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12/22/09
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Buying a new iMac and configuring it with a 2TB internal and a 2TB time capsule is signifigantly more than $275. Plus, the majority of people don't need a 2TB drive.
Unless of course, you're being sarcastic. In which case, nevermind.
12/22/09
My iMac (came with 250gb and I replaced that when the 750gbs got under $300) serves all my media (currently using 2x 320 gb external 2.5inch drives and a 750 GB internal, which has 30 GB free) then I have a network share with a few TBs through a linux box, which acts as a Time Machine for the 3 mac laptops, and a backup point for my gaming desktop (which has the imac's old 250 gb and 750 gb and is the dedicated dvd ripper) and intel atom HTPC. The only one of my computers I don't back up is my asus netbook, mostly because everything I do on it is online anyway. Of course, the average person doesn't own 6 computers personally, or have 10 or so in their household, but damnit, we are Gizmodo readers!
12/22/09
12/22/09
I'm definitely not defending BB in anyway way, but there are a lot of items you can pick up there at competitive prices if you check the online retailers first... (which is exactly what this whole article is saying, so why am I even posting this, oh right, because I'm at work, its 4:45 and I'm bored out of my mind...)
12/22/09
Their price was $1,299.99 before taxes. They wouldn't budge from that price.
I went on down to J&R on Park Row and told them my experience with Best Buy and they gave me a price: $1,290.xx after taxes.
I wouldn't have to wait a week to get it delivered like Best Buy either.
Tomorrow, I will get my 52" in my house a week before and $140 cheaper by NOT dealing with Best Buy.
12/22/09
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Also, universal remote for 300 bucks?! Over my dead body, I'll just tape my twenty controllers on different body parts so I never lose them.
12/22/09
Added bonus: It's difficult to lose the monstrocity that results from strapping them together.
Come to think of it, I need more tape.
12/22/09
- www.MonoPrice.com
- www.ComputerGate.com
*** POSSIBLY CHEAPER LOCALLY ***
- Home Depot / Lowes. Yes they have computer cables.
- Target / Kmart / Walmart.
- Prices vary a lot, so you have to be a smart shopper. Many of these stores have cheaper cables than Best Buy.
*** RECOMMENDATIONS ***
- For ALL short cables, up to 6 to 10 feet, buy the cheapest cable that you can find, period! It has been proven by tests on the internet!
- Buy CAT6 ethernet cable instead of CAT5 or CAT5e. The price differences is too small to not do it. See MonoPrice.
- For LONG analog and digital video cables, you need to look for higher quality cables because the signal will degrade over long distances. There are cheaper cables than Monster that will do the job.
- Choose Optical SPDIF over copper SPDIF digital audio and analog audio because it will ensure that you won't have ground loop problems. I'm not saying that you will have ground loop problems, just that optical cables prevent ground loops between equipment.
- For speaker wire, buy the thickest wire AC extension cords and cut the ends off. You can find extension cords in every color and they are available everywhere! It is best to use 12-gauge, else use 14 or 16 gauage for low power and short runs. In double blind tests, people can't tell the difference between cheap and expensive speaker wire.
- Ignore the snake-oil wire salesman! They only care about selling over-priced crap to you.
12/22/09
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12/22/09
I shake my head every time I see stuff like that.
12/22/09
I was ordering a Roku player as a gift for my parents and wanted to make sure they had it hooked up the best way possible (even though they wouldn't notice the difference if it was hooked up with a coax cable). Amazon suggested the $3 cable.
I paid for 2 day FedEx shipping to make sure I got it in time on Thursday, the cable gets to me first and it was shipped 1st class USPS...
12/22/09
I worked for the following retails in the past:
-Good Guys
-Best Buys
I learned a great deal of things about the usefulness of monster cables etc. I had to sit through dozens of Monster trainings about how their wire is better than the other ones... shielding etc. With HDMI I have honestly tried the cheapy kind and found almost no visible difference. I did notice the attachment on the cheapy HDMI cable kept falling apart...
