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RickR

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Posts posted by RickR

  2. Dune (shame on Amazon)

    in Television & Movies

    Posted

    I mean this is a known thing.  The "new" version of Dune came out in 2021 and was excellent.  But it was only 1/2 of the story.  The second part is out in theaters now, and I imagine it will be cheap to rent once the theatrical run is done. 

    It is common for theater movies to cost about $25 to stream.  Greedy?  Maybe.  But it will be normal priced in a few months. 

    What did you think of that first part?

    I have part 2 on hold at the library (blu-ray), and once that is released I'll get it when it becomes available.

     

  4. Post your latest/recent pickups!

    in Classic Gaming General

    Posted

    27 minutes ago, CrossBow said:

    What options does it offer compared to others? I'm current using a Fujinet with most of my 8-bit Atari needs. I also have an Uno for the 8-bit but I don't use it that much. I also have the BBPro 8-bit atari adapter. But again...rarely used. The Fuji is able to do everything I pretty much want, minus the fact it can't handle large disk images and some formats it isn't able to do like any cartridge image formats for instance.

     

    It is essentially a UnoCart with built-in 128mb storage and a USB-C connector to add files.  I like it because the 3D printed case is so nice.  My uno cart has a very small case that is difficult to insert correctly.  I haven't gone Fuji because I think it is a level of complexity a bit too high for my limited time. 

    Uno/Pico offer really good compatibility in my experience.  XEX/ATR/CAR/TAP -- all formats seem to work fine. 

  5. Atari Email Archive

    in Atari History Discussion

    Posted

    I always went with the O'Reilly books for software dev.  The ones with animals on the cover:

    0*xSCdJnfwzeE2Zmnp.jpg

    I have a decent collection of them up in the attic.  Sometimes I'll see one at a book store or used book sale and start salivating before talking myself out of it.  "You don't need this anymore, pops" is what my mind says.  "It's all available on the internet now".  "This isn't going to help you downsize to a smaller house, is it?" 

    Still, they are almost irresistible.

  9. It's unicorn time! Rescue Terra 1

    in For Sale

    Posted

    This is a really cool find, and I think we all appreciate the offer.  In looking at Pricecharting.com, this is a very valuable game! 

    I hope someone steps up to make you an offer.  If you don't sell it, you might post here again with the price you are looking for.  Most people here are honest collectors that don't want to lowball. 

  11. Was Coleco's Donkey Kong Port for Atari 2600 SABOTAGED? | Garry Kitchen Settles It!

    in Atari 2600

    Posted

    Back then, I think it's fair to say most just accepted the game they got.  Sure, it wasn't exactly the same as the arcade.  But the flavor was there.  Even the Intv version (which I love to poke fun at) is fine if that's all you had as a kid.  That slow Mario movement gave it an extra challenge in the timing.  It isn't quite Donkey Kong, but it is still fun. 

    In retrospect, they hired who they could find.  With Garry Kitchen on the 2600 version, they got really lucky.  Frank Johnson (I looked it up) on Intellivision did fine as well.  When you realize that neither guy had the right documentation or knowledge, I think they deserve more credit than we give them.

     

  12. Home Entertainment Center Setups - Q&A

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    Promising update:  I found that the Roku device itself have sound leveling set, and I think that is what was glitching.  Turning off that leveling setting made it work fine for the couple of hours of TV we watched.  Fingers crossed that it is now fixed. 

    The updated AV settings and two extra speakers make it sound pretty great.  So I think for now, we stick with this setup. 

     

  15. Home Entertainment Center Setups - Q&A

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    Here is a pic of my setup.  I've re-hooked up the AV system and made a few changes.  We'll see if this helps.

    • I went ahead and added the two rear speakers, but I put them underneath the cabinet facing sideways.  I have no idea if that will work well, but it beats running cables across the room!
    • I made some tweaks to the settings on the receiver.

