.

- I searched the motherboard driver CD and found the audio bus driver file, tried to install it from here, and then run install, and same problem.

- I performed an xp repair-install in hopes it would add any possibly missing files. This also was in vain.

I fear the only option I have left is to reformat and start fresh, and I REALLY don't want to have to do this unless it is going to be absolutely necessary. Someone please tell me if there's anything else that I can do to fix this problem so I can get my sound back!!

And no, I don't consider buying a third party sound card again to be an option.

Without my sound, I will be forced to sulk in a corner with my xbox 360 until I can game on my rig again...

people that go shopping at 5am and fight the crowds the day after thanksgiving are insane. I don't care if I could have saved $100 on my xbox by buying it today, I saved myself hours of pain and suffering by not going out there.

To those of you who did fight the crowds, gods speed and try to get home in one piece

This game has made my recent (wednesday) 360 purchase entirely worth the money I paid for it. I'm a little scared to try insane.... i would probably have to quit my job and drop $$ on the XBL gold account if i ever wanted to beat it on that difficulty....

havent figured out my network connection yet.... xbox is ~50ft and a room away from my router, running a cable would look ridiculous and get destroyed by the cat, and the silly wireless adapter is $100

when I do, I'll hook up my free 48 day trial i got when buying GOW and see how I like it

First off, thanks to all of you who posted up in here, great comments and fact-based opinions

I picked up the 360 Wednesday with the 20gb hd and wireless controller, "play and charge" cord, along with Gears of War and PGR3.

PGR3 is alright, nothing earth-shaking, but visually beautiful and resonably fun.

GOW..... hol-y crap! unbelievable..... I'm so addicted to this, it should be illegal

Hands-down one of the best games I've played in a long time. So far I'm extremely happy with my purchase!

Now, if only I had another $200 to drop on some more games right now.....

I know you think I'm a raving fanboi...but you have to understand that I started out a PS fanboi and used to hate MS. That's all I'll say.

 

That and MGS will come to the 360, if not upon release it will eventually be ported. GTAIV is being released on the 360 and PS3 (although I can only confirm the 360 release)

 

I can't resist. Gears is the most fun I've had online since Halo2!

 

And as of today you can download movies/music/tv on Xbox Live

lol I just wanted to give you a little crap after your venting over the last week, thanks for the honest opinion

I realize this is probably not posted in the correct place, but as there is a time consideration here, I wanted to get as many replys as I could before noon today.

I am giving serious consideration to getting an xbox 360. I have been a PS2 guy for several years, and absolutely love games like metal gear, grand theft auto, etc. I am considering going xbox partially due to $$$ and availability considerations. I know I will be missing out on metal gear, but I would be gaining GOW, halo 3 (and 1 and 2), and several other sweet titles.

First question: Am I making the right choice or should I really hold out for the PS3?

Second question: Give me some game recommendations if I am going to purchase the 360

I enjoy racing games, stealth/shooter games, and sports stuff primarily. You can already nix out madden 07, as I have this for PC. If I can get some convincing replys, then I will go buy the stuff today after noon eastern (when I get off work).

Oh, one more thing, PLEASE do not flame this with "ps3 sucks" rants, constructive advice only please. (So 'Mo and maverick need not post in this thread )

I love love love love love love my core 2 duo E6600

they should be cheaper by then with the quad cores coming out, and the line ought to still be formidable.

at least consider an intel system, they're finally doing some good things!

lol, when half the computers in this office are 4 years old and are deciding to go schizo on me one at a time, and it's my job to keep them all working, there is no such thing as a work-free friday

not sure anyone was conscious through the night to claim that they know there was no BOC while we slept

i've decided that i refuse to let woot ruin another work day for me though, so the BOCs are all yours, guys

the end is nigh, i can feel it....

sneak preview claims wireless mouse next...

can't take any more, i give up. good luck getting your bags of crap, crazy non-sleepers

....... rca must be having a fire sale.....

an 80gb IDE hd....

somebody shoot me.

not excited.