HornGrad'01
250+ Posts
Maybe its the uberconsumer and/or techie in me that leads me to over-research and over-analyze even the most nominal, trivial consumer electronic purchases, but it absolutely drives me batty when I witness the complete lack of misinformation, fudgery and outright lies spewed by (unnamed) big-box retailers when Joe HDTV asks his friendly retail sales associate for "help" finding a television solution.
“You need 1080p, its better and 720p is outdated (when responding to a question about a 27” LCD)…Plasmas are yesterday’s technology and they suffer burn-in, not to mention the fact that they don’t last long – the image fades quickly (If I still have a plasma TV in 20 years, I’ll worry about its half-life then)…DLP’s break all the time (referring to the need to replace a bulb after burnout)….LCD’s are better for sports-watching and gaming and have the widest viewing angles (actually heard this over the weekend and it made me chuckle so loud the sales associate and customer both looked at me like I was crazy)...You need to get Monster HDMI cables, no point in spending all this money on an HDTV and getting cheap cables (riiiiiiiight)…” And don’t even get me started with the over-hyped and most often abused and misstated 120Hz technology.
While I am admittedly NOT the foremost authority on HDTV technology, I know more than many and certainly enough to be dangerous and hold my own in a conversation. Its been a hobby of mine, one of unending pleasure, to research every new television before it hits the market and to stay at the technology forefront of the ever-changing HDTV landscape.
So it disheartens me when I watch Joe HDTV, a soon-to-be-retired baby boomer, hellbent on improving his in-home movie watching experience, but with little-to-no idea as to how to do so, walk into a big-box retailer and put his full faith and trust in HourlyWageGuy (sometimes know as HourlyWageAndCommissionGuy) to give him the right advice and outfit him with the HDTV that best suits his needs. Many of us have seen it, some of us have witnessed it countless times, but nearly all of us have either seen this happen to Joe HDTV or ARE Joe HDTV, so most of us can relate on some level.
Truth be told, if you are reading this thread or have read other threads about HDTV on this board (or similar boards) and/or have posted questions of your own, chances are you are not Joe HDTV, and kudos to you for doing what most folks should do – researching a bit before you make a multi-thousand dollar purchase and not trusting HWG and HWACG to make the right decision for you.
But, if you insist on going in blind and unprepared, don’t bother looking for the folks wearing a blue or red shirt that says “HDTV Misinformation Specialist.” Just pick whichever TV looks the best to you – because your chances are as good or better that you’ll be happy with your purchase than they would be asking the big-box retailer sales associates for help. Otherwise, you might get lucky and someone like me might overhear your conversation with HWG and HWACG and rescue you (which, like me, most of the posters on this board that are knowledgeable about HDTV are prone to do – even if you don’t ask for it).
And for the record (and I mean this earnestly), I am excluding from said retailers in this discussion the likes of Hlaustin and other tech savvy, respectable professionals that go above-and-beyond to help consumers (their valued customers) find the most appropriate solution for their HDTV needs. Rather, I commend them for offering the very SERVICE that has been bastardized by big-box retailers and only wish more cared the way they do.
Sorry for the rant….not even sure I had a point (other than to vent and perhaps give props to folks like Hlaustin and other Hornfans members like me that are equally passionate about both the technology and helping “non-techies” sort through the muck).
Rant off and happy HDTV hunting.
“You need 1080p, its better and 720p is outdated (when responding to a question about a 27” LCD)…Plasmas are yesterday’s technology and they suffer burn-in, not to mention the fact that they don’t last long – the image fades quickly (If I still have a plasma TV in 20 years, I’ll worry about its half-life then)…DLP’s break all the time (referring to the need to replace a bulb after burnout)….LCD’s are better for sports-watching and gaming and have the widest viewing angles (actually heard this over the weekend and it made me chuckle so loud the sales associate and customer both looked at me like I was crazy)...You need to get Monster HDMI cables, no point in spending all this money on an HDTV and getting cheap cables (riiiiiiiight)…” And don’t even get me started with the over-hyped and most often abused and misstated 120Hz technology.
While I am admittedly NOT the foremost authority on HDTV technology, I know more than many and certainly enough to be dangerous and hold my own in a conversation. Its been a hobby of mine, one of unending pleasure, to research every new television before it hits the market and to stay at the technology forefront of the ever-changing HDTV landscape.
So it disheartens me when I watch Joe HDTV, a soon-to-be-retired baby boomer, hellbent on improving his in-home movie watching experience, but with little-to-no idea as to how to do so, walk into a big-box retailer and put his full faith and trust in HourlyWageGuy (sometimes know as HourlyWageAndCommissionGuy) to give him the right advice and outfit him with the HDTV that best suits his needs. Many of us have seen it, some of us have witnessed it countless times, but nearly all of us have either seen this happen to Joe HDTV or ARE Joe HDTV, so most of us can relate on some level.
Truth be told, if you are reading this thread or have read other threads about HDTV on this board (or similar boards) and/or have posted questions of your own, chances are you are not Joe HDTV, and kudos to you for doing what most folks should do – researching a bit before you make a multi-thousand dollar purchase and not trusting HWG and HWACG to make the right decision for you.
But, if you insist on going in blind and unprepared, don’t bother looking for the folks wearing a blue or red shirt that says “HDTV Misinformation Specialist.” Just pick whichever TV looks the best to you – because your chances are as good or better that you’ll be happy with your purchase than they would be asking the big-box retailer sales associates for help. Otherwise, you might get lucky and someone like me might overhear your conversation with HWG and HWACG and rescue you (which, like me, most of the posters on this board that are knowledgeable about HDTV are prone to do – even if you don’t ask for it).
And for the record (and I mean this earnestly), I am excluding from said retailers in this discussion the likes of Hlaustin and other tech savvy, respectable professionals that go above-and-beyond to help consumers (their valued customers) find the most appropriate solution for their HDTV needs. Rather, I commend them for offering the very SERVICE that has been bastardized by big-box retailers and only wish more cared the way they do.
Sorry for the rant….not even sure I had a point (other than to vent and perhaps give props to folks like Hlaustin and other Hornfans members like me that are equally passionate about both the technology and helping “non-techies” sort through the muck).
Rant off and happy HDTV hunting.