    Of course, about 30 minutes in to this basketball game, the sound went wonky loud again.  Sigh. 

    thumbnail.jpg

  16. Home Entertainment Center Setups - Q&A

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, - Ω - said:

    JUst a quick question, have you gone into the TV's settings for "sound leveling"?  Both my Sony TV's have the ability to level the volume, works wonders.

    Good question, and I've tried it with that both off and on.  No difference in results, although I did leave it on as I like the way that works.

     

  17. Home Entertainment Center Setups - Q&A

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    9 minutes ago, CrossBow said:

    My receivers are both passthrough devices so they don't do anything with the video and only use the audio channels.

    Mine too!  But something is going on.  I don't think it's the HDMI cables themselves, although I can easily switch those out. 

    More experimentation I don't really have time for coming 🙂 

     

  19. Home Entertainment Center Setups - Q&A

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    I agree with everything you've said Crossbow.  But the other problem is the complexity of the digital receiver.  My speakers include surround modules, but I have no desire to run wires to the back of the room.  Hence, I don't use them.  So then setting up the receiver to convert sounds to the 3.1 format instead of 5.1...well, it is cumbersome and god forbid someone touches the wrong button to goof it up. 

     

  21. Home Entertainment Center Setups - Q&A

    in Off Topic

    Posted

    I've been struggling lately with our main family room entertainment setup and I'd like others' opinions.  What do you use, and do you like it?  Let me describe what I have and the issue I'm trying to solve.  I'll post pics later if necessary, but I think you've all seen my family room setup in various high-score contest pictures.

    TV:  Samsung 50" (we love it, such a beautiful and bright picture.  Replacing this is not on the table)

    Audio:  Sony digital receiver with Bose 3.1 speakers.  Sounds really great with a deep bass boom.  This has been our setup for years, so we are very used to it.  8 HDMI inputs.  This is the heart of our system.

    What is connected:  Main item:  A Roku streaming device, which we use daily.  Also:  A blu-ray player, my PS1 Classic, an empty HDMI cable that we use for laptops or other gaming, and a USB thumb drive full of music.

    The problem:  The Roku sound is terrible.  This is a new (withing the last six months issue, and it isn't just me...MANY people have this issue and Roku seems oblivious).  It will often either get REALLY loud or really quiet.  Very annoying. 

    My experimentation:  Hooking the Roku directly to the TV helps.  The sound issue occurs MUCH less often.  Let's say twice a week instead of twice a day on average.  However, the TV sound is pretty weak with NO bass boom.  It also appears that the picture is cleaner this way, although I don't know why. 

     

    My idea:  I've been thinking of ditching the digital receiver and speakers and simplifying.  Instead, how about adding a nice soundbar (with subwoofer) to the TV, and then an HDMI switchbox.  I could use the extra space that the receiver occupies for another gaming console (like the VCS).  I'd play it more if it were down here.

     

    What do you all use?  Any advice greatly appreciated. 

     

     

  22. Are you... OLD? You are if you recognize these... (add your own).

    in Retro

    Posted

    2 hours ago, TrekMD said:

    Here's something else from way back.  I had one of these!

    Spirograph.jpg.551f0a88bb9703bd8895bb1b75c2000e.jpg

    I think we had this exact box!

    This one reminds me of how hard it was to share toys with my older brother.  Always telling me what to do and how to do it and making sure I didn't "mess it up" or break it.  Sigh.  I guess this is why I love my Atari 2600 so much, as that was the first toy we had that I kind of took ownership of and didn't have to take any guff over. 

     

  25. Was Coleco's Donkey Kong Port for Atari 2600 SABOTAGED? | Garry Kitchen Settles It!

    in Atari 2600

    Posted

    I watched last night.  Excellent!  Very enjoyable to watch and hopefully this puts the issue to rest. 

    Personally, I liked 2600 DK a lot.  I remember buying it at Toys R Us and being so excited on the car ride home to play.  I know it had it's limitations, but it was a lot of fun and definitely captured some of that Donkey Kong magic in my eyes. 

     

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