Posts from — April 2007

All rhetoric aside about how megastores like Costco are putting the Mom and Pop shops out of business, I really do love Costco.

Recently I bought an Ironman Aeros Elliptical machine to aid in my quest for some kind of body weight normalcy.  After doing a lot of research on what was was out there I settled on a model from Costco largely because of their fabulous return policy.  If you are not familiar with that policy, its very simple – if you don’t like something, bring it back.  No questions asked.

Much to my dismay, after about 15 weeks of use, the product broke.  Honestly, it was a joy to use, but one of the wheels that ride along the back tracks simply snapped right off.  I would have expected this on a normal quality elliptical, but I was really surprised considering that I specifically bought this model because it was made to hold someone my size and larger.  Maybe I just got a bad unit, or maybe Ironman just sells junk – either way, my machine was toast.

Crap, now what??  I have to return it.  I started dreading the experience, but then I rememberd that I bought it at Costco for this exact situation.  So, I simply took off the handles and the console and loaded it up into my wife’s van and drove to Costco.  In roughly 15 minutes, 2 guys had helped me unload the sucker and I was walking out the door with $1,100+ cash, in my hand.  Not a single hiccup.  All they asked was what broke.  Remember, this is over 3 months later!  Nothing about, go to the manufacturer for service or we’ll replace it, etc.  They just gave me my money back.  $1,100 plus dollars!!  That’s really great service, and that’s why I love Costco.

I would have preferred a unit that worked, but I can’t blame them for that.  Now I’m on a quest for a new Elliptical machine and I’m quite bummed that I can’t buy it at Costco! 

I’m looking for some new PC gear.  My current one is on its last legs due to a failing Motherboard.  If I can ever get myself out of cheapskate mode, I may actually buy something.  Anyway, in my research travels, I came across this amazing chassis that turns everything I ever thought about case design upside down:

 The Thermaltake MozartTX

This thing is HUGE!  720MM huge to be exact.  That’s 28.4 inches tall.  Also known as 2.4 ft!

Doesn’t sound tall?  Measure your current case – it probably weighs in at under 2 ft tall.  Maybe you have a “full tower” but even then it may just make the 2 foot mark.  Sorry, they are Oompa Loompas compared to this bad boy.

Its the Leaning Tower of ‘Puter.

The Yao Ming of Cases.

The Brushed Alluminium Tony Soprano of Computer Chassis Feng Shui.

Ok, maybe I went a little far with that last one, but you get what I mean.  Its a big friggin’ enclosure. 

Thermaltake has turned the case design on its end.  Don’t think BTX – think a chopped case made by Zatoichi, where the front is up top and the back is on bottom.  Make sense?  Maybe this will help:

Its taller than your average bear because Thermaltake put all the drive bays on TOP of the motherboard tray – making it narrower than a normal case, and a lot taller.  Why is this so cool?  Well, that’s what it is – literally.  The design creates 4 separate chambers of airflow and head dissipation, which should mean better performance.  Who the heck knows if that’s true, but it sure is neat!

It also allows for some other very unique features and options:

• A 7 inch drive bay for that nifty LCD monitor that you see in the picture up top
• Space for a second Motherboard – yup, you heard me.  A second motherboard!
• A nifty 2 window design
• 11 Potential Fan locations -10 120mm jobbers and a lone 80mm
• Space for two 12 x 24 cm watercooling radiators
• Space for a mini power supply for the second motherboard
• Space for a multifunction IR remote controlled VFD display panel

Wow!  A pop out LCD screen and two PC’s in one??  Ok, its got my vote!

The only downsides:

1. its a bit pricey.  $249.00 at Newegg.
2. its out of stock in a lot of places. 

If you are in the market for a case and this one is just too nutty for you, the Gigabyte 3D Aurora 570 is a rockin’ good option for only $159.  It was my choice before I found the MozartTX.

Also check out the Antec Nine Hundred - its a bargin at Newegg’s $139.