In the end, I gave up trying to select a TV through research. The are so many models on the market, and so many features to compare - I just selected Sony as a reliable brand and picked out a model whose physical design I liked.
Then, as I was ordering it through a mail order place, the agent told me that was last year's model, and this year's had better specs, so I bought that one instead.
I'm happy with picture quality, but this new one came with a goofy physical design element - a little strip of clear plastic at the bottom, which offers a splendid view of nothing more appealing than the cables running out the back! In addition I wish it had a few more "wide" picture formats, like the Philips sets I used to work on. Also, it seems to take 5-6 seconds to tune from one HD channel to the next. But aside from those complaints, it's fine!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Buying a TV
How does anyone buy anything these days? Thanks to the internet, anyone contemplating a major purchase might justifiably sink into terrified inaction for months on end. That was where I stood on the TV question until recently forced into action.
After my son's "ex" demanded her TV back, and I gave him mine, I finally got around to shopping for a new flat TV, which I've been desultorily researching for 2-3 years! I quickly realized that, to make an informed decision, you would need to spend several hours a day for several months to get up to speed -- and by then most of what you learned would be obsolete. With an empty spot where my TV used to be, I couldn't wait that long, so I resolved to get this done!
First, I decided the technology: I opted for LCD over Plasma, because LCDs are more lightweight and energy-efficient, and the deeper blacks and wider angle of view offered by Plasma didn't mean that much to me.
I figured the next thing was to choose a size. The advice columns say most buyers wish they bought something bigger, so after thinking 40-42 inches would be fine, I expanded to 46 inches. But even then, there must be hundreds of models to choose from! If you start from "Consumer Reports," you get good advice, but they cover only 15-20 models. Other comparison sites cover more, but how can you trust any old enthusiast who says "This is a great TV" when you have no way of vetting their knowledge, judgment, or honesty!
Head swimming, I decided to let others narrow the field for me, so I re-joined a discount membership retailer and had a look at what they had to offer. Even side by side, it was hard to tell which TVs were really better, and whether they had all been set up comparably. In the end, I decided that I just didn't want devote my life to the problem, so I went with Sony, on the theory that if they are consistently more expensive, they must be better. (I know, it's a dumb argument that plays into the hands of the market leader, but Sony owners are satisfied, and I reckon at worst I'm overpaying, but at least I'll a decent product.)
Having settled on a model, I went back online to check prices. Not surprisingly, I found some better prices, or so I thought. First, I decided I could go a little over my initial budget, say $300 over. Then, I thought, buying mail-order, maybe I can avoid sales tax, though it's a trade-off with shipping. OK, here's a place, they list a shipping charge but no tax. I go with them, adding $150 in shipping, but wait, it turns out they charge sales, too, so another $150. Then, it turns out I have to "confirm" my order by phone, which is really where they try to get you buy more stuff! It turns out I just ordered last year's model, but this year's model is so much better, and only $150 more! Well, who could say "no" to that! And don't forget those HDMI cables...
Needless to say, the budget is distant memory. I'll report on what happens when the beast gets delivered.
After my son's "ex" demanded her TV back, and I gave him mine, I finally got around to shopping for a new flat TV, which I've been desultorily researching for 2-3 years! I quickly realized that, to make an informed decision, you would need to spend several hours a day for several months to get up to speed -- and by then most of what you learned would be obsolete. With an empty spot where my TV used to be, I couldn't wait that long, so I resolved to get this done!
First, I decided the technology: I opted for LCD over Plasma, because LCDs are more lightweight and energy-efficient, and the deeper blacks and wider angle of view offered by Plasma didn't mean that much to me.
I figured the next thing was to choose a size. The advice columns say most buyers wish they bought something bigger, so after thinking 40-42 inches would be fine, I expanded to 46 inches. But even then, there must be hundreds of models to choose from! If you start from "Consumer Reports," you get good advice, but they cover only 15-20 models. Other comparison sites cover more, but how can you trust any old enthusiast who says "This is a great TV" when you have no way of vetting their knowledge, judgment, or honesty!
