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$400 is burning a hole in my pocket...

heretoinformheretoinform __BANNED USERS regular
edited November 2008 in Help / Advice Forum
I need to spend it on something cool. Maybe some gadgets? Here's what I'm considering...

-iPhone 3G...yes, no, maybe so? I have no cell phone as of now (lost my last one a few months ago), though my Zen is still alive and kicking...

-Ebook reader...I've been wanting one of these things with the special E-Ink display for a while, but they seem a bit expensive and I don't know about their reliability. Any good ones to suggest?

-DNA test...from 23andme. I think it would be cool information to have, but it seems a bit on the expensive side.

I'm open to suggestions for anything else...remember, the cooler and more interesting, the better!

Thanks.

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heretoinform on
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    DaemonionDaemonion Mountain Man USARegistered User regular
    edited November 2008
    You could like, you know, save it for something you genuinely want later. Don't feel obligated to spend it so quickly ...

    Daemonion on
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    AphostileAphostile San Francisco, CARegistered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Get an Acer Aspire One.

    It's sweet!

    Aphostile on
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    grungeboxgrungebox Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Are you financially stable and have savings?

    grungebox on
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    heretoinformheretoinform __BANNED USERS regular
    edited November 2008
    I was going to add a disclaimer about that...

    If you're going to suggest saving, just don't post.

    I'm already set when it comes to college and my bills...(this $400 is actually part of $1600 I just got...I saved $1200).

    heretoinform on
    Socialism is the concrete foundation of America. Capitalism is the flimsy tin shack that sits upon it.
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    TL DRTL DR Not at all confident in his reflexive opinions of thingsRegistered User regular
    edited November 2008
    I could really use it. Like really.

    I accept check or pay-pal.

    TL DR on
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    ImprovoloneImprovolone Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Netbook

    Improvolone on
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    DaemonionDaemonion Mountain Man USARegistered User regular
    edited November 2008
    I would just walk into a huge electronic store like Fry's or something. That way, you could make a list of things you want to buy but aren't sure about, do some searching online, and go back if the reviews you read look good.

    I've personally always wanted a tablet pc.

    Daemonion on
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    GihgehlsGihgehls Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Playstation 3?

    Gihgehls on
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    ImprovoloneImprovolone Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    OoOooOoooo
    GPS?

    Improvolone on
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    Limp mooseLimp moose Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    when i won a butt load of money at a casino I bought an Iphone.

    I fell in love with the thing. It is seriously my new favorite toy.

    Get an iphone.

    Limp moose on
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    CorakCorak Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    iPhone is not a bad idea. Go play around with one and see if you like it. You need a phone anyway, so if you have cash to burn, might as well get a sweet one.

    Aside from that, NETBOOK. At least, that's what *I* really want right now, so if I had cash to burn, that's what I'd get.

    Corak on
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    useless4useless4 Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    I have an iPhone and the first gen Sony E-Reader (E500 I think) and love both.

    The E-Reader is only good if you like to read - honestly. That's what it does. And it puts itunes to shame as a closed ecosystem that makes you rely on actually you know paying for books from the Sony Connect store. I just spent $70 before this latest trip on maybe four books.

    I love it and it's durable. It's out lived my Bose headphones, Suunto watch and one powerbook in my worldwide adventures. It stays charged and it displays books well. But that is all... seriously. It's so niche I wouldn't really know who I would recommend it to.

    I guess I am saying "think alot about how much you would use it before you buy it"

    The iphone is an "ok" phone and the best portable internet device ever made. If they ever get decent turn by turn gps on it - then it would be the greatest thing ever made.

    useless4 on
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    X3x3nonX3x3non Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    It sounds like an Iphone would actually give you the greatest use. Those DNA tests are rubbish by the way. What do they actually claim to do?

    X3x3non on
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    CrashtardCrashtard Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    This may sound stupid, but remember that with the iphone you're also getting a monthly phone bill that's probably 80$ or more a month.

    Crashtard on
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    meatflowermeatflower Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Aphostile wrote: »
    Get an Acer Aspire One.

    It's sweet!

    If you're considering the Aspire One there's really no reason not to get an Asus 1000HA. They're the same price (or cheaper) and you get a 10" screen instead of 8.9". This is also comparing the 6 cell models, you can get a 3 cell Aspire One significantly cheaper but you take a huge hit on battery life. Few slight differences; keyboard layouts, memory card reader (Acer) or multi-touch pad (Asus) but otherwise they are identical.

    meatflower on
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    ImprovoloneImprovolone Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Some people prefer a 9 to a 10 inch screen. I for one wanted the smallest useable computer possible.

