Community weekly poll: Buying off-brand consumer electronics
- 2/13/07 3:19 PM
Buying off-brand consumer electronics
by Marc Bennett - 2/13/07 3:19 PM
What is the most compelling reason for you to purchase off-brand consumer electronics?
Price
Features
Recommendations from friends/family
Best-kept secret
Repackaged under another name
Good reviews/ratings from a trustworthy source
I would never buy off-brand products!
Other
20" Westinghouse HDTV LCD
by samsterling - 2/13/07 9:54 PM In reply to: Buying off-brand consumer electronics by Marc Bennett
I bought it through Best Buy, and I usually buy their warranty when I'm dealing with immature technologies or brands. It was also inexpensively on sale around Christmas.
It handles up to 1080i and it's clear and bright. It's also mounted on the wall in my daughter's room. It seems like a nice choice for the size. When I look for the big screen DLP for the family room, I'm tempted to go with the Samsung or the Panasonic, but I haven't been shopping yet.
Sam
Westinghouse not bad, Rear Projection-Samsung or SONY
by mike0414 - 2/14/07 12:15 AM In reply to: 20" Westinghouse HDTV LCD by samsterlingthe 1080i on a tv that small is too small to notice so thats not a big issue, Westinghouse is not a bad LCD, for the price you really cant beat it, especially if its for a bedroom. I wouldn't put it in my main room but not a bad choice if your not looking to spend too much and aren't looking for the BEST quality. For the rear projection tv, i would go either with a Samsung or a Sony SXRD, if you haven't seen them i suggest you take a look at them. They won't give you the screen door effect of an LCD rear projection(when you get close to one it looks like you are looking through a screendoor) and it doesn't give you the rainbow effect that DLP's do (shows a rainbow around the edges of ppl, words, etc.) those are hard to notice sometimes but once you find it, it will ruin your tv experience. I use to sell t.vs thats why i know about it, i've seen them in person not just online like many people who comment on these things. hope i helped you, if you got questions just ask away.
Westinghouse have been around for years
by Mr.RumPig - 3/21/07 4:49 PM In reply to: 20" Westinghouse HDTV LCD by samsterlingNot sure what country you're writing from, I'm guessing the States? In Australia Westinghouse actually started out manufacturing fridges around 30 or more years ago. Down-under, they have a reputation for making stuff that "lasts for ever"
I have purchased off-brand elecltronics
by slickster0515 - 2/13/07 10:04 PM In reply to: Buying off-brand consumer electronics by Marc Bennett
Being in the military has allowed me to travel all over the world and force me to utilize brands I’ve never heard of. You can find brand named products anywhere, but you’ll pay a lot more than you would in the states. Many of those unheard of companies make a very reliable and comparable or even better product. It reminds of me of my mom saying Food Lion cereal is just as good as Kellogg’s, because they all have to follow the similar guidelines.
Some off-brands = terrific, but most not worth the money
by dlsears - 2/13/07 10:25 PM In reply to: Buying off-brand consumer electronics by Marc Bennett
I lived in Japan for 10 years and have been living in Taiwan for the past 11 years, so I've bought lots of off-brand electronics, including TVs (but not HD-TVs). Some of the off-brands I've bought have become major name brands, but others just aren't worth the money because they die young. While off-brands should be cheaper because their advertising costs are much lower than those of the big namers, other ways they bring prices down are by using low-quality electronic components and not having a sufficiently high level of quality control. Those are the big problem with off-brand PCs, at least. I don't think that brand-name products are always a better value, but I do think it's necessary to check out the quality of the components when spending so much money for electronic appliances.
A unknown world
by Francisco Costa - 2/14/07 2:31 AM In reply to: Buying off-brand consumer electronics by Marc Bennett
I live in Europe and probably some of what we Europeans consider brand names might be unknown to people in the other continents, of course names as Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, LG, Toshiba, Siemens, Bosch are almost everywhere.
My experience with off brand products is the following:
I've bought a DVD player named Airis wich costed me about 40 euros, it played most of commum formats, DVD-R, MP3, photo CD, you name it... it had one year warranty and after that year it start to have problems with the cd tray, most of the times it was hard to open the cd tray, so i decide to fix the problem myself, surprised i rested when i saw a regular computer LG DVD player inside that Airis DVD box and the problem had to do with the button that wasn't doing the necessary pressure because its really used and abused already.
