Seen It All

I guess its time the term "just when you thought you have seen it all" needs to go the way of the dinosaurs. We were at Lowes looking for something I don't remember what when we came across a refrigerator that took both Robin and I by surprise. There was a TV located in the door, not just any TV but actually a monitor that was capable of preforming several different tasks such as grocery lists, message center, and a host of other things including a doddle pad for the kids. But wait theres more you can pop the screen out of the frig. and watch your favorite program at the table while you eat, carry it to the bathroom never again missing a single moment of that beloved brain washing programing that we all have come to love and need.

How I have managed to live as long as I have without all these techno wonders is beyond me, its not that I hate any of them but at $3599.00 just to get a portable TV defies my ability to reason it out. For more than 10 years I had to walk around with a cell phone that denied me my privacy and I am now free of its grip on me much to the consternation of family members. I like time to read and let my imagination run wild but yet again more and more of this is denied me because of the need that some seem to think needs to be spent viewing or experiencing some new technical marvel. My only problem with this is I see to many that are no longer able to think for themselves but follow the herd mentality.

So with that in mind "Give me liberty or give me death!" is how all this new age stuff is beginning to make me feel, or maybe I really am getting old.

Don :)

A close up of the monitor.

Snipe, If the screen showed me the contents of my refrigerator without me having to open the door and let the cold air out, then I'd have one; otherwise, I wouldn't have any use for it!

Regarding other gadgets: our house doesn't have a VCR or DVD player, but we have a library of over 900 books and journals. I have never used the CD player in my car, as I prefer to listen to the local radio stations. And although I have a mobile phone, it is turned off unless I need to make an emergency call. The one electronic tool we couldn't live without is...the computer! Our PC with Internet connection has become a combination of communication center, calculator, encyclopaedia, bank clerk, checkbook, travel agent, diary, task planner, photo album, and so on. It is so useful, I'd hate to live without it. I think "useful" is the key word. Now, a TV is definitely not useful, and I search in vain for programming that isn't so predictable and mindless that I switch off in disgust after a few minutes.

I agree about the computer and the net. I do a lot of my personal business on it and have gotten much better at keeping track of the rascals that have attempted to over charge me on things.

When I see things like this, I often wonder how the world would react if
electricity were suddenly not available.

Good grief, can you imagine what life will be like fifty years from now?

OMG..can you imagine...better hide this post from the grandchildren for sure..lol..seems they have those contraptions to watch movies, take calls, text message and it's always in their hands..can't imagine needing all these gadgets...sure sign we're getting older when we can't see what value such an item would have...lol...

Gee Whiz Don, don't You Want to be first on you block to have the lastest and greatest?
At Best Buy there's on oven that is hooked up the internet so that from work you can turn it off and on. You put the food in before leaving for work, it then works as a refridgerator, set the timer for when it is become a oven. BUT, what-if you now had to work late and the timer is set; no problem, go to the internet call up the oven and re-program it. My first thought was this is outrageous..also..realized that the person who could afford or thought they deserved one of these, probably has never cooked a meal in their life. It would serve only as a status symbol.
Good Grief.

Funny this thread popped up, as just yesterday my son pulled a
very old transistor radio from a storage box.

"What is this?"

I replied "The original MP3 player."

Ha Ha! Yes, I remember nagging my parents to give me a transistor radio, so I could listen to pop music in the solitude of my room, instead of enduring my parents' comments about the "noises" coming from the plug-in radio in the living room. Sometimes, I had to take the transistor radio completely out of the house in order to escape parental criticism of my music. So, I guess I understand MP3 players for the young folks. Just don't expect me to buy one at my age!

Oh the world of marvels. I remember the first transistor radio too, a friend of mine had it and I was so envious. Now you really are making me feel old!

