MB38

The "perfect" setup would always be the top of the line. The best thing to do is to buy all the Mac that you can afford [without buying RAM from Apple] and then add a few gigs of RAM. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

If you happen to get your hands on the video, I'd be interested in seeing it. Upload it to www.skydivingmovies.com if you have it. Good job not dying, glad to hear it worked out.

Maybe I'll hold off on the haircut until I finish AFF... give myself a present by knocking 3" off. I used to go bald... usually about an inch though. This is ridiculous. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

http://www.skydiveperris.com/pictures/2005_0903/IMG_3363.JPG That's it... I'm getting a haircut this week. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

That's what I found after pricing it out as well. It's $400 CDN, so it's about $330 US, but it's still not worth it. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Ah, seen that one... it's really tough to watch. These are the risks we take, I suppose. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

How wrong did it go? I'm not one to watch videos of people going in. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Blast! There's a picture from a load I was on... but no me! I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Brilliant, I'm an idiot. Thanks for the clarification, I knew something had to be wrong there. So used rigs, eh? I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Will do. I get pulled into these things sometimes... but it just doesn't seem like one could reasonably say no to a $350 new wings container. I'm going to ask for a serial number. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Does this seem like BS to you guys? $400 CA is about $330-350 US... with the user registered less than 7 days before the post, it seems like 100% bull. A custom brand new container for an impossible price... http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/classifieds/detail_page.cgi?ID=25538&d=1 Here's my correspondence so far. "Can you provide some more information on the container you're selling? Size, max canopy size, color scheme, etc? Thanks!" "Hi Brook, go on the site www.skydivewings.com/orderinginfo.html and you'll see what the standard container includes and what are options you can choose...It's custom made so you can choose the size you want... Valérie" "Hi brook i inform myself and you can choose the size and max canopy size you want because its custom made. about color scheme, the yin yan scheme is optional but regular scheme is include. Valérie" I really don't know what I'm talking about.

It will be fast enough, but it's worth saving up. You can add an external monitor to the iMac and have it span rather than mirror. I can't tell you how, but it involves a firmware reflash and a warranty voiding. It's possible though. Probably not worth the risk. Go by an Apple Store or another reseller and give it a shot. Fire up FCP and play with some of the HD footage that's on the computer. You'll see how it handles it. Be sure to see how much RAM the system has. What is acceptable speed-wise for me may not be acceptable for you. It's a personal decision. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Pack it right and jump it. Usually it comes from stupid mistakes... didn't unstow the slider, stuff like that. Sometimes it's just bad luck. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

They hurt like hell. They can also cause severe injuries if you're unlucky... anything from a broken rib to a broken pelvis or back. I believe there have been a handful of fatalities. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

No it isn't. Read the manual. Or at least the bit I quoted just above. C'mon. It's not that hard . I think we must've posted simultaneously... I didn't see that when I made my reply. Oops! I was just going on what my AFFI told me. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Holy crap, I want one. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

The Student Cypres will fire at 39mph. The expert Cypres will fire at 79mph. That's the only difference. The reason I would go with a Student Cypres is because so many folks are switching to the expert... they're plentiful and cheap. Frankly, under a 200-230' main, I'm probably not going to exceed 39mph at 800' unless I'm having a mal. At least that's my guess. If I'm making a judgement mistake, please let me know. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Will do. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

And now the obligatory question: will there be any safety difference between a 2005 rig and a 1995 rig? I'll probably buy a new/fairly new Smart or PD reserve... and perhaps a Student Cypres with a few years left just to save money... an older container should be fine? I don't imagine much has changed... it's just a container. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

I have two very different jobs. One is in retail [yeah, bottom of the food chain] and the other I'm not able to comment on [and that's not me just saying I have a higher position to make it seem like I'm higher up than a retail employee... I just can't comment]. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

It is a standalone application, available for $300. If you have FCP4, I'd recommend doing the "upgrade from FCP to Final Cut Studio" to save yourself money. You get all the cool new pro apps for a good price. That's if you can afford it. Motion, for what it is, is a remarkable application. It's not After Effects, because it doesn't want to be. It's just a kickass motion graphics/titling/stuff app. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

This is great, thanks for all the responses. I do have some generic "used gear" questions, of course. How long ago was there a big shift in skydiving technology? The kind of advance that has gear looked at as "pre _____" and "post ____". The reason I ask is that I see containers from about '95-present running for remarkably similar prices... with prices dropping dramatically as their DOM dips into the 80s. Is there something that a '04 container is going to have that a '94 wouldn't? As far as I can tell, the biggest differences appear to come from CYPRES compatibility. Is there any other giant thing that I should keep my eyes peeled for? I've been spoiled so far of course... I'm a student. '04 Icon holding an '04 Solo. New gear that almost fits... fun! Oo, one more question that I didn't think about before. Is it worth renting gear until I get down to a decent size [lets say a container with a 190 as its largest main... allowing me to downsize over time] or should I find one that fits me sooner [i.e. a container with a 200-230 capacity] and sell it when I downsize? I just can't get my bearings on the pricing. $65 a day to rent a rig or a few grand to buy it... and sell it back in a year? Oy. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

While I agree with the first poster, I believe that there is an undeniable vague jump number representation of skill. Somebody with

I'm 6'3" and about 175... tall and skinny [32" waist, 36" inseam]. I've been rummaging around in the classifieds here and on Square 1's site, but most rigs seem to hold anything from about 107-140 on average. Finding one that'll hold a 200-230 hasn't happened. Any ideas on other sites to peruse? I'm not going to be buying for a while [completely broke] but I'd like to rummage around and see what I'll be looking at when the time comes. I really don't know what I'm talking about.

Just found this: http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/wo/StoreReentry.wo?family=testdrive. Now everybody can try!