My point is that sometimes brand names sell they're components to off brand product manufacturers, so sometimes you might get lucky because inside an ugly, no quality box, you might get some good things. So when buying an off brand try to get some advises from someone who bought them already.
Name Brand Vs. No Name
by PoorJohnn - 2/14/07 2:44 AM In reply to: Buying off-brand consumer electronics by Marc Bennett
I worked in a retail store chain for years and I found most of the electronic devices we carried were the same as the name brand. We had the General Electric VCR that at that time was a top of the line model. then we had the very same VCR in the Panosonic for about 30% less. There was no difference between them. Back in 1982 I purchaced a Goldstar 13" color TV. A totaly unheard of brand at that time and it played for an hour or two every day untill Nov of 2006 when it just quit. Not a bad record in todays disposable world.
The off brands
by tmaroun - 2/14/07 9:38 AM In reply to: Name Brand Vs. No Name by PoorJohnnI agree with you; at the rate we're going, the prices for the name brands will continue to drop like rocks. Who really worries about how long something lasts anyway? For the same reason, I never buy extended warranties because I assume that I'll just buy a new one, get better pricing, more features, etc, when the old one breaks down. If I can save 30-50% of the purchase price, it's a no-brainer.
Off Brand Freeview Box
by Tombo60 - 5/1/07 1:08 PM In reply to: The off brands by tmarounWe bought and off-brand Freeview box. It is working fantasticly apart from a minor faults with the buttons sometimes.
I would reccommend the company.
Polariod LCD 37 inch
by Acmbiz1 - 2/14/07 3:56 AM In reply to: Buying off-brand consumer electronics by Marc Bennett
I bought this Polariod LCD 5 month ago. It is working fine and the set up and option seem to be good. I have a surround system hooked up to it and that also is working fine. My wife keeps telling me to turn it down.
So far so good.
Buying off-brand consumer electronics
by wammac - 2/14/07 4:21 AM In reply to: Buying off-brand consumer electronics by Marc Bennett
Olevia 32"
Samsung quit two days before Super Bowl. Circuit City offered OLevia's 32" model for $650, including tax. Known brands were higher by $300 to $400 and up. Olevia's picture is excellent and its combination of aspect ratios provides non-distorted (minor outerborder cutoff) full screen viewing even when not receiving HD. My one complaint (others may find it a plus) is that the speakers are on the sides making the width some six inches wider than the actual screen.
Syntax Olevia
by chkstar - 2/14/07 4:37 AM In reply to: Buying off-brand consumer electronics by Marc Bennett
I purchased a 27 inch LCD TV/Monitor from Syntax-Olevia about a year or so ago. When I bought it I think it was 599.99 with a $200 rebate from Syntax and a $100 Rebate from the Retailer. There also was a bigger unit that had a brighter picture, but it would not fit in the space I needed it. I am happy with it and actually was rather impressed by the amount of Inputs (Analog VGA, Composite video, Component Video and Cable). I have all 4 inputs connected up and can use it for the DVD Player, VHS Player, Computer and Cable TV. The Remote has all the features I need. The ONLY unimpressive feature is the Speakers, they were not good. I took an Unused Computer 3 Piece Sopeaker set, plugged it into the speaker jack and I have GOOD sound with a sub woofer... Gee for the price, I am happy, but it did take a REALLY long 20 weeks or so to get that $200 back from them.
Olevia / Syntax
by sevenal - 2/14/07 4:26 PM In reply to: Syntax Olevia by chkstarI have two.
A 27 inch hangs in my bedroom. I liked it so much agter two years of reliable use, I bought a 42 inch to hang in the living room. That FPTV
has been in use for several months now. I have been in the Cable TV business for 27 years, and can say this set is 95% of any out there.
Do yourself a favor and buy two for the differance in price.
Cons = I did not get my rebate in a timely manner, but did get it.
The sets have an annoying big blue LED on the front of the set
that is too bright for my bedroom. "Masking tape" no option
to turn it off.Your cable tv remote probably won't program to
it. I had to get a Logitech Remote for both.
Happy shopping
AC
Off-brands are great!
by harlea - 2/14/07 4:53 AM In reply to: Buying off-brand consumer electronics by Marc Bennett
I first purchased an off-brand when I saw the 32" Polaroid TV/Monitor on sale for just under $1,000. Reviews were not the greatest, but very mixed so I went for it. I now have for my computer monitor the Olevia 32" monitor/tv for $600......they're both great and awesome pictures. I have both hooked up to other sound systems and they're awesome for computing, tv or movies. Give them a try!
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