Category Archives: shopping

Nikon D700!

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Update [1 July 08]: As predicted everywhere Nikon did announce the D700.

DP Review has the full details and hands on preview here.

Highlights:

  • Full Frame Sensor (FX)
  • Uses same chip used in Nikon’s flagship model Nikon D3 ($5,000)!
  • 5fps speed with 52 point AF Sensor.
  • MSRP $2,999 (I suspect $2,799 streetprice) (D300 is $1699)  [Adorama taking preorders already!]
  • Available this month

And in typical Nikon fashion (the reason Nikon Rocks!) – it released firmware to update older D300 to include some of D700s new features! Which company does that? Not Apple, Not Canon – infact they delibrately LOCK features to protect their productline (Microsoft surpisingly released firmware to update Zune1 to some features of Zune2).

Now that I know what Nikon has up its FX sleeve, I am gonna update my trust old Nikon D70 at last. It has given me 4 good years, and served really well. I am moving not to D700, but to D300 – at $1600ish its a bargain. I can put the $1000 saved into some good wideangle glass.

 

 

 

June 18: After many many busted rumors of D90, D10… this one seems legit. Leaked pictures from a print factory was out in the wild today – Nikon forums are buzzing with anticipation. 

Whats not to like? A dream combo – D300 internals in a full frame (FX) format…. I have one hand in my wallet already – this is what we have been waiting for!   Please be under $2k!! 2k 2k 2k! (chinese websites have it pegged at $2995, ken rockwell has it at $3299)

 

Free Phone Assistants

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Frucall ReviewPrivate Phone Review

Any techie will encounter these suituations frequently…

  1. While shopping at Circuit City or Barnes & Nobles, I see an item I like to buy, like a book or a fancy USB drive, I have this momentary pause at the shelf or the checkout lane – “I am sure I can find it much cheaper online or even at Costco“. Sometimes I SMS to Froogle and get their pricelist.
  2. “Hey I am driving… If you’re in the Net can u go to wwwDOT” – Most of my friends would have heard this one, I am looking for directions, closest Kinkos store, or to see if Superman is playing anywhere else in Redmond?
  3. Online classifieds like Craigslist, have a facility for masking email ids, but not phone numbers, I don’t want to give out my real phone number for the chronic fear of telemarketers and nigerian bank officers.

So now with these 3 free services, you can freely give out your phone number, call an operator to find if there is a cheaper price online or to get directions to the nearest Thai restaurant.

  1. Free Price Comparison Call: (888) DO FRUCALL
    Call 1-888-363-7822 with the UPC code, and you will get a list of places which sell it cheaper, including tax and shipping, to your zipcode.
    Downside: Might encounter a phone bot, but can eventually speak to a real person.
    [FAQ] [TV Reviews]
    How does it fare up in real world?
    I tried it yesterday at Costco, it works pretty well. Thro the caller ID, a robotic voice gave out the online prices. I was surprised to see the item (Davinci Code Illustrated Screenplay) was $0.49 cheaper at Walmart. Costco had it for $12.49, Walmart is supposed to have it for $12. This worked great for all books, and common items, but when I tried to run it thro some Costco exclusive items (Kirkland Brand), and some speciality items, the search came up to a dead end.
  2. Free 411 Calls: (888) FREE 411
    It gets you the directions, movie timings or any other info based on current zip code and you don’t even have to have a pencil handly to write it down, they connect you automatically.
    Downside: You may have hear a relevent 10second ad.
    [FAQ] [Reviews]
  3. Free Private Number:
    This new service gives you a free Local number, and lets anyone leave a voicemail for you. Not only that, you don’t have to keep checking for Voicemails – they email you the actual voicemail in an email attachment!
    Downside: You have to use this number once a month or it expires.
  4. [Old News] Skype offers free phonecalls to any landline phone