villa_shere Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Just bought my first house and the exciting task of filling it with things i'll never use. Need to buy the usual 48" TV, American Fridge/Freezer, washing machine, tumble dryer etc.Budget is modest, £800 for TV, £1k for fridge, £600 wasshing machine/dryer Whilst the house is bare it was suggested I get any electrical work done now before and furniture or decorating happens. One suggestion I have been given is to replace some wall sockets with wall sockets with USB ports. Are there any other gadgets worth reviewing, or electrics worth installing, such as wiring the house with ethernet cable, or linking speakers in the house. All suggestions are welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eames Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Sonos systems are ace. I'm not sure beyond an office space why or where you'd need wall mounted USB ports - ditto that for ethernet cables given that we have this thing called "wi-fi" now. If your fridge freezer has an ice maker thingy on it, get one that is plumbed in rather than one you have to re-fil because thats a massive ballache. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Get a Roomba, stick an iPod dock on it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 £1k for a fridge is modest? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted September 11, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted September 11, 2014 £1k for a fridge is modest? exactly what I thought!!! My fridge was £120 I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 If you get a Beko fridge, not only is it cheap but it comes with free explosives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa_shere Posted September 11, 2014 Author Share Posted September 11, 2014 Roombo (minus the ipod) sounds good. Will look into Sonos. £1k max really, most american style fridge/freezers start at £600 so I assume a decent one will be £800-£1k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leviramsey Posted September 11, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted September 11, 2014 American fridge/freezer? Wiring for at least gigabit Ethernet is still something I'd do, especially if you have either a large house (thus needing multiple WiFi networks) or anything like desktop computers (i.e. something fixed). Reducing congestion on WiFi is a good thing. Would definitely go for USB outlets, assuming that's allowed by code and your electrician knows it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PompeyVillan Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I wouldn't bother with the USB ports. Who knows, in a few years the technology might be redundant. I would personally just get more sockets to plug your USB devices in, a modern house has more gadgetry than ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenko#4 Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 I'll second the Sonos system, amazing!! Following on from the above, i wouldn't bother with USB either. I work in IT, and USB technology is changing so much in terms of speeds that whatever you get will be out of date in a couple of years. The proposed new standard will even have a different connection type- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-28771578 The design for the new reversible USB interface - the standardised connection for data transfers between electronic devices - has been finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leviramsey Posted September 11, 2014 VT Supporter Share Posted September 11, 2014 I'm not saying for data transport, just for charging. It seems reasonably likely that USB charging for mobile devices is a standard which will stay with us for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenko#4 Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 Maybe for certain devices such as cameras that you may keep for a period of time, but 'consumables' like phones, tablets etc will all move to wireless charging in the next couple of years. You'll just leave your device on something like a Powermat overnight and it will charge. I agree that USB is a standard that may stay for a while, but will be used more when on the move, rather than at home. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villaajax Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 £1k for a fridge is modest? Who does he think he is, VJ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villa_shere Posted September 12, 2014 Author Share Posted September 12, 2014 Couple kitchen items bought. Egg Boiler and Coffee Maker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 When it comes to charging devices, the telly has more USB ports than my computer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarethRDR Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 What about one of those arcade machine coffee tables? The thrills of looking like a Bond villain in the comfort of your own living room: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lapal_fan Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 Buy a Toshiba "Massager". self inflating blow up dolls, sheep etc. Love swing. A place to handcuff someone. one of those screwdrivers which you can attach thing that require a repetitive motion. That should do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob182 Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 Get speakers in the ceiling, that's cool. Also, if you want your budget to go further, check out Borshch Electric in Netherton/Dudley way. You can get massive discounts there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont_do_it_doug. Posted September 18, 2014 Share Posted September 18, 2014 (edited) Agree you should have Ethernet everywhere you think you might possibly need it. Every single technological device can and will make use of it at some point, even your fancy fridge! You can do so much over it aside from the obvious and it's so much more reliable than WiFi (and the trusty RJ45 is definitely not going anywhere for a long old time). I'd probably go for Cat6 in a domestic environment, but I would absolutely have it installed by a professional company who can test it to Cat6 standard i.e. not an electrician. You're not London based by any chance? Edited September 18, 2014 by dont_do_it_doug. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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