Then along comes a listening to some surround material. In this case DTS CDs and movies. Now this is exciting but hardly realistic with sounds coming from all over the place to good effect.
So one then attempts to integrate a surround (rear) to the highend setup. Really, just can't be done. More or less mixing quantity with quality.
So I ended up purchasing a complete Tevion setup of 7.1 ch amplifier and 8 speakers, rather than have two highend units. The Aldi unit has the discrete decoders as well as the matrix type so we are covered on surround. And can't go wrong here as the various preamp ins & outs allow accessing the source of the high end and both the Classe and Tevion amps remaining independant. This arrangement has proved itself being fed with Pioneer 686A and Tevion 1020 DVD players, satellite and cable pay tv as well as digital terrrestrial broadcasts.
So its been about $700 all up for the Tevion amp and speakers and $40K for the highend and it feels and hears unlike much removed from the other except now there is the excellent theatre sound along with hifi studio reproduction. Highly recommended if you can accept some shoddy finish where the front sockets mount and a dicky remote control.
And theres my Element Skype fone ringing. And yes, its a video call! No need to use the computer once the 20 second installion is done. Push buttons that work - numbers that dial, buttons that hang up and off hook - $30 and nothing I've found as comparablle in price and value on and off Ebay.
The $30 Cooling Fan Tower when kaput in 3 weeks.
Rialto toothpaste 10 squirts then thins out. (some ingredients sourced from overseas)
Maple Syrup $3.99. Seems great compared to regualar shops but conatins only 14% of the syrup rather than 100%
The electric fry pan went bung on the fourth use.
The Organic Icecream is fantastic. Much the same contents as Peters but the organic tasted creamier. Had one and enjoyed it. Bought another pack and raved about it. Bought a third and it was just icey milk. It was replaced and it was a little better. Forget it.
Was impressed by the ads for the 'stainless steel' multifunction microwave for $169. I was aghast on the Thursday when clsoe inspection revealed that they were shim shoddy metal. FORGET IT!
Microwave <$70 model oven good for six months of irregular use.
I had ideas for the $150 Baby Monitor ($360 at Harvey Norman). Seems to be a pretty limited product, as is. But no, if you have the Tevion $70 AV Sender thats often for sale like the second to none rechargeables baterries, then, whether its Foxtel or a dvd you have wired up, with the handheld Baby Monitor TV you are able to watch your programmes out in the backyard or any room of the house and maybe down the street whilst using one of the other channels for keeping an eye on your child or if you so happen to be using this for cut price surveillance. Of course, any picture the camera picks up you can receive on one of the AV Sender receivers so there comes another idea or two. And a word of advice - you will find its one channel in particular that gets most interference from the microwave, switch off that channel . And for those with wifi access points I suggest they be set for channel 13 leaving the lower channels intact for the aforementioned devices.. This is the general rule anyway but you were never told.
==============
Medion Desktop Computers - Landfill in 2 years? How about 2 weeks?
These computers are not built to last long. As soon as possible get
your unit checked out for cooling requirements because on the two checked
there is overheating, double the regular computer.
Never buy a computer from Aldi unless you intend to do an overhaul
immediately and install fans. These run over double the temperature than
your other brand computers.
A site that's dedicated to the Aldi Medion flavour - http://md8083.hertsinternet.com/
I bought one of these rather than construct my own for once and because
ot a plug feature. Why all the effort when fully loaded and maxed out with
a warranty for the same price or less as parts? A bargain to buy but a
fortune to keep alive when warranty expires. The worry here is that the
$1899 beast becomes a money spinner for Medion when replacement parts are
needed. The graphics card died after two years and the (article # 20020941)
not available anywhere in Australia and Medion is not listed in the yellow
pages or in the enclosed booklets though Aldi staff forwarded me the Medion
# and I was quoted a horrendous $349! This specific card has two cable
connections making use of the computer case front and back connectors -
composite, svideo and scart (a deciding reason in the purchase) so
as to fulfil its use as the promoted Media Machine. A friends machine bought
in next batch of Aldi Desktop Computer sales had the fan blow out of the
graphics card a week after mine went dead (article #20024178) . Both computers
are completely unusable as is. This is a first in 25 years of computer
experience!!
