Change is certain; progress is not.

[dianec42]

Can anyone tell me why EVERYTHING comes with a flippin' remote these days?

Who on earth actually NEEDS a remote for their laptop?!

Although come to think of it, the auto-flushing toilets at work (also an insane idea) don't have remotes. I'm sure that's just a matter of time though.

Comments

[happyfunpaul.livejournal.com]

"I like a fresh bowl." - John Cage (Peter MacNicol), who had a remote control to flush the toilet, on "Ally McBeal"

I'd like to think it remains fiction, though.

[redknight.livejournal.com]

And the scary thing is, I thought of "Ally McBeal" when I read this post, too!

[flyingwolf.livejournal.com]

me 3 :)

[siderea]

Who on earth actually NEEDS a remote for their laptop?!

It's for PowerPoint presentations, where you're using the computer like a slide projector, and, ergo, need a slide projector remote.

[siderea]

Not to discourage you from flaming, though, merely to retarget your ire to the perennially popular PowerPointers

[stuartc.livejournal.com]

No, actually it's for when you have the laptop plugged into the TV so you can watch downloaded movies on a bigger screen.

[usqueba.livejournal.com]

when you have the laptop plugged into the TV so you can watch downloaded movies on a bigger screen.

Or when your DVD player dies in the MIDDLE of suspenseful scene.

[redknight.livejournal.com]

What would be really nice is an open standard for remote controls, so instead of having to have six different remotes (or a multi-function remote that doesn't work quiet right with all your devices) you could really have a single remote for everything!

Lose the remote? No problem, just go to the store and buy another standards compliant remote!

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

That would be fantastic except for 2 things...

(1) Technical reality: The wonderful thing about standards is there are so many of them.

(2) Business reality: I'm afraid the Remote Control Resellers Cartel is sending someone to break your kneecaps even as I type this. Your idea would cost the industry SO much money in lost hardware sales...

[asimovberlioz.livejournal.com]

TiVo absolutely requires the use of their remote; there are no controls whatsoever on the box itself. You can unplug the box, but that's it, really.

[scooterbird.livejournal.com]

I hate remotes. Absolutely hate them. I want my body to remember the feeling of getting up and turning off the damned box. You should have heard how much I had to convince the guy at the TV store that no, I did not want a remote with my television.

[marmota.livejournal.com]

At one point I saw a 'universal remote' for sale that came with, wait for it... a remote. That's right, a secondary frob was included; push the button on it, and the main remote would beep so that you could find it. Where will the madness end?

[ceo]

My new car stereo came with a remote. ?!

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

The new Alpine sat navs come with a remote. I assume our competitors' do too.

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

Alpine makes sat navs? If they got one key feature right, I'm willing to change brands.

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

What's the feature? I don't get kickbacks or anything, but I am in an excellent position to find out. (-:

Oh yeah, Alpine makes sat navs. That's why I've turned into such an electronic map weenie in the past year and a half.

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

Either Mac support or a documented method to upload updated map firmware. Garmin and Magellan both refuse to document their interface and supply windoze-only software.

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

Ah. Not sure we make the kind you want... most of the Alpine units are the in-car ones with no user serviceable parts whatsoever.

There is an Alpine portable in the works, but it's not available yet. I don't know a whole lot about it, but we're allegedly each getting one, so I'll let you know if it's any good. (-:

[tobyaw]

Would you consider a wireless mouse to be a remote control?

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

Nah, I always use it locally. (-:

[madbodger.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I could whip up a remote that would trigger most IR sensor based autoflush toilets. I just helped a friend yesterday build a remote for his CAMERA. *boggle*

[dianec42.livejournal.com]

I could see using a camera remote, if you needed to take lots of pictures of yourself and got tired of running back & forth setting the timer all the time...

But then, I AM one of the laziest human beings alive.