03.18.13: You probably paid more than $60 for each HDMI cable.
If you aren't aware of HDMI (but want to read further), it is High Definition Multimedia Interface and it is the standard for connecting Blu-ray players to your HD TV.
It is not required for connection the TV audio to your receiver.
I have used Monoprice for all my hdmi purchases.
I have bought 6' HDMI cables for less that $6 from Monoprice.
Monoprice carry many different quality HDMI cables and their shipping cost is reasonable (via USPS).
My last purchase was ever better cables. Two 10' cables for less than $40 total cost (delivered thru my mail slot).
These last two cables are almost the highest quality available:
1 . 10ft 24AWG CL2 Silver Plated High Speed HDMI cable - $14.32
2. 10ft Slim Series High Speed RedMere HDMI cable - $17.43
Shipping Cost : $7.55
This pic illustrates the various HDMI products ranging from 28AWG to the ultra-professional 22AWG (long distances).
The RedMere cable is much smaller (see pic) and is uni-directional.
Where a lot of bending is required and/or getting thru small holes in the wall, the RedMere would be preferred if the quality is equal to the 24AWG cable.
I compared these new 10ft cables with a 4ft 26AWG flat cable and a 6ft 28AWG, on a 50" and 60" plasma TV and couldn't detect any difference
Various tech websites indicate 28AWG is good enough, for up to 16ft, for 1080p or blu-ray quality.
There is another higher quality service coming in a few years and it may challenge the 28AWG solution.
Normally, I would go for a cheaper product if the quality is very close.
However, at these prices...
If you find better prices elsewhere, pls let me know.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Is a website a scam
02.03.13: In my review of web products, i am seeing websites that are relatively new and not known by the general public.
Remember the adage "If a price appears to be too good to be true, it generally is".
On these specific sites, the driver is approx $260 (including shipping via USP ... which almost assures me no duties or taxes) and the irons are approx $395 (9 irons).
One approach is to use a site like www.scamadvisor.com to validate a website or www.mywot.com to identify or report a website.
Remember the adage "If a price appears to be too good to be true, it generally is".
While these new websites may be honest and sell authentic products, there are a lot of knock-off products on the market and they appear to be growing every day.
I do a lot of shopping on eBay and find a lot of these non-authentic products to be worth buying as the risk is low due to low price.
However, when it comes to more expensive items such as golf equipment, I prefer to authenticate the site or buy from sites I am quite sure of.
I am now seeing much better golf prices outside of eBay and wonder if I will receive what I purchase and it will be as good as the authentic product.
I say "as good as", as I bought a set of Taylormade Burner 2.0 irons a couple of years ago at 1/3 the retail price. They played better than I expected and I wasn't concerned if they were authentic.
I am now looking at a new set of Taylormade Rocketbladez irons and a Taylormade R1 driver.
On these specific sites, the driver is approx $260 (including shipping via USP ... which almost assures me no duties or taxes) and the irons are approx $395 (9 irons).
Both prices are approx 1/2 the retail price and well below the eBay prices.
Very tempting...
However, in checking sites I noticed the following websites (price includes shipping via USPS) that looked very similar:
1. www.usgolfbuy.com (R1 $265, irons $395)
2. www.officegolfshop.com (R1 $260, irons $400)
3. www.golfpurchaser.com ($R1 $262, irons $392)
4. www.buygolfonlineus.com (R1 $250, irons $390)
5. www.buygolfbase.com (R1 $251, irons $381)
6. www.olfcheapsite.com -> redirects to www.sitegolfclub.com (R1 $250, irons $390)
6. www.olfcheapsite.com -> redirects to www.sitegolfclub.com (R1 $250, irons $390)
(aside: all the above are accessible without the "www" in the address, as with most websites)
These are excellent prices and worth buying ... if a legitimate site and you are assured the authentic order arrives and they have an acceptable return policy and problem resolution process.
These are excellent prices and worth buying ... if a legitimate site and you are assured the authentic order arrives and they have an acceptable return policy and problem resolution process.
