You’re shopping for a new HDTV (or anything else for that matter), and you do some research on the Web where you find lots of user ratings for various products. It’s hard not to be influenced by a lot of positive ratings, but be careful. User ratings are not always reliable.
I’ve written about this before, [...]
[url=http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/columns/2009/09/hdtv_almanac_can_you_trust_user_ratings.php]Read Column[/url]
HDTV Almanac - Can You Trust User Ratings?
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alfredpoor
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rcbridgecomcast
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Trusting user ratings
I find that you really need to read and filter it all and decide which factors are important to you.
Also look for common things along the way if almost everyone brings up the same issue positive or negative I would heed those comments.
The more reviews from different places the better.
Also look for common things along the way if almost everyone brings up the same issue positive or negative I would heed those comments.
The more reviews from different places the better.
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alice
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User ratings
Enjoyed your article on user ratings> Basically i found them to be of little value . One must the research and realize price is only part of the process.
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eliwhitney
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alfredpoor . . .
Hello & Good morning !
RE: "Ratings / Reviews" . . . .
I have been an avid, constant reader of most of the available / popular periodicals during these past ~ 50 years or more.
BUT - - lately, I find that even the most "neutral" of them have lowered their previous standards or guidelines to the point wherein ANY results may well be "slanted" to obtain the desired {subscription increase} results !
I.E. - in the most senior of the .. consumer-oriented .. publication, they are now "advocating / highly-recommending" wee display sizes in the most offending Off-name / totally-disposable & throwaway Brands, apparently to entice or not irritate potential buyers that might also subscribe to "hear-the-good-news!"
So goes the pressures of commercial existence ...
eli
Hello & Good morning !
RE: "Ratings / Reviews" . . . .
I have been an avid, constant reader of most of the available / popular periodicals during these past ~ 50 years or more.
BUT - - lately, I find that even the most "neutral" of them have lowered their previous standards or guidelines to the point wherein ANY results may well be "slanted" to obtain the desired {subscription increase} results !
I.E. - in the most senior of the .. consumer-oriented .. publication, they are now "advocating / highly-recommending" wee display sizes in the most offending Off-name / totally-disposable & throwaway Brands, apparently to entice or not irritate potential buyers that might also subscribe to "hear-the-good-news!"
So goes the pressures of commercial existence ...
eli
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alfredpoor
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Where are the reviews?
Eli, I agree that it's becoming more and more difficult to find comprehensive and reliable reviews of any technical products these days. PC Magazine closed down their HDTV labs in San Francisco, and even the venerable Consumer Reports seems to be challenged to be consistent in its reviews. It's clear that three out of five stars is not the average score for the professional publications. I don't see how half the products on the market can be "best".
Sadly, the consumer reviews are even less reliable, though they are far more comprehensive. More than ever, there's no substitute for doing your own homework. Fortunately, I believe that you can quickly narrow your choices to a half dozen or less just on the basis of size and budget (as I advocate in my HDTV buying guide), and then look for a small set of key physical and performance features to make your choice.
Alfred
Sadly, the consumer reviews are even less reliable, though they are far more comprehensive. More than ever, there's no substitute for doing your own homework. Fortunately, I believe that you can quickly narrow your choices to a half dozen or less just on the basis of size and budget (as I advocate in my HDTV buying guide), and then look for a small set of key physical and performance features to make your choice.
Alfred