MadMike

@urza9814
Yes I know that the words "High" and "Definition" were in the Oxford English Dictionary long before television sets were even an idea jotted on a stone tablet. In fact, they may have been even used together in a sentence.

However, when it comes to electronics a different set of nomenclature kicks in. Used correctly its supposed to identify a feature or capability of the system. Used incorrectly as 99.999% of the time it is, it becomes the crap ware honor badge.

3D and HD are buzzwords that moronic marketing agents will add to just about any of their Chinese-born junk. I especially like when they use High Definition on Audio Products! Considering they already have High Fidelity.

I'm more complaining about asstastic AD Agencies.

How about $9.95 to access every show on TV new and old alike, commercial free in true HD?

@n0ne
People just as "HD", "3D" and every other misplaced moniker on just about everything. I saw High-Definition sunglasses the other day, I asked the salesman if they were 720p or 1080p - He wasn't amused.

Why can't we have laws protecting us from craptastic marketing?

I think Engadget should KIRF all the crap marketing products from overpriced vendors like Sony.

Are you serious? Did you even read the article?

#1.) The item was falsely advertised
#2.) The item was broken
#3.) The seller refused to refund the money
#4.) The seller told the buyer to "offload the item on another unsuspecting person" which the seller did yet another time which is evident from the sellers Ebay feedback.
#5.) Paypal saw fit to charge the seller and refund the money to the Buyer

If anything the buyers comment is dead on. Sure the whole thing is a sack of rotten potatoes. People should be more mature and stupid squabbles over a $40 antique time clock seem frivolous. However this is all the doing of Elliot Miller. Mike Steadman wanted his money back and left an honest opinion on Ebay about the transaction. After that he dropped it. It was Mr. Miller who had to be on his high horse and use the judicial system to attack Mr. Steadman.

A .40 pistol placed at the base of Mr. Millers' skull should provide adequate leverage.

However, a more legal reproach would be to file a complaint with the Florida State Bar Association. While according to the court of Common Pleas, you can sue anyone for anything, the Bar Association has set limits on frivolous lawsuits.

I would counter-sue because if Mr. Miller did, in fact, misrepresent an item for sale (and there is evidence), Mr. Steadman would be able to collect court fees and then some from Mr. Miller when he eventually loses.

As far as a lawyer eating $7,000 on a $15,000 lawsuit? I'd report that lawyer also. My lawyer would charge me a $1,500 flat rate retainer + 30% of the counter suit winnings.

I, also, concur with the plurality sentiment. LaCie drives suck.

Overpriced, Unreliable, Slow. More form than function.

The only positive, being Mac friendly. That's it.

@oilytheotter

Actually the movie was 106 minutes running, totaling $10.6MM USD.

Given the In-Three stats (If they did the movie, the article was vague on that point). That's $44.208665 / manhour with it taking roughly 3.77 manhours per minute of movie utilizing all 600 people working full-time for all 10 weeks just on video processing alone (not including planning, budgeting, meetings and quality control).

That's also what In-Three would make per manhour. If you break it down to what they actually paid the people while staying profitable considering the cost of the computing power alone it would take. I'm assuming they pay the workers about $21.50/hr. Unless they have a profit-sharing deal in which the cost was only $44.21/hr and then they probably paid the workers $32/hr.

@oilytheotter They meant minutes of movie, not manhours. So if the movie was 180 minutes long it would be $18MM USD.

Avatar was "OK" in 3-D. Honestly - I don't really care much for 3-D. Especially all these TV's that boast "3-D Ready!". How about a TV that can ACTUALLY display 1080 lines of vertical resolution during full-motion and not a measly 650 (LCD) and 900 (Plasma)? Hrm...?

How about instead of 3-D TV shows, we ACTUALLY get HD shows that aren't compressed to heck and back. Both Comcrap and FiOS.

How about movies with ACTUAL plots that aren't rewrites and sequels!