IR2BT (Playstation 3)

- $55 from ir2bt.com. It takes IR signals from your universal remote (or the original ps2 remote if you have one), converts it to bluetooth (RF) and sends those commands to the ps3 mimicking the official sony bluetooth remote perfectly. As far as the ps3 is concerned it thinks you are using the actual official sony bluetooth remote control.
- I went ahead and picked up a usb cable and usb power supply. You can power it with 2XAA or mini usb to usb cable and connect it to almost anything that supplies usb power (dedicated usb power supply, powered usb hub, most cable/satellite set top boxes).
- Setup was quick and painless. Here is a nice youtube video that walks you through it.
Basically you have to first pair it with your ps3. You only need to do this step once. Turn on your ps3 and navigate to settings, accessories settings, register BD remote control.
You have to disconnect all power from the ir2bt since it only goes into pairing mode on the first 15 seconds of powering up. Power up the IR2BT then press and hold the #2 button on the remote. Which means it's probably a good idea to setup your harmony remote first.

- Setting up my harmony 676 was really easy. I removed my existing PS3 device (nyko blu-wave) and then added IR2BT which is already in the harmony database (add device, game console with dvd, mfg: IR2BT, model: IR2BT). I then proceeded to map the keys the way I wanted to for my activity. Everything is there including all 4 color buttons (red,blue,green,yellow) and "powerToggle" is the PS button. Power on/off macros (here is the 6 button power off sequence used if you are curious) are already part of the IR2BT harmony device database so I didn't have to do a single thing to get ps3 power on/off to work with my harmony. It worked PERFECTLY the very first time after updating my harmony remote.
- There is ZERO lag (unlike the horribly laggy nyko blu-wave). You can hold down buttons, press buttons as fast as you want, and it's all very quick and responsive. I repeat there is NO LAG!!!!
- Nice that you can just put this little box anywhere IR can get to. It doesn't need to be near your ps3 since since it's all bluetooth (RF) between ir2bt and the ps3. Here you can see the ir2bt is located more centrally in my cabinet near my usbuirt (for my htpc) and the ps3 is on the far right:


Anybody using a PS3 as their primary home theater blu-ray player NEEDS this device (especially if there is a WAF consideration). It is well worth the $55. This product has far exceeded my expectations in performance and ease of setup. I think I'm going to need to buy a second one for my other ps3.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!!

UPDATE: 7/2/08
Looks like the 2.40 firmware update kind of breaks the IR2BT:
http://www.ir2bt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=185&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
Basically don't turn on the ps3 with the ir2bt. If you do, it won't accept any more commands until you power cycle the ps3. So for now either don't upgrade the firmware or turn on the ps3 by some other means (insert a disc, power button on the console, or a ps3 controller). Bruce is looking into the issue.

UPDATE: 7/7/08
Luckily I didn't apply the update before 2.40 was pulled. Either way I'll probably be sending both my units in to Bruce for the update when it is available.

UPDATE: 7/21/08
I went ahead and shipped both of mine back for the free update to work with ps3 firmware 2.41. Just follow the instructions here:
http://ir2bt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=205

UPDATE: 7/26/08
Just received my updated ir2bt's back (both of them). They work great now with 2.41. That's just 6 days since I shipped them out so Bruce is doing a great job turning them around quick. Note: I did have to go through the paring process again.

UPDATE: 10/29/08
Both of my updated IR2BT's work fine with ps3 firmware 2.50.

Portal: Weighted Companion Cube

$30 each:
http://store.valvesoftware.com/

Yeah they are finally back in stock. I got both a regular wcc and the fuzzy dice version (which are quite a bit bigger than I expected).

Nyko Wii Perfect Shot

$20-25 at amazon.
HVG2: Smart Gun Pro for around $18 at Fry's.

- The hvg2 is an exact clone of the Nyko Wii Perfect Shot except it's all white. I got a great deal on it bundled with House of the dead 2 & 3 return for only $35.
- Real Iron (err plastic) sights that actually work!!!! The cross shaped d-pad on the wiimote becomes the front sight. It actually works pretty well.
- Nice normal shaped gun/trigger placement vs the much more awkward and bulky wii zapper. Trigger pull feels fine.
- Nunchuck port is on the base of the grip.
- Kind of annoying that you have to remove the wrist strap before you can insert the wiimote into the gun.

Highly recommended. These are MUCH MUCH better than the official wii zapper. I also picked up a few more light gun games to try these out with.

The House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return
- Works great with the new guns. You have several options for the crosshair including just turning it off which forces you to use the iron sights for that authentic arcade feel.
- Just give the gun a little vertical shake to reload. It feels very natural.
- After calibration accuracy was very good keeping close tracking to my iron sights across the entire TV.
- With two guns it's a great two player game or dual wield.
Excellent Wii port!!!!

Medal of Honor Heroes 2
- There is an arcade rail shooter mode that's pretty fun. You have some limited control using the nunchuck: ducking, zooming, some sniper scope zooming controls. You don't have any actual direct control over movement.
- I couldn't find an option to turn off the crosshairs.
- But you wouldn't want to anyways since alignment difts quite a bit if you don't stay near the center of the tv. There is no traditional light gun calibration screen. I guess I can understand this since this is primarily an fps not a rails light gun game.
- Arcade mode seems single player only.
- Still, it's a pretty nice fun bonus mode that is only enhanced by having on of these guns.

Thrustmaster T-Wireless NW Wii Classic Controller

$20 at amazon:

- A little small but pretty comfortable. It's definitely easier to grip than the tiny Wii Classic Controller.
- Controls: pads, buttons seem to work fine.
- It is essentially a gamecube wavebird replacement. It will work with any gamecube game or any virtual console game that supports the gamecube controller. It does NOT work with any game that specifically requires the Wii Classic Controller (like Geometry Wars Galaxies). It does have nice rumble support though unlike the wavebird.
- Basically it makes a pretty nice gamecube/virtual console controller. It's not a 1:1 substitute for a Wii Classic controller.
- Uses 3XAAA batteries.
- Requires the use of the gamecube controller port dongle that kind of awkwardly sticks out of the top.

For $20 it's not a bad value especially if you don't have a wavebird and still play gamecube/virtual console games.

Thermaltake iXoft Notebook Cooling Pad

http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Cooler/NBcooling/r15on01/r15on01.asp

Picked it up for $23 at directron.

- fits a 15.4" laptop nicely
- Thin, flexible. Easy to carry with you when you travel.
- Keeps your lap (and laptop) nice and cool. Comfortable soft fabric backing.
- The surface is a bit too slippery for my tastes. That combined with the flexible aspect makes it a bit cumbersome to use on your lap. For lap use I still prefer the lapinator.
- Works great if you plan to use it just to keep the laptop cooler when using on a desk.

I currently keep the iXoft in my laptop bag to use when I travel. For everyday home use I still prefer the Lapinator.

UPDATE: 7/24/08
- That black felt backing picks up dog hair like you would not believe. If you have a dog or go visit friends/family with a dog bring a lint remover!