"If I purchase TV show episodes from iTunes, do I have the ability to transfer them to my TiVo and watch them on my TV? My TiVo is networked."

This is tricky, Cindy. Tricky for a few reasons:

1) you can theoretically transfer video from the computer to Tivo, but

2) the video has to be in a specific format, with specific naming conventions in order for Tivo to recognize it.

3) problem is: itunes video is proprietary and I don't think you can play it on any other device besides itunes on a computer or ipod.

Can anyone recommend one o' them AC converters that'll let me use my laptop and electric toothbrush charger while I'm in the UK?

You don't really need an AC adapter for your laptops. Both of mine worked fine just using a basic converter: [link] (and hey, you can't beat the price) plugged directly into the wall. The AC adapter you have will handle the extra voltage without a problem--in most cases, it's designed to anyway, and the companies that make conversion kits often will just have you pay for the bit that goes from the adapter to the wall rather than the adapter itself.

Your electric toothbrush, however, will definitely require some kind of power modulator. (Says she who has burned out a battery charger, two phone chargers, and assorted other goodies that needed to be replaced abroad.) I've seen some folks use this one from Sharper Image: [link] and have had nothing but good to say about it, though it's a little pricey. however, I have bought the cheaper off-name ones, and resulted in the above minor explosions, so it might be worth it to you to buy something that has a guarentee behind it. However, I'd almost say don't take the electric toothbrush. It's a fairly delicate piece of equipment when compared to your laptop charger, and less likely to handle the double voltage.

If I purchase TV show episodes from iTunes, do I have the ability to transfer them to my TiVo and watch them on my TV? My TiVo is networked.

To expand on LeN's, iTunes videos generally comes in .mp4, .mov, and sometimes .m4a file formats. While these are not proprietary formats, there is a limitation on where and how the video can be played. I think in your case, it would have to be played back either on a video ipod or on the iTunes of the computer it was purchased on. There is possibly a somewhat lengthy and somewhat advanced method for de-DRMing these formats, but even after you did, you would need to convert them, as LeN says, into a file format that Tivo accepts and will play. Not to mention the transfer time from computer to Tivo.

So while I would say yes, you could transfer them from iTunes and watch them in Tivo, you probably would find it far too much effort for too little payoff.

Thanks for the expansion, SA.

The AC adapter you have will handle the extra voltage without a problem--in most cases, it's designed to anyway

But just in case, make sure it says something similar to "INPUT: AC 100V- 240V~ 1.0A 50 / 60 Hz" on the box (indicating that it can handle varying voltages). When I was last in Europe, all I needed was the plug adapter -- all of my devices were dual-voltage. (In my Treo's case, it even came with interchangeable plugs for continental Europe, the UK, US, and Australia!)

Thanks for the UK AC info. My laptop power cord does indeed handle 240V, so that'll be easy to deal with.

I've been looking at that Sharper Image kit... hmmm....

For my trip around the world, I bought the pack from Apple--they've got little plug adaptors so you can pull teh US part out of your laptop or ipod charger, and replace it. It's very pretty. A little more expensive than just buying a regular adaptor, but so pretty! And it included all the ones I'd really every want to use.

Yeah, I bought the pack from Dell when I went away to Wales a couple years ago. Pretty expensive for what it was, especially since I all but forgot about it this time around and did just fine with it.

Gnargh.

I used to have a Motorola H850 headset and then replaced it with a Motorola H700 which I then lost.

I went to replace it (finally) and bought the 850 again by mistake. While I was there, I peeked at Jawbone Wireless Headset. At about 2x what I was buying, the decision was easy.

Except the one I thought I was buying is closer to $100. Does anyone know anything about this Jawbone thingummy? I can see it being $40 better than my lovely Motorola, and if it is I think I want it.

problem is: itunes video is proprietary and I don't think you can play it on any other device besides itunes on a computer or ipod.

Thanks so much, le nubian. I think we're going to purchase the episodes through Amazon Unboxed, instead. That way it will go straight to the TiVo.

Yeah, I like the quality of TV eps on Unbox. I bought "Supernatural" that way, but the movie quality kind of sucks, so just word to the wise.

Beau and I saw "Casino Royale" and we couldn't believe how sucky the quality was.