I'm not entirely sure how I feel about 615 N. Grand being called "meat space"...

[Posted by amanda on Thu., Apr 29, 2004 at 11:14 AM]

geek alert!

couldn't you just say you got a webcam?

Or are you so excited that it's a D-Link DCS-1000W!?

[Posted by dave drebes on Thu., Apr 29, 2004 at 1:48 PM]

I am specifically excited that it's a D-Link DCS-1000W. You have no idea how much time I spent researching different models. It's got a built-in web server. How cool is that? Pretty cool, I tell ya. And it's got Wi-Fi connectivity, a motion detector and the ability to upload still images via FTP. I get all tingly just thinking about it.

[Posted by Brian on Thu., Apr 29, 2004 at 2:05 PM]

Don't forget the rebate: http://www.dlink.com/instant-rebate.asp

In all that research, why'd you decide against the cheaper DCS-900W?

[Posted by hans on Thu., Apr 29, 2004 at 8:08 PM]

I've got the PDF for the rebate right here on my desktop. Mmmmm ... $30

I decided against the DCS-900W because it can't upload still images via FTP. I think I might end up using that to post an image to our website once a minute. (Posting the live video feed might be too big of a drain on our bandwidth.)

The 900W is certainly much smaller and cuter than the 1000W. The 1000W is kind of menancing.

If we ever decide to use the webcam as part of a real security system, the 1000W also has inputs and outputs for sensors and alarms that the 900W doesn't have.

Are you following all of this, Dave?

[Posted by Brian on Thu., Apr 29, 2004 at 8:57 PM]

this is a joke, right?

you created "Hans" so that you could argue with yourself over the relative merits of the DCS-1000W vs. the DCS-900W?

[Posted by dave drebes on Fri., Apr 30, 2004 at 1:13 AM]

Hans, are you out there? If so, confirm for Dave that you are in fact real. Use the force, Hans. (Note the reference to a geeky movie I've never seen.)

Also, a visit to Hans' site ( http://phobia.com/ ) will reveal that he's even geekier than me.

[Posted by Brian Marston on Fri., Apr 30, 2004 at 1:24 AM]

My license plates even say "a geek," and I bet I spend even more time researching purchases than Brian.

OTOH, I don't think much of Star Wars.

[Posted by hans on Fri., Apr 30, 2004 at 8:30 AM]

Point the first: No One, and I do mean no one, can possibly spend more time researching purchases than does Brian. I'm the wife, so I get to see it up close and personal. It ain't pretty.

Point the second: it's appalling to me that this topic has generated more comments than just about any other two (or three!) combined. Sheesh.

Point the third: as Mrs. Brian, I get to drive around all day in a car with the license plate "WEB GUY," lending itself to all kindsa fun at stop lights.

[Posted by amanda on Fri., Apr 30, 2004 at 11:01 AM]

Why no audio?

[Posted by agentboa on Fri., Apr 30, 2004 at 1:21 PM]

The simple answer to why there won't be audio is because the camera doesn't have a microphone. The longer answer has to do with privacy issues. My rationale is that when you're in a public place like The Commonspace, you have no control over who else will be there at the same time and see you there, so allowing visitors to our website to see you at The Commonspace doesn't encroach on a reasonable expectation of privacy. However, even when you're in a public place, I think it's reasonable to expect that your private conversations are private, unless somebody is obviously eavesdropping, in which case you could give them the evil eye or move. A camera with a microphone could pick up private conversations and broadcast them for the world to hear, making for some potentially embarrassing/unpleasant situations. That possibility creeps me out.

[Posted by Brian Marston on Fri., Apr 30, 2004 at 2:01 PM]

what about streakers? you do have a plan, don't you...?

[Posted by dale on Fri., Apr 30, 2004 at 3:09 PM]

Streaking will be encouraged, especially by attractive people. Gotta drive up those hit statistics ...

[Posted by Brian Marston on Fri., Apr 30, 2004 at 3:22 PM]

Does that camera have attractive streaker detection?

[Posted by hans on Fri., Apr 30, 2004 at 7:53 PM]