As for Best Buys... most of their sale deals are actually cheaper than employee costs. But even then I would most of the time pick online shopping. The people working there are most of the time helpful and somewhat knowledgeable. Remember they are not on commission so most of the time when they try to upsell they really stand by it in someway. As for warranties... I recall using one for the laptop battery replacement which practically paid for itself. Laptop batteries like the one for the Dell Mini 9 costs $99 which is 1/3rd of the price! Most extended warranties are less than that... but you need to read the fine print and make sure it covers batteries and physical damage.
Brick and Mortar stores are only worthwhile if you go when they have extreme deals some like buy 2 get 1 free on items, or some crazy clearance of old SKUs.
I can barely remember the last time I went to a physical store to purchase gaming hardware, games, tv equipment etc. Until Amazon.com starts charging tax and shipping I believe my home will be with them. Also for some very frugal shoppers check out dealxtreme they have very cheap priced items of random use.
On a totally unrelated note: Amber Heard somehow got into my head... mmm 406... mmm pineapple express girl... mmm.
12/22/09
12/22/09
Has anyone here purchased a 50"-60" HDTV from an online store, and had it break in/out of warranty? What ended up happening?
For TVs I'm in the mindset that I'd want to buy it from a B&M. My current Sammy 50" I purchased from BB in 2003 and they fixed it (3 years after purchase) with no hastles or questions within 14 days. I called and a week later the guy showed up, and a week after that he reappeared with the parts and repaired it free of charge.
So I ask you Giz readers... What happenend when the big HDTV that you purchased online broke?
12/22/09
12/22/09
As for handling the people of UPS probably handles the packages more carefully than some of the inventory crews of B&M stores. UPS/FedEx delivery people are in their career jobs while most inventory B&M people are either highschoolers or seasonal workers who don't care too much for their jobs.
I think for TVs like that it is fun to point a finger at a physical location when something goes wrong. Most managers would take care of you in one way or another... or else why else purchase from them.
12/22/09
I worked for Under-Paid Slaves for 6 years and the packages don't get treated very well.
They can't be treated very well by people who are doing strenuous manual labor in their sleep at 4AM. Larger and heavier pieces are especially prone to damage because people panic and drop them if their grip isn't right. The company may be all about the packages but the workers in the trenches don't want to be wheeled out of work on a stretcher.
Packages this time of year are also prone to damage because of the high volume of packages this time of the year. People have to work longer and harder hours and it shows in the results. On the structural side of things, the belts and chutes routinely get jammed up - not because of incompetent - but because of sheer volume. It's not the workers bashing your packages. It's another customer's package bashing your parcel.
I really try to avoid sending anything through the system this time of the year.
12/22/09
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They also told me they needed to ensure that the angle of how my earphones were plugged into the jack needed to be just perfect and they needed to hold their tongues out just so as they plugged it in to ensure it gave me the best sound quality.
After spending $200 dollars on that I drew the line when the guy said he better follow me into my restroom to show me how to use it properly.
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I just finished building a computer for Mom for the holidays and I forgot to order a DVD drive to toss in... I had to visit the local MicroCenter and I paid $34 bucks for a drive that costs $19 any other time of the year. They got me!
12/22/09
you will not lose picture quality, there will not be any noise, it wont hurt your tv. it's a fucking cable. it's a bunch of point to point wire connections. there's no processor in it, there's no RAM, there's no internal combustion engine. any dancability you think you perceive from using expensive cables is psychosomatic, neurotic, and obsessive compulsive.
12/22/09
These people deserve to be swindled.
12/22/09
12/22/09
I eventually scrounged up a different cable, no issue with a loose fit.
There is an air of superiority in the air when someone claims 'Monoprice FTW' or other such drivel. I'm not saying Monster Cable is not fleecing people, but sometimes price does make a difference.
12/22/09
12/22/09
I'd rather have vertical connectors as my TV is mounted on the wall, fairly flush. I can squat down and still see the pictograms and designations.
12/22/09
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12/22/09
there is no difference. it's just a collection of wires with a connector on the end. all the gold plating in the world doesn't change anything.
that said, i kind of wish i had jumped on the frivolously priced HDMI cable bandwagon a couple years ago.
12/22/09
Of course, that only means they're bleeding you dry.
The only difference is that a "better" cable has a smaller chance of completely disrupting your picture. Interference isn't particularly important below a certain threshold in HDMI connections. Of course, Monster cables might not necessarily be "better".
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