The Monkey

I think I'm going the Mac Mini route. They already have an old flat screen (VGA, should be ok, right?) that I can repurpose. I'll hide the Mini in a cabinet beneath the stereo stuff and get them the wireless keyboard and pad. I'll also get them the new Apple TV so they can stream to their HT downstairs. I'll order an iPod Touch so they can control remotely. And I'll get a cheap DAC to connect to the stereo rig. Not a cheap solution, but it's robust and I think, in the end, actually easier for them to operate provided that I can lock them out of most of the other computer stuff.

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I interrupted his lunch a little bit... I rode in an elevator with Mike Ditka in a Chicago hotel (I believe his steakhouse was in the hotel) several years ago. He was smoking a cigar--in the elevator. A couple with a baby got on and the baby looked at Ditka and immediately started bawling. Ditka: "I have that effect on babies."

Robert DeNiro - jerk Lou Reed - low key Justin Tuck - Nice, enormous Derek Jeter - Decent guy, knew he was the shit Joe Klecko - Down to earth, so nice Mark Gastineau - Scary Eek-A-Mouse - Really funny Joe Lovano - Outgoing, friendly Shelly Winters - Nuts Sean Lennon - Knew him as a kid, nice guy then Soon-Yi Previn - Knew her as a kid. Quiet, but nice A ton of chefs while at the Food Network - a lot of very nice people, but also a lot of prima donnas

Project Runway...bitches!

Here's how I feel about DACs. You listen to a bunch of them in your system if possible. Then one comes along and it just sounds right, regardless of MSRP. That's the one you stick with. My PWD just sounds right to me. I don't know anything about how much "air" or "timbre" or any of that shit it has, but I know that right now my rig sounds good with the PWD in it. The only thing I regret is how much I spent, but that's just part of the hobby. After the SQ criterion is fulfilled, I personally like features like multiple inputs, digital screens, beautiful beautiful lights, etc. The PWD satisfies that. But for the most part, I now think that a DAC should be set and forget. I'm not sure how any of this helps.

SQ is not necessarily a big issue here. My parents hearing ain't what it used to be (at all). Would Snow Leopard Server provide any practical uses around the home or is it complete overkill?

I kind of like the mac mini idea, but it would require a DAC... What would be some of the advantages to running mac mini server?

Great. Are you using a case, Jeff?

Ok, so far I am very impressed by the iPhone 4. Of course, it is a huge leap in speed, etc. from my 1G iPhone. Call quality has been good. Signal doesn't penetrate enough in my (fucking windowless) office, but I expected that. Display is simply awesome, and I love the camera. If I can get this to receive work email and sync calendars then it'll be even moar betterer. As for free case, I went with the Speck Pixelskin HD. But that's going to take a while to arrive. What are the good cases out there? BTW, the Little Monkey now has my old iPhone. He is psyched.

If it's good enough for Reks, it's good enough for me.

Did you insult her a little bit?

I thought the new Nano was pretty darn cool. I got the 16GB iPhone instead of the 32GB. Wondering if I should've gone bigger, but I figured that's why I have the iPad, right? Right?

No. I was told about the free program (the case gets mailed to you) and I'm not sure that they actually had cases available.

Done.

ok, I'll get the iPhone 4 tomorrow.

And just where the hell have you been, and how are you?

Doug, that is pretty cool. I remember reading about it a while ago. Will look into it further.

Ok, this just in. Looks like my parents are pretty much sold on iTunes as the interface. So it will need to be an Apple solution of some sort, I think.

Gang, does the "old" AppleTV have full-blown iTunes on it?

I left my briefcase at my parents' apartment this evening, which means I don't have my iPad--and won't until tomorrow. I actually miss it. Pathetic.

Nice. I'm a bit of a fanboy and I'm glad to see others enjoying this DAC.

Is the Touch UI user friendly, esp. older people?

Nice. I've always wanted to try the Lavry.

I'm really not keen on going lossy, but that may need to be the case. I'm beginning to think I should just get them a damn Mini and let them use that. They could use a small LCD flat screen TV as a monitor with the mini, right?