About "The reviews"
At least a couple of times you've read "a review". There are comments, opinions, quick reviews, user reviews, detailed reviews and professional reviews. A review can be written in a magazine, online (in some blog, in some e-commerce site, in a specialized site, wherever), video or just audio (video reviews - TV or a site, audio reviews - radio, podcast or even your friend).
Every time I'm going to buy something, or view a movie, go somewhere for the first time, eat someplace new, read a book... I kind'a have to get a review. I mean, I don't have enough money or time to spend on crap. And so, you're in a continuous search for reviews: luckily someone had seen or experienced that very something you're interested in, and will tell you all about it, BUT! from his perspective.
LCD Monitor...
I recently bought a 19" LCD TFT - Samsung 960BF. This monitor was produced in September and I bought it in October. The product was that new that I could not find any reviews on the net. I read although many reviews on 930BF model that had all the specifications identical to 960BF, except for the pivoting stand of the later. Many reviews were unprofessional: they brag about the looks and software package more than the test itself - which I suppose MUST be looking at the damn display with a lot of attention. They say: "I did not notice any trailing" (techspot.com - the author of the review says it used to be a professional mechanic, so it figures), "I had no issues while watching Star Wars VI" and "no ghosting issues noted" (modthebox.com - Gold Sponsor: Samsung Canada tells you something?), "There was no ghosting that I could find at all" (dreamwarecomputers.com), "I never encounter any ghosting or other negative effects" and "it works well with movies" (nordichardware.com). Instead, BeHardware (behardware.com) writes: "The most finicky users will still notice some afterglow" and "there is a strong twinkling effect in videos", and the test take more than half of the article not 10-15% like the others (even took some pictures with a digital camera and compared afterglow effect and viewing angles from different monitors). Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com) has even harder article about 930BF with a graphic of the characteristic monitor's response time and enough cynicism to make a mature man cry.
It's that hard to simply look at this monitor and recognize some basic afterglow or ghosting effect? It's hard to make a good (relevant test) for these effects, but are simple enough tests you can create to reveal them.
My simple tests reveal low to moderate afterglow and tinkering effect in 960BF. It will certainly upset you if you're asking me.
TV Tuner...
I want to buy a TV tuner. So what do I buy? I can acquire a 35$ Leadtek TV Tuner (old school) ... or a 110$ one with the latest and greatest chipset on the market?
But what is the latest and greatest chipset on the market? Is it any good? I don't know! So what do I do? I read a review!
Ok... A professional one will tell you all about the factors implied in the TV signal reception, hardware recording, tuner features, final image quality, software quality, package value, etc. A bad one will tell you what kind of wires are included in the package and if the alkaline batteries are included in the box, and at the end will throw a "and it's picture quality is great!".
But how you define small, little, great, fast, slow...
Digital Camera...
I've also purchased a new digital camera Sony DSC-H1 (a 5.1MP megazoom camera). I've read reviews and opinions on the forums for a whole month. And I've convinced myself that this is the camera I'll going to buy. I had a hard time choosing between Canon S2 IS and Sony DSC-H1. The best part is that I've previously owned a Canon A95 (a good camera by the way...). I've lost it in my honeymoon in Greece and I've used it for more than 6 months. It was my real introduction into digital photography. I therefore knew what I needed most from a digital camera and I knew what are the weakest points of a compact. I personally don't emphasize so much on movie mode, but I want less noise in my pictures, I don't need more than 5MP, but I want fast lenses and optical zoom more than 3x, I don't need that many automatic programs but I want more programmability, I don't want 1000 AF points but a fast and predictable AF system... etc.
Everyone will throw you some comparison terms that advantages one side or the other, but in the end, you'll have to consider your needs and balance all the clues you've got.
Conclusion?
There are certain organizations (special sites, publications, TV or radio stations, etc.) that do a professional job and that you can trust. It's pretty hard to find a trusty review source and when you find it, stick to it. There are lots more organizations and individuals that do a lousy job reviewing stuff. You should remember and only trust them when the review level will be technically appropriate.
Also, ambiguous meta-words like fast/slow, small/big, easy/hard should be carefully analyzed.
In my experience, on the tech & gaming side, trustworthy will be: Gamespot, DPreview, Tom's Hardware, BeHardware, Anandtech. Do you happen to know other? Please share them.
Every time I'm going to buy something, or view a movie, go somewhere for the first time, eat someplace new, read a book... I kind'a have to get a review. I mean, I don't have enough money or time to spend on crap. And so, you're in a continuous search for reviews: luckily someone had seen or experienced that very something you're interested in, and will tell you all about it, BUT! from his perspective.
LCD Monitor...
I recently bought a 19" LCD TFT - Samsung 960BF. This monitor was produced in September and I bought it in October. The product was that new that I could not find any reviews on the net. I read although many reviews on 930BF model that had all the specifications identical to 960BF, except for the pivoting stand of the later. Many reviews were unprofessional: they brag about the looks and software package more than the test itself - which I suppose MUST be looking at the damn display with a lot of attention. They say: "I did not notice any trailing" (techspot.com - the author of the review says it used to be a professional mechanic, so it figures), "I had no issues while watching Star Wars VI" and "no ghosting issues noted" (modthebox.com - Gold Sponsor: Samsung Canada tells you something?), "There was no ghosting that I could find at all" (dreamwarecomputers.com), "I never encounter any ghosting or other negative effects" and "it works well with movies" (nordichardware.com). Instead, BeHardware (behardware.com) writes: "The most finicky users will still notice some afterglow" and "there is a strong twinkling effect in videos", and the test take more than half of the article not 10-15% like the others (even took some pictures with a digital camera and compared afterglow effect and viewing angles from different monitors). Tom's Hardware (tomshardware.com) has even harder article about 930BF with a graphic of the characteristic monitor's response time and enough cynicism to make a mature man cry.
