Stuff

As you might have noticed, I am a computer nerd and gadget freak. Here’s a summary of what I have collected through the years.

Office

• Apple iMac 27, running OSX and Windows 7 Professional
  I used to have two PC’s. One which was always on, running Suse Linux. Another one running Windows XP. Both hooked up to dual monitors, switching between them using a KVM.
  This has been my setup for about 6 years (2004-2010).
  This year (2010) I needed to upgrade, and wanted something less power consuming and more “cool”. After much debate I went for an iMac 27, which replaces my dual monitors and Windows XP machine.
  BTW: I am not an Apple freak, at all… But no other manufacturer creates an all-in-one with such a gorgeous screen and beautiful case. And it is QUIET (when you put in an SSD, as I did).
• Synology DiskStation DS211+ (2x1TB)
  The Synology replaces the Linux server. I only need Linux for light PHP/HTML development, and really don’t need a full blown server for that. The DiskStation comes with PHP, as well as many other great software. It’s also our file server for music and videos.
  And the DiskStation only uses 30 W, while the old server needed a little over 100 W.
• Canon MP 640 All in One (printer/scanner)
  This replaces my old deskjet printer and scanner (two separate devices). I don’t print much, so this is a fine replacement. Relatively cheap, and it looks great next to the iMac. Great to be able to quickly copy a document as well.
• Logitech Z-5450 Speakers
  These I have for about 6 years now, still love them. Very practical are the wireless rear speakers. And they sound great!

Living room

• Samsung widescreen TV (46″)
  Full HD, a gorgeous LCD display, it plays streaming video from the DIskStation (via UpnP), it has a built-in VCR (sadly only one tuner), and it features widgets (this TV has an ethernet port!)
  This TV is also “Ziggo certified”, which means it can decode Ziggo’s digital signal simply by sliding in a smart card. No separate tuner needed!
• Sony PlayStation 3 (phat)
  Did I tell you I don’t play computer games? At all? I use computers to work with That’s why the PS3 is probably the least used computer in the house… It simply collects dust.
  I did finish MotorStorm 1, and I am almost (almost!) done with MotorStorm Pacific Rift as well.
  Oh: and we use it as a DVD/BluRay player, of course.
  Update January 2011: We got Move controllers for christmas! That’s fun!
• WesternDigital WD TV HD live
  The Samsung TV does not support *every* format (no DVD ISO’s for example). This is where the WD comes in: it plays truly any video you throw at it. The videos are hosted on the DiskStation, the WD plays them very nicely on the TV. And the GUI looks and feels finished, which is not always the case with cheap media streamers.
• Squeezebox 2
  I deliberately don’t mention the brand here… as I still have a SlimDevices Squeezebox! SlimDevices was acquired by Logitech, all Squeezeboxen are now Logitech branded. The SqueezeCenter server software runs on the DiskStation (I told you the DiskStation is great).
• Panasonic SA-XR10 Receiver
  This one is old! But it looked very modern when we bought it, and it still does. And the quality of this thing is incredible, especially considering that it’s such a small box for 5×100 W output.
• Logitech Harmony One
  Did you count the number of devices in this list? They all come with a remote… After having tried many “all in one” remotes (Philips, One4All), the Harmony is king.

Miscellaneous

• HTC Hero
  My phone. I like to be different, that’s why I don’t have an iPhone. I like this phone, but I am desperately waiting for the Android 2.1 release. 1.5 feels quite old already.
• Sony PSP
  Again: I don’t play games. The PSP hasn’t been on for a long, long time…
• Macbook Pro (13″)
  For the wife to play games on, and great to bring on vacations. Best feature: it’s fanless, thus very quiet. And the battery lasts for quite some time.