These computers lack as is - lights on the drives, ps/2 ports though
they are wifi-granted, floppy drive - rarely used these days granted &
reliable memory card reader (fix at web site) . A very big concern for
replacement parts from Medion - but another big concern for longevity is
the inefficient fan on the CPU - must be replaced!!
Both of these Aldi computers show these temperatures, approx:
Currently, I suggest anyone with an Aldi Desktop to check the temperatures
on their CPU, Motherboard etc.
Having lost the video card thru fan failure along with a friend and
others on forums here and there, and Aldi-Medion offering a replacement
for $360. I thought it would be worth investigating other temperatures
and was shocked to see the Aldi over double the temperature of regular
computers..
location : temp C
-------- Aldi ------Other brands
CPU - 56 --- 25
SYS - 51 --- 25
AUX - 61 --- 31
HDD - 40 --- 36
fan: rpm
-------- Aldi ------Other
CPU - 0 ----- 5114
measured with Sensorview
Aldi hdqtrs on: (02)9675 9000
Medion on : 1300 884 987
Neither were interested in following up with me and take my name, though ALdi took note of what I said and stated to me they have never heard of any probs .
Its true the Aldi laptops have big probs and far more costly to repair
than desktops. All that has to be said about these are easliy found on
the net.
==============
Aldi's Tevion 2.4ghz Cordless Telephone has a few probs,
a) no out range of indication. (as claimed there is in booklet)
b) once out of range, or after slight interference/noise. Handset needs
to be returned to cradle to 'kick back in'
(a replacement set was ok once)
c) interfere with 5.8ghz devices. Varies from set to set..
Support leaflet: email address doesn't exist and phone number is incorrect.
1) email - this is reply:
This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.
Delivery to the following recipients failed.
[email protected]
2) toll free help line 1300 366 144 says we have nothing to do
with this. But will give apparent Tevion number -
1300 884 987 who say we know nothing about Aldi 2.4ghz cordless phone
and suggest returning to store.
Returning the set to the store is not a problem at all. Refund or replacement.
Value for $29.95 if not in hi tech neighborhood. .
The low priced tinned red salmon looks very great value indeed. But they are farmed so we found out just recently by a helpful Aldi rep. Though was asked well over 2 years ago at Warringah Mall store and were promised a reply twice over some weeks - there is no email address. Aldi is selling tinned farmed salmon, complete with mention of 'Wild Pacific' on labelling - wild they are not! Peruse the followingg web page to see why no human or animal should consume this material which could be from toxic backwaters of Vietnam, Australia or China. http://www.wildernesscommittee.org/campaigns/marine/policy/fish_farms
The GPS Asus A632 looks to be the best value navigation device, complete
with pda. Latest CoPilot software with mounting hand grasp and charger
etc- complete. Where this gets the signal in 10 - 15 seconds, other brands
can be a minute or more and finding new routes are really speedy on this
pup.. No need to use the
small antenna as yet. Maybe in tunnels? You'll find some support and
dialogue for it here - http://www.mtekk.com.au
The two units I knew had issues though that would have been easily
solved before being put on the market. You get what you pay for here and
take into mind other brands current cheapness to do with imminent new map
releases. Big problem is interfernce to the car radio.
The current Tevion DVD Player 1020 has a surprise in store. Undocumented
that it will play Divx & Xvid files. Note that its able to play mp3
files in & out of folders. Surround sound straight out for Dolby Digital
5.1 and of course along with DTS can be fed into the the Aldi 7.1 amplifier
and played to its glory automatically decoding or select Neo 6 or the other
simulations to help fake it on your stereo CDs or broadcasts lacking 5.1.Love
that sub woofer! (And they don't tell you the amp comes with a tuner
and some other features).
The Digital Compass a great deal at $19.95. At 5% resolution not much use for setting up satellite dishes but will surely find you home from the high seas!
Maitre'd Fry Pan DOA. Relacement fine after 6 months. Jug dead in 18 months.
Triple tranceiver set with charger $69 while Jaycar $49 for one unit with charger and on special.
The Mezzo Motion Sensor Night-Light is shortlived. The recommended 4 x 1.5v batteries may last over a week if you have 4 passes a night. If you are using rechargeables, maybe three nights. The globe blew in less than a fortnight as its rated at 4.8v, as per specs. Better than some other rubbish out there at double the price as with a lot of Aldi stuff and there is always willing refund from Aldi and can you not expect more or less untested products due to rapid product throughput?
