OK, what are you guys buying yourselves for Christmas?

[Ken1951]

Neuropathy in feet and legs has also started causing some strange balance problems and more.
Also there's been a loss of strength in my legs, etc.

@Sal1950 - have you seen a neurologist? This sounds like what I have: Charcot-Marie-Tooth (Type 2). Definitely results in balance issues due to loss of strength in feet and interference with signals through nerves. Loss of strength and muscle mass in legs is also a characteristic of this disease. Not anything life threatening or life shortening, but it certainly annoying. Good luck.

 

[JeremyFife]

ASR has taken all the fun away from HiFi (that is a JOKE btw! what it has done is to give me a great sense of peace, and it's saved me a fortune!)
... there's absolutely no point in me making changes to my electronics or sources, much as I fancy a change.
New speakers are off the table until I can sort out a new listening room, but that needs one of the kids to move out so I'm not holding my breath (and I don't really want that yet, to be honest)
It still all sounds good to me, I'm enjoying music tremendously these days

Might get a bike ... a hardtail Mountain Bike, nothing serious but a bit of fun and exercise

 

[JeffS7444]

In the West we are more used to products designed for gratification of the consumer.

IMO, Pentax 17 is a risky product from a company which needs to take risks. Nobody needs a film camera in 2024, but for some players, film has become a profitable niche. Maybe not a Canon- or Sony-sized niche, but it could be a Pentax-sized one.

Beats me what other non-boring (clothes, food, car repairs) things I might like to buy this year. I've half-jokingly thought about a Toyota GR-Corolla, but it's a lot of money to sink into a depreciating asset, especially considering how little driving I do.

One of my life's little ironies is that when I was younger and broke, there were so many things I dreamed of buying someday. But over the years as I've become less-broke, I feel like there's fewer things to buy (I do own a Zenit-E, btw).

 

[theREALdotnet]

Soundbars are banned in Australia (kidding).

Not banned outright, but they have to close at 10pm (last drinks at 9:30pm).

 

[theREALdotnet]

Nobody needs a film camera in 2024, but for some players, film has become a profitable niche.

It's like the vinyl of photography, isn't it? Expensive and inconvenient, but fans will pay a premium to be in that club.

 

[pseudoid]

Nobody needs a film camera in 2024,

There is a part of me that misses the decade when I was toting around a Canon A1 (in a Pelican #1500 case), everywhere I traveled.
I must have owned about ten DSLRs since those days, and I've never warmed-up to any of them like that old, simple, reliable A1.
I kinda get nostalgic about the old-world that got along without software updates.

 

[theREALdotnet]

I kinda get nostalgic about the old-world that got along without software updates.

I think the definition of nostalgia is remembering only the good things while burying the bad experiences. I for one don't miss having to plan how many rolls of Velvia or Kodachrome to pack, counting how many times they went through airport X-rays, or missing shots for being too economical with the 36 exposures on a roll.

 

[pseudoid]

I for one don't miss having to plan how many rolls....

I am glad I had added that "kinda" word in my comment.
If we were to take your valid argument to the next possible level; it could be further argued that we really don't need to tote around a camera (even one built-in to a smartphone). Web image searches will unearth most any picture you ask for and your favorite AI image-assistant can fill in the voids for the missing images that you seek.
Ansel Adam would flip in his place of rest.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Thinking about a pair of Asci A6b's if they live up to the hype.

 

[Platypus20]

Probably another Benchmark DAC 3B

 

[JeffS7444]

It's like the vinyl of photography, isn't it? Expensive and inconvenient, but fans will pay a premium to be in that club.

The analogy isn't perfect, as photography can also be an act of creation, not merely re-creation. And in this sense, the "truth" can be whatever the photographer wishes it to be.

 

[Petrushka]

The analogy isn't perfect, as photography can also be an act of creation, not merely re-creation. And in this sense, the "truth" can be whatever the photographer wishes it to be.

When I was a kid my father had an Exacta. Non-return mirror and all.

 

[Chr1]

There is a part of me that misses the decade when I was toting around a Canon A1 (in a Pelican #1500 case), everywhere I traveled.
I must have owned about ten DSLRs since those days, and I've never warmed-up to any of them like that old, simple, reliable A1.
I kinda get nostalgic about the old-world that got along without software updates.

Used to carry an A1 too. Great camera.

B&W in the A1. Slide/colour in T90.

Now use a Fuji X20. Miss processing and printing of B&W.
The cost of analogue not so much.

 

[001]

Aaarrghh: I've come to a shocking realisation after walking through my workshop; I know what I want for Christmas: 10mm sockets!! (yes, these are all 10mm. Genius work that.)

 

[pseudoid]

Aaarrghh: I've come to a shocking realisation after walking through my workshop; I know what I want for Christmas: 10mm sockets!! (yes, these are all 10mm. Genius work that.

If you had initially bought a set of four: 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 5mm << you could have matched them together to get any size you wanted between 1mm all the way to 11mm.
That would've been in the Mensa territory!
Duh!

 

[Petrushka]

Aaarrghh: I've come to a shocking realisation after walking through my workshop; I know what I want for Christmas: 10mm sockets!! (yes, these are all 10mm. Genius work that.)
View attachment 389720

I specialize in screwdrivers. There are only two kinds.

The kind you have, and the kind you need.

 

[Multicore]

It's that time of year again. You have one month left to sort it out.

What’s it going to be then, eh?

 

[drewdawg999]

Just put the order in, KZ PRX planar IEM. Stupid cheap on Aliexpress, couldn't resist, the coupon was strong. I love planars, getting to love IEMs, this should be a good score.

 

[Multicore]

Maybe I'll get the Dirac Live upgrade for our MiniDSP Flex.

 

[Mart68]

Some big speakers.