Should I get my mum a Kindle?

[Kieren Diment]

On 21/09/2011, at 6:29 PM, Nicholas Clark wrote:

> On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 09:04:29AM +0200, Philip Newton wrote:
> 
>> Yeah. Especially radio programmes that you missed, so (a) you weren't
>> there to hear them live and (b) you didn't think to program your
>> stereo deck to record the show to cassette in advance. (Are there
>> stereos these days that can record to CDs or internal storage of some
>> kind? For that matter, are there stereos that you can make them record
>> something on a timer?)
> 
> In the good old days, the only way that I was aware of was to have a
> cassette deck set up to record, with the mains power controlled by an
> external time switch. (Optionally, with the radio too.) When the power
> pings on, recording starts. Obviously, recording ends at the earlier of
> the power going off, or the tape running out.
> 
> To record a second programme, replicate the above equipment.


Yes indeed.  Chasing up a reasonable cost recording of the original hitch hikers guide to the galaxy TV series was essentially impossible for me until the 21st century.  Then my sister-in-law bought us 6 CDs for Xmas, and then I had a toddler who was obsessed with Marvin and Zaphod for quite some time.