Don :)

Ya know, I swore that I'd never get an MP3 player. Didn't need it, didn't want it. Well, my techie Brother did me in. He bought me one for Christmas, and filled it with books on tape. Sigh. I'm hooked, and my garden has never looked better. I stay out there for hours, and actually get something accomplished. Much as I hate to admit it, I really missed it when it seemed to run out of books....to the extent that I learned to hook it up to the computer and access the rest of the "hidden" books. Next I'll have to learn to load it.....

I like new things that are actually usefull. The PC, cell phones for emergancy, digital cameras, and MP3 books on tape, I feel are great.
And I too thought the transister radio was the coolest thing ever made. (wasn't it?)
This refrig/tv is a hoot! So funny! Of course I thought little bottles of water were funny too. Look where that led.
All you inventers out there, run an idea by me, if I think it is bad, it will probably sell and make you billions.

We should all put our heads together and come
up with something.

Look at Ebay. Google. Dave's.

Normal folks with fabulous ideas. :-)

This stuff just amazes me. I remember the Jetsons, and sci-fi of the 60's. In some ways we have surpassed the fiction.
Now it seems they have to come up with things that I think are just strange. Just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should. LOL

My dad had a telephone and TV in his bathroom clear back in the 70's...Like you say, just because it can be done doesn't mean it should! LOL

Parts, when sitting at a Sonic Drive-in, I often think of
the Jetsons. One day we'll just push a button and the burgers
will come out on electronic arms. LOL.

Gardenwife, too funny!

When was the last time you were at a sonic? Now you can pay with a credit card under the menu. And yes I pay with a card under the menu.

Don

I think of the Jetsons when I make bread in the breadmaker. I bought one of the first ones in the middle 80's and still have it. I don't have a tv, but I have a breadmaker, LOL.

Snipe, funny you should mention that. As we are always a bit behind,
my mother mentioned one day that my cousin uses her credit cards at
Sonic. My first thought was her finances must really be in disarray if
she is using a credit card at Sonic.

Little did I know, the entire panel is full of choices. When I realized I
could use my no fee, cash back card to get paid for eating at Sonic,
I realized she must have been using her debit, not her credit. LOL

KM

I saw a man using dial-a-ride today that had bought a refrigerator, they were loading it in the bus with the lift. (did he have to pay an extra ticket to ride?)
Last week I saw a man riding a long-horned bull, complete with saddle, along the highway. The horns stuck way out in the road, should he have put an orange flag on the end?
Just when you have seen it all? How about "what I saw wierd today?"

Parts,

You should really, really start a new thread, that is a fabulous topic idea!

LOL

KM

I think I will. It would really be a fun read. Thanks for the suggestion.

Catmad, I also download books into my Mp3 player and work in the garden, love it. We belong to Audible.com and have access to almost any book published. I'm certainly not a techy person but I don't know how we got along without this, it's wonderful. Housework isn't quite so boring when you can be lost in a book.

Stepping forward as someone who is aware an MP3 player is
some kind of personal device for music and such, you have peaked
my interest!

Books on tape / cd / etc. have been on my mind lately, as we live
in the country and must drive a bit to get where we need. The library
up the road has many books on cassette, but I've been thinking a lot
about books on audio cds for road trips.

Audible.com, must check it out, thanks for the mention!

Karen Marie

i hd read about those fridges for many years but this is the first time i saw one. they are capable of going onto the internet etc. i for one would love to have one. i love gadgets

OK, I was thinking about this frig. Do you hook cable up to your frig? How does the signal work when removing the tv to go to the other rooms?
Does the tv then run on batteries?
At first I just thought it was wild and crazy, now I am wondering just how they make it all work.

Hope the people with these toys have a power generator. If the
power goes out they will surely think life is over.

What? No television while I get a piece of cheese out of the refrigerator?

LOL

in answer to your question chick yes the frig has the hook ups and a transmitter that works like a portable phone that has a range of 100 feet or so and the monitor has the same kind of batteries as a lap top.