A lot to expect and very hard to confirm validity before purchase.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHztl44J8QC84HTnbWRs4zue6c3DGsgc6ypuQJkk154NPc9-tBUxgxT_yIRjb0N3hYP5DbQWM4TCEC_Daa-_ZW7VNomwt_pckoa1PLKJnPOTp3uSBzZaXrdaNkEjEPue2CEIBJPM0Ovah2/s200/wot.jpg)
here is what it indicated.
If you have any question about validity/authenticity of a website, and would like my help, pls let me know.
If you have any question about validity/authenticity of a website, and would like my help, pls let me know.
Good Quality Pictures
03.05.13: Comparison of DSLRs.
D5200 vs D7100 ($1,200) - better pic quality (84 vs 80), smaller, lighter.
D5200 vs Canon 6D ($2,700) - better pic quality (84 vs 82), Many more focus points, lighter.
D5200 vs Sony A99 ($2,900) - smaller, lighter, cheaper, many more focus points, less pic quality (84 vs 89).
What I miss from the NEX-5R is the touch screen, wifi and smaller size.
The D5200 has a lot more functions/features and I am starting with AUTO, P, and video modes.
So far, I am impressed with the pic quality improvement and the video quality.
Helen enjoys the viewfinder and quick pics.
03.04.13: I have tried everything, to avoid carrying a heavy camera requiring more than one lens ... a DSLR (digital single lens reflect) camera.
The camera industry has done a very good job of controlling our purchasing.
If you want to pay less, you must buy a "digital camera".
If you want high quality pictures, you must buy a DSLR.
Sooner or later, a breakthru will occur - high quality pictures with a small low priced camera with ONE lens.
However, I want very good pics TODAY.
My plan is to make do with one lens (18-55mm) and later on decide if a high zoom digital camera is required for distance landscape pics.
After a lot of analysis (DSLRs under $1,000) and reading reviews, the best value for under $1,000 I came up with was the Nikon D5200.
It cost approx $200 more than the equivalent NEX-5R ... a digital camera with interchangeable lens.
Aside: I am continually impressed with the close-up pictures taken with my Samsung Galaxy Note (above) ...
I have 14 days to complete the quality testing phase:
Is the picture quality good enough?
Is the ease-of-use good enough?
Are the tech features good enough?
Stay tuned.
D5200 vs D7100 ($1,200) - better pic quality (84 vs 80), smaller, lighter.
D5200 vs Canon 6D ($2,700) - better pic quality (84 vs 82), Many more focus points, lighter.
D5200 vs Sony A99 ($2,900) - smaller, lighter, cheaper, many more focus points, less pic quality (84 vs 89).
What I miss from the NEX-5R is the touch screen, wifi and smaller size.
The D5200 has a lot more functions/features and I am starting with AUTO, P, and video modes.
So far, I am impressed with the pic quality improvement and the video quality.
Helen enjoys the viewfinder and quick pics.
03.04.13: I have tried everything, to avoid carrying a heavy camera requiring more than one lens ... a DSLR (digital single lens reflect) camera.
The camera industry has done a very good job of controlling our purchasing.
If you want to pay less, you must buy a "digital camera".
If you want high quality pictures, you must buy a DSLR.
Sooner or later, a breakthru will occur - high quality pictures with a small low priced camera with ONE lens.
However, I want very good pics TODAY.
My plan is to make do with one lens (18-55mm) and later on decide if a high zoom digital camera is required for distance landscape pics.
After a lot of analysis (DSLRs under $1,000) and reading reviews, the best value for under $1,000 I came up with was the Nikon D5200.
It cost approx $200 more than the equivalent NEX-5R ... a digital camera with interchangeable lens.
Aside: I am continually impressed with the close-up pictures taken with my Samsung Galaxy Note (above) ...
I have 14 days to complete the quality testing phase:
Is the picture quality good enough?
Is the ease-of-use good enough?
Are the tech features good enough?
Stay tuned.
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