    Improvolone on
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    Pure DinPure Din Boston-areaRegistered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Netbook! After months of deciding whether to buy a netbook or not, I got my Dell Mini 9 last week, and I have no regrets at all. I absolutely love it.

    Pure Din on
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    Tweaked_Bat_Tweaked_Bat_ Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    If you need to ask us what to spend your $400 on, you're doing something wrong.

    There has to be something that comes to mind that you'd like to buy with $400.

    Tweaked_Bat_ on
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    OrganichuOrganichu poops peesRegistered User, Moderator mod
    edited November 2008
    Tweaked_Bat_ wrote: »
    If you need to ask us what to spend your $400 on, you're doing something wrong.

    There has to be something that comes to mind that you'd like to buy with $400.

    I think the problem is that several things come to mind and he's not sure which comes closest to the front of his mind. :D

    Organichu on
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    PasserbyePasserbye I am much older than you. in Beach CityRegistered User regular
    edited November 2008
    iPhone. Then you can load text files of books onto it, thus negating the need for a reader. :D

    Passerbye on
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    IrukaIruka Registered User, Moderator mod
    edited November 2008
    You could commission some art. From me even. Wont even cost you 400 bucks.

    For less whorish advice, You should probably replace your phone.

    Iruka on
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    DeusfauxDeusfaux Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Tweaked_Bat_ wrote: »
    If you need to ask us what to spend your $400 on, you're doing something wrong.

    Save it UNTIL there's something you do want. You don't have to save it forever.

    Deusfaux on
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    L*2*G*XL*2*G*X Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Get a camping stove, a pancake pan, and 350$ worth of eggs, flour, milk and butter.

    Then give away free pancakes for a day...

    L*2*G*X on
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    L*2*G*XL*2*G*X Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    oh, and something to mix it in, like a huge plastic box. And a ladle.

    L*2*G*X on
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    ComahawkComahawk Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Genetic testing all the way!

    But fill the spit tube with dog saliva.

    Comahawk on
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    useless4useless4 Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    L*2*G*X wrote: »
    Get a camping stove, a pancake pan, and 350$ worth of eggs, flour, milk and butter.

    Then give away free pancakes for a day...

    I just got a metric shit ton of wedding gifts and wedding cash... the best thing? my great aunt who is like a 100 got me huckleberry pancake mix with huckleberry syrup and huckleberry coffee from where she lives in the mountains.

    Pancakes for everyone seems like a brilliant idea honestly.

    useless4 on
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    taerictaeric Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2008
    useless4 wrote: »
    L*2*G*X wrote: »
    Get a camping stove, a pancake pan, and 350$ worth of eggs, flour, milk and butter.

    Then give away free pancakes for a day...

    I just got a metric shit ton of wedding gifts and wedding cash... the best thing? my great aunt who is like a 100 got me huckleberry pancake mix with huckleberry syrup and huckleberry coffee from where she lives in the mountains.

    Pancakes for everyone seems like a brilliant idea honestly.

    I love this idea!! :)

    More on topic, though. I have a Kindle, and I must admit the thing is absolutely awesome. The screen and such are directly comparable to the Sony one. So, it is a wash there. And if you plan on just using free texts from the internet, either works. However, the wireless bit of the Kindle is really well handled. An example of the nicety, my wife and I were driving up to see her family, she got online downloaded a few samples (for free.) She wound up purchasing a book and had pretty much read it by the time we got there.

    All of that said, unless you travel a fair bit or just don't care for making it to the library, the Kindle is not the device of the moment.

    For myself, I just bought a used ps3 so I can finally play my ps2 games again and watch bluray videos. (Looking forward to Iron Man on Bluray. Not sure when the unit arrives.)

    taeric on
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    useless4useless4 Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Does the kindle have the builtin reading light like the new sony? that would be cool.

    useless4 on
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    taerictaeric Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2008
    No builtin light. Not sure how well it reads in low light, actually. I usually read while outside or somewhere with decent lighting.

    taeric on
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    DogDog Registered User, Administrator, Vanilla Staff admin
    edited November 2008
    heretoinform wrote: »
    I'm already set when it comes to college and my bills...(this $400 is actually part of $1600 I just got...I saved $1200).

    $1600 is not set by any means. Spend your money on something useful instead of some neat gadget that you'll be bored with or will be outdated in a couple months.

    Unknown User on
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    taerictaeric Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2008
    robothero wrote: »
    heretoinform wrote: »
    I'm already set when it comes to college and my bills...(this $400 is actually part of $1600 I just got...I saved $1200).

    $1600 is not set by any means. Spend your money on something useful instead of some neat gadget that you'll be bored with or will be outdated in a couple months.