The rechargeable batteries. There is no better value here. Be sure these
NIMHs are fully discharged before the recharge, as with all of NIMH batteries
etc
$29.95 Battery Charger with batteries I can't fault and its worth looking
out for more batteries each release.
The White Flakes! Now these have to be Sugar Frosties, right? Remember
these? Now, I don't think theres any stock left but by golly every
2nd & 3rd pack made a
good supper snack. The first was sugarless like Corn Flakes but good
value at $2. Wheres the Honey Smacks?!!
The remote controls that have more features on each release are great
value for the precoded features and even capable of doing some machines
none other can do.
Though I hear twice its best to avoid the programmable features. Really
superb value for $15.
The milk is is comparable to the WhiteLite and weaker still at times. But the organic brand is a real beauty and tastes great. Cause for concern is the one month useby date. A problem though is lack of stock days at a time though the cashiers are reminded of the lack.
Baked Beans at 69c compares well with over double the price PMU brand.
Both shaver varieties don't cut it not unlike all others. Gillette rules.
If cat meat is your forte, the Silvester brand is the one brand with the least additives available in most supermarkets though as with all these meats not meant for human consumption, there is a concern of the effects in the long term because of the unmentioned preservatives & additives to prevent human consumption.But I expect this brand will give your cat a longer & happier life and shiny coat and great for the feline with allergies. If human food is more to you liking I recommend for a quick snack on toast, at $1.69 a loaf, a tin of braised steak or even the one fifth priced of your regular supermarkets, a packet of noodles, oohh yummy. Wash these down with delicious rice milk. If its a rapacious appetite you have try the Kanga ice blocks that aren't too sweet and you'll get by to the next meal.
Cheezy Twists I threw out in less than a minute. Though greater calorie count than Twisties they were quite tasteless. Tim Tams in a blind test with half the price Triple Chocolate I couldn't tell the difference. Well done! Chocolate Wheat - consumed by me in one sitting! Chocolate Slices too good.
All the above are products of Aldi that accordng to our 'all Australian
made' Dick Smith, "will rip the lifeblood out of the Australian economy."
Maybe take the lifeblood out
of his friends' Singleton, Harvey, Woolies etc profits. Whether it
be his current brand copying enterprises or his lavish resort for the rich
in Fiji. ......
And Aldi doesn't so much as repackage and relabel as Dick Smith so
obsessively does to get a piccy of his face on the wraps for the last thirty
years (the Dickhead as staff refer to) and recommended to cease such rabidness
of late so as to try to sell some food. And all the purchases in Asia for
DickSmithElectronics resale - really humped up prices - and printing for
Australian Geographic in Hong Kong and whatever else he could and can do
offshore to get cheap and cheap quality....................
Leave those TimTams & Vegemite alone - stay with the stunts Tricky
Dicky!
Here you'll find where he whinges, whines and brags -
http://www.dicksmithfoods.com.au/dsf/index.php
and heres an interview where he presents himself in a very good light.
You may even feel for the guy -
http://www.abc.net.au/sundayprofile/stories/s1416294.htm
heres wheres he's told to stop sticking his face on product so they'll
sell -
http://www.bandt.com.au/news/7f/0c00c27f.asp
===
> What a refreshing change it was to see Dick Smith in true form last
> night giving poison on Aldi
> He left no stoned unturned, to the ends of desperation and back and
> frothing at the mouth.
> Un Australian to buy from Aldi, ROFL, is there no shame in the man.
> After Aldi gives him the knock back when he crawled up their leg.
> And did he give it to them.
> German Millionaires (unlike Aussie Millionaires like Dick) coming
here
> to rip the heart out of Aus (meaning Dicks bank balance).
> I could imagine the crew at today tonight
> "Better que up an advert I think Dicks about to say the magic word"
> "I told him not to mention the war"
> He called them everything except Natzi's, (or did I miss that bit
?, I
> was rolling on the floor laughing)
> The man is a serial pest.
> Dick Smith, Australias finest chinese imported electronic goods that
> are of a quality so poor it cannot be matched anywhere in Aus.
> I have the receipts and the numerous small piles of junk to prove
it.
> Now importing food goods and labelling it as made in Australia and
> blowing his horn about it in all corners.
