I have this thing where I can save money, not really a big problem. But if I've got a bunch of money around, and I don't see any proximate *requirement* for that money, then I really badly want to spend it. Because let's face it, in today's world, unless you're saving for something specific, that money isn't even paper, it's just a bunch of binary on a computer someplace. So I like to turn it into something more useful or exciting.
My plan was to turn it into an Xbox 360, but I was discouraged from that by the news that a more reliable chipset version of the 360 (with a probable price cut) would be available in a couple of months. Thought about saving a little bit more and getting a PS3, but I just don't want much that's out for PS3 right now, and Sony seems to be barking up every wrong tree they can find, so I'm not sanguine about the value of the PS3 as an investment. Imagine being stuck with this generation's 3DO. Especially on my part-time salary. No thanks. I'd maybe plump for a Wii, but nobody has any in stock and they're going for at least $100 over list price on eBay. I like paying less than list price, not more. So fuck that.
And then I was thinking about audiobooks, and looked at Audible's list of compatible players, and tried to ascertain what the cheapest possible Audible-compatible player would be, figuring I'd keep using my PSP for music and just have something trashy for audiobooks. And then it hit me: I had enough money for an iPod, especially if I shopped on eBay. Three auctions later (one 17 hr wait, and then two nearly closing auctions), I came away with a black 30 gig 5th generation video iPod, for 187.50 including shipping. I'm happy*.
And barring horrible catastrophe, I should still have enough to plump for a 360 sometime in September or October at the latest.
*(Okay, I'll be happy when it actually ships and arrives, but that'll hopefully be no later than early next week, and in the meantime I have plenty of other things to distract me.)
My plan was to turn it into an Xbox 360, but I was discouraged from that by the news that a more reliable chipset version of the 360 (with a probable price cut) would be available in a couple of months. Thought about saving a little bit more and getting a PS3, but I just don't want much that's out for PS3 right now, and Sony seems to be barking up every wrong tree they can find, so I'm not sanguine about the value of the PS3 as an investment. Imagine being stuck with this generation's 3DO. Especially on my part-time salary. No thanks. I'd maybe plump for a Wii, but nobody has any in stock and they're going for at least $100 over list price on eBay. I like paying less than list price, not more. So fuck that.
And then I was thinking about audiobooks, and looked at Audible's list of compatible players, and tried to ascertain what the cheapest possible Audible-compatible player would be, figuring I'd keep using my PSP for music and just have something trashy for audiobooks. And then it hit me: I had enough money for an iPod, especially if I shopped on eBay. Three auctions later (one 17 hr wait, and then two nearly closing auctions), I came away with a black 30 gig 5th generation video iPod, for 187.50 including shipping. I'm happy*.
And barring horrible catastrophe, I should still have enough to plump for a 360 sometime in September or October at the latest.
*(Okay, I'll be happy when it actually ships and arrives, but that'll hopefully be no later than early next week, and in the meantime I have plenty of other things to distract me.)
Are there any good German bands you could recommend to me? Vielen danke.