It's that hard to simply look at this monitor and recognize some basic afterglow or ghosting effect? It's hard to make a good (relevant test) for these effects, but are simple enough tests you can create to reveal them.
My simple tests reveal low to moderate afterglow and tinkering effect in 960BF. It will certainly upset you if you're asking me.
TV Tuner...
I want to buy a TV tuner. So what do I buy? I can acquire a 35$ Leadtek TV Tuner (old school) ... or a 110$ one with the latest and greatest chipset on the market?
But what is the latest and greatest chipset on the market? Is it any good? I don't know! So what do I do? I read a review!
Ok... A professional one will tell you all about the factors implied in the TV signal reception, hardware recording, tuner features, final image quality, software quality, package value, etc. A bad one will tell you what kind of wires are included in the package and if the alkaline batteries are included in the box, and at the end will throw a "and it's picture quality is great!".
But how you define small, little, great, fast, slow...
Digital Camera...
I've also purchased a new digital camera Sony DSC-H1 (a 5.1MP megazoom camera). I've read reviews and opinions on the forums for a whole month. And I've convinced myself that this is the camera I'll going to buy. I had a hard time choosing between Canon S2 IS and Sony DSC-H1. The best part is that I've previously owned a Canon A95 (a good camera by the way...). I've lost it in my honeymoon in Greece and I've used it for more than 6 months. It was my real introduction into digital photography. I therefore knew what I needed most from a digital camera and I knew what are the weakest points of a compact. I personally don't emphasize so much on movie mode, but I want less noise in my pictures, I don't need more than 5MP, but I want fast lenses and optical zoom more than 3x, I don't need that many automatic programs but I want more programmability, I don't want 1000 AF points but a fast and predictable AF system... etc.
Everyone will throw you some comparison terms that advantages one side or the other, but in the end, you'll have to consider your needs and balance all the clues you've got.
Conclusion?
There are certain organizations (special sites, publications, TV or radio stations, etc.) that do a professional job and that you can trust. It's pretty hard to find a trusty review source and when you find it, stick to it. There are lots more organizations and individuals that do a lousy job reviewing stuff. You should remember and only trust them when the review level will be technically appropriate.
Also, ambiguous meta-words like fast/slow, small/big, easy/hard should be carefully analyzed.
In my experience, on the tech & gaming side, trustworthy will be: Gamespot, DPreview, Tom's Hardware, BeHardware, Anandtech. Do you happen to know other? Please share them.
posted by Titan at
13:10
5 Comments:
Hai titanelo mai da drumul la robinetul cu ceva nou ca te recomandai la oameni astia de pe aci si astia acuma zic ca te stricasi, ca te lenevisi ca ai inceput bine da' te corupsesera cineva, ca parca ai lucra EA/FL si nu mai timp de nimik altceva si cate altele. Eu le-am zis ca tu poate te bucuri de noua ta viatza si de toata treaba asta noua cu castoria (sau cum se spune) si ca te relaxezi cu gratarele, bericici, mititei, vinoase (faraoane) si cate altele (de bine de la mine) da' oameni astia tot pe aia cu EA o tzin. Si noi (adica eu) vrem sa vedem titaneli mici.
By
Anonymous, at Thursday, December 01, 2005 2:04:00 AM
Scuze. Acum este o perioada in care trebuie sa predam produsul si din cauza asta nu prea mai am timp la servici sa mai scriu cate ceva. Dupa saptamana asta insa ar trebui sa terminam...weee.
In afara de asta, sunt anumte articole pe care le scriu in timp de mai multe zile de ex. ultimele 2. Sunt destul de mari si mi se pareau destul de importante, dar au durat cam mult si mi se pare ca sunt poate si greu de citit. Incerc sa scriu ceva mai scurt si mai des. 10x
By
Titan, at Monday, December 05, 2005 6:43:00 PM
hi... i am going to buy a Sony DSC H1.. Please help me in the pricing matter? In which country can i get it cheap ? Mail me at : m.sainath@iflexsolutions.com
By
sainathkm, at Tuesday, February 14, 2006 7:55:00 AM
great job bashing everyone who reviews products just because you don't like it yourself. You're mature! NOT.
Just because YOU don't like it doesn't mean you should bash professionals who assess these products for a living. Maybe go make a better monitor that lives up to your standards? I don't see you doing that now, do I?
So leave the reviewers out of it, you're fellow consumers like me don't like guys like you.
By
Anonymous, at Thursday, June 05, 2008 4:31:00 AM
If you have to do a job, make it right. If you have a profession and you live by doing it, then you're called a professional.
In my opinion, a professional is a title of honor, and means is best at what he/she's doing, not a way of making a living. Some of the reviewers make a good job, and thus, I call them professionals. The others are bad at it and I call them scammers.
I you have an opinion, and you express it on a blog, as a comment or in a column, you can say whatever you want. You're entitled to your opinions. When you're a professional, your professional opinion and your words should weight more.
By
Titan, at Thursday, June 05, 2008 1:57:00 PM
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