> With of course support of Sanitarium the US seventh day adventists,
as
> a religious organistation avoid a whole host of taxes other Aussie
> business have to pay.
> It was good to see Aldi has wound up his caper and he is now on the
> back shelf and on the rocks.
> He is shameless, he conned Safeway (the mormons) into putting his
so
> called Aussie peanut butter right up at the checkout, Kraft probably
> had a pink and purple fit when they saw it and rightfully so, Im
sure
> they are fully aware of the Mr Dick smoke and mirrors.
> When we have a well known self proclaimed "dinky" Australian spinning
> us a load of raving bull to $clean $up that realy gets up my nose.
> I hope Aldi reverses over him and he flies off into the sun in his
> chopper to the sth pole to live as a recluse.
> He is as shonky as an outback dunny..
> Shonky Dick is a more suitable title for him.
.I agree whole heartedly. Dick is a fucking pest. The more I see him
on TV
.the more I will buy imports and products owned by over seas companies.
I've
.never bought any DickSmith branded products and never will.
.Dick suffers from Aussie loser syndrome. When someone is doing better,
.running a better business and making better products, wrap yourself
in the
.Aussie flag and cry battler. Nevermind that you are ripping off someone
.else's product, you're an Aussie battler! Of course he only seems
to
.speak-up for his products. If Dick was really genuine he should bagging
.everybody for driving imported cars, electronics, music, entertainment
.etc...etc...He makes me sick.
.Using mindless patriotism is the cheapest. The more Dick speaks for
Aussie
.products the more I'll buy imports. Dick doesn't seem to realise that
its
.BUSINESS. You can't handle the competition get out and find another
hobby
-Could be "Fruit Loop" Dick if the way he was carrying on when interviewed
by
-Today Tonight this evening.Started rambling on about how he was losing
sleep
- over the way things had turned against him and that he was "starting
to lose
- the plot"(his words).Accusations that Aldi was out to put him and
Dick Smith
- Foods out of buisness etc,etc.
- Hmmm maybe he just can't handle market pressure after dishing it
out to the
- "big guys".
=Pretty funny, when his dinky Aus fails he resorts to sympathy vote.
=I have to add the fact I think its a bit slack of the media regarding
=what he said the other night.
=Re the Germans are secretive like they where back in the 30's, meaning
=back in the war, he is labelling aldi as secretive as the Natzis.
=If this was anyone else but Dick Smith their head would be now on
a
=stick at the road leading into ol Melb town with the media dancing
=around it waving flaming torches.
=Dont we have laws against it in Vic now, Dick should be brought to
=account for infering adli are operating like the Natzis on TV.
/Watched Today/tonight for Aldi's reply.Gees did they give Tricky Dickie
a
/serve.Bread made by Tip Top,fruit juices made by Golden Circle and
the list
/goes on. According to Aldi all their staff are full-time and are on
better
/pay and conditions than Coles and Safeway etc. whose employees are
only
/casuals.
/Poor old Dick Smith appears to have lost the plot on this one.BTW
didn't
/that magazine he was associated with get printed and bound over in
Singapore
/or there abouts.Come to think of it the paper came from there as well
didn't
/it(talk about double standards)?
-Dick Smith peddles his crap via Sanitarium who are the Seventh Day
-adventist from the USA and as such get a big fat Tax releif as a
-reliogious institution so not only is Dick Smith just a Sanitarium
-Salesman he doesnt even pay Aussie taxes all other like Arnotts and
-his competitiors have to pau.
-Dick Smith started Australias finest chinese knock off imported
-electrical goods that lack any resembelance to a quality product by
an
-order if magnitude we where yet to know untill he strated up that
-company and rid us of anyone who sold anything decent to electronic
-hobbyists.
-He dealt with Aldi by extortion, first claiming they are operating
-like Natzis in his famous speech.
-"Look at Aldi the typical Germans running the kind of tactics of the
-Germany in the 1930's" being the time the Natzis where gaining power.
-After extorting a deal from Aldi now he claims they are the greatest
-thing since him.
-He is one person of all those who claim to support Aus who is not
to
-be trusted one Iota.
-He stripped CASA of all the aviation engineers and if planes start
-falling out of the sky like the never have before you can thank Shonky
-Dick.
-Wake up Australia.