    I think he is more pointing out that he is saving at least 75% of the money he gets. If this is a trend that has applied to other sources of money, it is probably doing him quite well.

    taeric on
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    i n c u b u si n c u b u s Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    The iPhone option sounds tempting but I'd look at the bigger picture if your gonna do that. Yes you'll have the intial cash to blow on the phone and a few months of service but when you add up all the money your gonna spend in 2 years of monthly payments, songs and extras, and accesories you're gonna be spending WAY more than the 400$ you wanted to blow a couple years back.

    Try getting something that is a good investment and will last you a while. A decent netbook that would serve you well for a while, whatever your hobbies might be (for me a new guitar is a no brainer), or have you considered taking a trip? Maybe buy a ticket to see someone you havent visited in a while or hell go to Disney World!

    i n c u b u s on
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    useless4useless4 Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    i n c u b u s wrote: »
    The iPhone option sounds tempting but I'd look at the bigger picture if your gonna do that. Yes you'll have the intial cash to blow on the phone and a few months of service but when you add up all the money your gonna spend in 2 years of monthly payments, songs and extras, and accesories you're gonna be spending WAY more than the 400$ you wanted to blow a couple years back.

    Try getting something that is a good investment and will last you a while. A decent netbook that would serve you well for a while, whatever your hobbies might be (for me a new guitar is a no brainer), or have you considered taking a trip? Maybe buy a ticket to see someone you havent visited in a while or hell go to Disney World!

    Why is everyone so obsessed with netbooks in this thread?
    If you have an iPhone with a laptop backup for heavy lifting what does a netbook bring you?
    To me netbooks seem like a huge fad just waiting to be forgotten tomorrow when something more flashy comes out.

    Also, vacations only last for a second and then they are gone with nothing physical left to remember them by.

    useless4 on
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    taerictaeric Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited November 2008
    Netbooks are the dream of anyone that has ever owned a laptop. A truly portable computer that is almost invisible in a bag and does not cause shoulder problems. If it is just going to be sitting in various rooms of your house, it is a questionable purchase.

    taeric on
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    rfaliasrfalias Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    1.) Fallout 3
    2.) Dark basement
    3.) Cases and Cases of alcohol
    4.) Copious amounts of tasty foods
    5.) A week of solitude.

    o_O

    rfalias on
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    truck-a-saurastruck-a-sauras Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    with $400 what would I get...

    a firearm
    or airsoft gun

    hold on to the cash for another month or two and try and get some 360 games at a discount like Clancy Endwar or Mirrors Edge

    savings, bond, CD, investment etc...

    truck-a-sauras on
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    GungHoGungHo Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    Six-hand massage.

    GungHo on
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    meatflowermeatflower Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    useless4 wrote: »
    i n c u b u s wrote: »
    The iPhone option sounds tempting but I'd look at the bigger picture if your gonna do that. Yes you'll have the intial cash to blow on the phone and a few months of service but when you add up all the money your gonna spend in 2 years of monthly payments, songs and extras, and accesories you're gonna be spending WAY more than the 400$ you wanted to blow a couple years back.

    Try getting something that is a good investment and will last you a while. A decent netbook that would serve you well for a while, whatever your hobbies might be (for me a new guitar is a no brainer), or have you considered taking a trip? Maybe buy a ticket to see someone you havent visited in a while or hell go to Disney World!

    Why is everyone so obsessed with netbooks in this thread?
    If you have an iPhone with a laptop backup for heavy lifting what does a netbook bring you?
    To me netbooks seem like a huge fad just waiting to be forgotten tomorrow when something more flashy comes out.

    Also, vacations only last for a second and then they are gone with nothing physical left to remember them by.

    Everyone is obsessed with netbooks in this thread because they all cost about $400. Now look at the thread title. Yeah.
    And a fad? It's just a word, it's not some new class of device. They're small laptops with mega battery life for people who want the epitome of a laptop, portability. If that's gonna be forgotten tomorrow then I guess we won't need the rest of the laptops either.

    Vacation is actually a very good idea. You're right, you won't really have anything physical when it's over (some random souvenirs maybe) but the memories last forever. Life isn't just about accumulating material goods. Vacations are about relaxation and getting new perspectives, and it can't be compared to something you buy at a store. But that six-hand massage? That sounds pretty damn close.

    meatflower on
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    SamSam Registered User regular
    edited November 2008
    If you don't have a phone, an iPhone 3G ($299 I believe?) is totally worth the investment. Not enough can be said about what a fucking amazing product it is. It's made me use my damn laptop less.

    Sam on
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    Mike DangerMike Danger "Diane..." a place both wonderful and strangeRegistered User regular
    edited November 2008
    If you don't want to pay the iPhone bill, just get an iPod Touch.

    Mike Danger on
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