Buy or fix...The Theory Empeg Longevity

So (as mentioned in other threads) I dropped my empeg and broke the fill nipple. Which leaves me with two possible courses of action. It is these two possibilities that lead me to ask your opinions.

Possibility #1
Allow Support to fix the empeg. This will cost something a bit above 230 dollars, leaving me with a twice repaired empeg.

Possibility #2
Buy a new empeg. This course of action will provide me with a second sled, an extra remote, general parts (facia, buttons, ide cable, etc.), and the ability to increase my hd space. I can probably do this for somewhere around 500 dollars.

The problem is that this would basically mean taking my current empeg out of commission permanently, before it's actually impossible to fix the device. Going to a second empeg when repair isn't an option somehow seems different than putting the empeg down before its actually required.

Your thoughts?

You could buy a new empeg and sell the old one with the broken VFD? That way you'd end up with all the accessories and pay much less in total.

- Trevor

Hey I hadn't thought of that.... By the way before someone mentions it, I could remove the display and send it to support therefore reducing shipping costs. However, I don't trust myself to do this and it really doesn't save that much.

Especially if there is someone that was able to get additional VFDs or was trying to order them, and so would be able to fix it eventually.

If you are interested, PM me.

I could use an empeg without display and without hard drive, and without everything else for that matter (remote, power adapter, sled, cables...). PM me with your price If you're willing to sell as described above.

Greetings!

This peaks my curiousity. What would you do with a stripped empeg shell? Without display, drives, etc., all you have is the case and mainboard. Granted, that is significant and impressive in its own right, but just curious what you would use it for. Planning a kit construction?

Seeing as how the inexorable wheels of time are causing more of these broken nipple cases to appear, I would really like to see a long-term option #3 (replace the VFD yourself, including an easy link to a supplier who's got parts in stock) become a reality...

I know it would need to be a different kind of VFD, perhaps requiring some modding to make it work, but it would be better than nothing.

Greetings!

Precisely why when jbauer found the displays, I asked to order a few. Actually, I PMed him today to see if I can get more. It looks like it will be handy to have a few extra of these things laying around, just in case...

An Empeg without a display could be a very small Linux server. An internet gateway or anything along those lines.
No idea if it'd be cost effective though. A Corel Netwinder if you can find one is probably better as it comes in nice case.

- Trevor

True, it could. Kind of like you can use solid gold coin as a paperweight... I guess you could always put other drives in and use it as an audio server, but you can do that with many other devices.

I have my empeg in the glove box. I also have a very small computer with TV out in the car, displaying a combination of track/now&next in smooth 640x480 (http://strobos.cee.vt.edu/EmpegVNC). The TV-out is connected to my car's navigation system auxiliary A/V . I control the Empeg with a Pioneer steering wheel remote using an IR extender. And I have a suitably sized 3.5" hard drive lying around...

I would move my car's current Empeg to a docking station I bought from Mark Lord and place the one with no display in my car.

Yeah. That's why I said it probably wouldn't be that cost effective
Or it could be a very nice but expensive decoration on the wall

- Trevor

Greetings!

Don't think that it hasn't been done already...

The TV-out is connected to my car's navigation system auxiliary A/V

Yours has that? Isn't that illegal somehow....

any idea how I might do that?

Seriously, I was looking around the DVD box that runs the mapping software for my NAV system for some sort of A/V connection, but they've got that sucker bolted down nice, and I don't feel like taking the seat off. I don't think it would work anyway...oh well. I just would love to be able to be waiting in my car for someone, and be able to switch over my lovely NAV display and watch a DVD or something.

Mercedes has a TV-tuner with 2 auxiliary A/V's that you can purchase and enables the cars' Comand system (which includes navigation) to receive TV broadcast or show what is fed to either of the two A/Vs.

The system shuts off the screen when the car is in movement, but there are hacks that enable you to disable that feature so you can watch while you drive, which is absurd in the case of DVD, but not so when you just want to see what your Empeg is playing and control it.

If you obtain a new VFD (they ARE available), I'll happily remove/replace it on the displayboard for you. Just send me the displayboard and new VFD. Gratis, for you, Rev.

Cheers

Gratis, for you, Rev

..... buying your way into heaven Mr Lord,..... shame on you

Let me just say that you guys are awesome.... I've had several offers to fix my empeg on this side of the drink (As well as support being as helpful as is in their power). I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet.

..... buying your way into heaven Mr Lord

whether you intended it to be or not, that was funny.