Head swimming, I decided to let others narrow the field for me, so I re-joined a discount membership retailer and had a look at what they had to offer. Even side by side, it was hard to tell which TVs were really better, and whether they had all been set up comparably. In the end, I decided that I just didn't want devote my life to the problem, so I went with Sony, on the theory that if they are consistently more expensive, they must be better. (I know, it's a dumb argument that plays into the hands of the market leader, but Sony owners are satisfied, and I reckon at worst I'm overpaying, but at least I'll a decent product.)
Having settled on a model, I went back online to check prices. Not surprisingly, I found some better prices, or so I thought. First, I decided I could go a little over my initial budget, say $300 over. Then, I thought, buying mail-order, maybe I can avoid sales tax, though it's a trade-off with shipping. OK, here's a place, they list a shipping charge but no tax. I go with them, adding $150 in shipping, but wait, it turns out they charge sales, too, so another $150. Then, it turns out I have to "confirm" my order by phone, which is really where they try to get you buy more stuff! It turns out I just ordered last year's model, but this year's model is so much better, and only $150 more! Well, who could say "no" to that! And don't forget those HDMI cables...
Needless to say, the budget is distant memory. I'll report on what happens when the beast gets delivered.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Catching Up with Belgian Banking in the 90s
My bank recently sent the following breathless announcement:
"Great News! Effective May 2008, we're enhancing Online Bill Payment to offer you faster payments. In most cases, you'll be able to pay your bills in as little as 24 hours."
Well, gee, that was fast. I've been using online banking for about 10 years, and in all that time, the bank insisted on taking 5 business days between my placing an order and their being ready to deliver money to the payee -- just like the old days of the "float" in paper-based checking accounts. Even after the laws required faster processing of actual checks, electronic payments preserved this quaint custom of the 5-day wait!
I always found this frustrating, because back in 1993-94 when I lived in Belgium, it was possible to send instant electronic payments not only to big businesses but to corner shops, friends, and scout den leaders, anyone! -- and the transfer was overnight! Like most Americans, I assumed we had the most advanced of everything, but the silly little country of Belgium was miles ahead! (Thanks to this system, we went from writing 50-60 checks a month to maybe 5 or 6!)
Meanwhile, back in this country, it seems now we are finally able to make electronic payments that actually reflect the technology behind them! Why did it take so long? Presumably because the banks could get away with it -- I wonder who was using that money from the time it left our accounts to the time it reached its destination 5 days later. I'm sure the change from my bank reflects more consumer-friendly practices of upstart customer-centric banks, and the old guard has finally decided to fall in line.
But not without a little self-congratulation: "It's just another way [bank] is working to make banking better for our valued customers." Gee, thanks!
"Great News! Effective May 2008, we're enhancing Online Bill Payment to offer you faster payments. In most cases, you'll be able to pay your bills in as little as 24 hours."
Well, gee, that was fast. I've been using online banking for about 10 years, and in all that time, the bank insisted on taking 5 business days between my placing an order and their being ready to deliver money to the payee -- just like the old days of the "float" in paper-based checking accounts. Even after the laws required faster processing of actual checks, electronic payments preserved this quaint custom of the 5-day wait!
I always found this frustrating, because back in 1993-94 when I lived in Belgium, it was possible to send instant electronic payments not only to big businesses but to corner shops, friends, and scout den leaders, anyone! -- and the transfer was overnight! Like most Americans, I assumed we had the most advanced of everything, but the silly little country of Belgium was miles ahead! (Thanks to this system, we went from writing 50-60 checks a month to maybe 5 or 6!)
Meanwhile, back in this country, it seems now we are finally able to make electronic payments that actually reflect the technology behind them! Why did it take so long? Presumably because the banks could get away with it -- I wonder who was using that money from the time it left our accounts to the time it reached its destination 5 days later. I'm sure the change from my bank reflects more consumer-friendly practices of upstart customer-centric banks, and the old guard has finally decided to fall in line.
But not without a little self-congratulation: "It's just another way [bank] is working to make banking better for our valued customers." Gee, thanks!
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