Woo Woo
Don :)

The TV/computer in it has a wireless receiver for portability. Is it the Samsung fridge?
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=30842-149-RH269LB&lpage=none

Here's the ultimate...LOL
http://www.lginternetfamily.co.uk/fridge.asp

With the grime that gets on a regular fridge's surface and handles, I can't imagine keeping a TV clean with those little buttons and speaker holes. Ick!

This message was edited Aug 13, 2007 9:13 AM

What ever happened to putting kids paintings on the frig?
When I look at stuff like this, I just say "why" LOL
I thought it must have been wireless. Can't do without the 500 channels and the internet.
I think I'll pass on this one. Don't even have a tv, so I think I can live without it. I have an icemaker though. Beats the heck out of those old metal trays!

Thats just to much for little minds like mine to digest. It is also another one of those now why didn't I think of that and make a few dollars type of thing.

Wait I know I can take a computer monitor and tape it to my frige, put some extension cords on it a wyefi system, really good wheels on it and I can drag the frig around behind me. Might have to push a bit to get it into the bathroom with me but well worth the effort I should think.

Don :)

Will it feature neon lights?

;-)

Does the light go out when you shut the door?

Now WUVIE theres the ticket make it like the old Rockie and Bullwinkle show.

Don :)

You guys are hysterical!! I love my TV ...am addicted to the CSI's, most of the other cop shows and some of the romantic comedy sitcoms!! It's my evening entertainment. If there's nothing on that interests me, I pop in a VHS tape and watch a movie ...I get them for 99 cents at GoodWill ...guess people figure they are "out" now that DVD's are "in"!! Good for us frugal types. When I have watched them, I pass them on to my friend, who does the same!! As for radios and CD players in the car ...my new car only has a CD player and I have tons of cassettes left over. I think I will donate them to GoodWill as I only listen to talk radio in the car. My hubby and I used to love books on tapes for car trips. Time really passes fast when you are immersed in a good mystery!! Next thing you know you have arrived at your destination!!

What amazes me is how the young people are always connected to a cell phone. Mine is off half the time and only used when absolutely necessary. I only gave the number to a few family and friends. I never talk on the phone while driving and it p....s me off when I see others doing it and completely oblivious to their driving!! Why is it that this generation feels the need to be constantly entertained and communicating with someone ALL the time? I hate the phone ...love peace and quiet and enjoy my own company!! Especially during the day, now that I am retired, out in the garden, or sitting reading in the shade!! Heaven!! Sandy P.S. Sorry so long, got to babbling!!!

As long as I have my judge shows to watch and an AC in summer and heater in winter, I am relatively happy. What makes me happiest is the wonderful husband I have. LIZ

here in upstate new york i can come home from work and from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. i can watch reruns of law and order, (all three of them) and csi (two of them). my pay phone is pay as you go and it costs me 15.00 every 3 months which shows you how much i use the phone.

be that as it may i am a gadget kind of person. i wast the first in my neighboorhood to have a 56 inch t.v. i have suround sound when it first came out and had a voice activated vcr which didn't pan out and i had to return it. and i would love to have a t.v in my fridge. LOL

Frank, knew you were an uptown kind of man..lol... we did all miss you..looking forward to those photos...

I enjoy gadgets as well...don't particularly go out and purchase them, but love them as gifts..especially if they are tools..lol...

I agree that the TV in the fridge is so unnecessary, but there may be good points to it. My DS once had her entire single level house flooded with 4 inches of water from her fridge. The water line for the ice-maker had come disconnected while they were on vacation. I'm sure this fancy fridge has some kind of warning system that would call or e-mail you in an emergency like that. She had to replace every floor in the house and deal with mold. Of course, homeowners covered it, but it was still a humongous pain.

Now that would be a useful item. Calling you if the food gets too warm or if there is a leak.
Let us take it one step further. How about a refrig that can clean itself.
Or a wand or something that tells you if the food is still safe to eat.
How about a garbage disposal in the middle of the bottom for getting rid of rotten food.
These would be far more useful than the tv, ok, throw the tv and internet in too. Then this would be really cool.