CES: This liveblog may not work, but that's okay because it's just Monster Cable

[#1 posted by geekpdx , January 7, 2009 9:57 AM]

And now, I feel like an ass. Monster has dropped their latest stupid-name-suit.

[#2 posted by danilo , January 7, 2009 10:13 AM]

Oh, Joel. You're still cool.

The mother of a coworker bought him a Blu Ray player for Christmas, including an HDMI cable. The pricetag was still on the cable: $99.99. The saleman's horseshit was still on her lips: "If you're going to buy a BMW, why would you use Ford parts on it?"

I wanted to cry. May that restore your loathing.

[#3 posted by dculberson , January 7, 2009 10:56 AM]

Ohh, Joel, the shame... it's almost palpable. I'm sorry.

[#4 posted by haineux , January 7, 2009 11:04 AM]

Monster is obviously tapping into an emerging market -- Audiophiles have been buying "power conditioner" boxes for the last few years. Those are uninterruptible power supplies, but with extra snake oil sauce.

(Yes, I'm an audio snob who laughs at the audio snobs who buy expensive cables. And because it's funny because it's true, so, so true: Lore Sjöberg's "Geek hierarchy.")

[#5 posted by Halloween Jack , January 7, 2009 11:26 AM]

s'OK; I'll just look at some wire hangers for a minute.

[#6 posted by TheMadCreator , January 7, 2009 11:34 AM]

I'm so glad that you blogged that live so we could all revel in your embarrassment--IN REAL TIME.

Something would have been lost in the telling, but seeing it unfold line-by-line is so.... bash.org.

viva la schadenfreude

[#7 posted by WeightedCompanionCube , January 8, 2009 1:48 PM]

HAINEUX:

Power Conditioners aren't even a UPS.

They don't have a battery in them, so they aren't going to do anything for an actual power failure.
Most aren't anything more than rack-mount surge protectors with a couple of flashy meters. Some of the "better" ones have active voltage regulation, which is pointless because every piece of gear you own has it's own regulated power supply!

I have a beat-up old APC UPS tucked behind my home theater. Got it free because the batteries were shot. I replaced them with the dirt-cheap cells they use in emergency lights.

1) It has built-in surge protection
2) If the power goes out, it will keep my TV running long enough to cool down the lamp.

[#8 posted by arkizzle , January 9, 2009 10:18 PM]

Meh, just because he uses a segway for mobility, doesn't make him or his company any less toolbags.

Now, how are we doing with the segway jousts?

[#9 posted by Takuan , January 9, 2009 10:21 PM]

must combine furrysuit with segway...

[#10 posted by arkizzle , January 9, 2009 11:33 PM]

only if they are extremely flammable.

[#11 posted by TJ S , January 18, 2009 4:27 PM]

And lo, the lord struck his legs lame as penance for conning countless grandmothers out of $100 bills for what should have cost $10.