Posted by Citizen Bob on 11/24/06 15:01

On Thu, 23 Nov 2006 18:19:19 +0000 (UTC), retsuhcs@xinap.moc (Mike S.)
wrote:

>>I suspect we will be seeing less of that as the manufacturers settle
>>in on stable designs. The Polaroid DRM-2001G (WalMart $220) and the
>>Insignia NS-DVDR1 (Best Buy Online $115) do not have upgrade
>>capability. But then they do not need it except for some minor
>>glitches that are not worth fooling with.

>I disagree. I see the examples you cite as evidence of poor after-sale
>support by the vendors of low-end, mass-market equipment.

Indeed.

>Many of these
>models have a short service lifetime and are sold to consumers that are
>not expected to pursue or utilize tecnical resources like firmware
>upgrades; but that does not mean they will not be necessary.

Indeed.

>Firmware updates for optical disc recorders is often made necessary due to
>the continuing changes in disc formulations which require different write
>strategies to optain optimal results.

Indeed.

>It's not an issue of stable equipment designs, as it's the consumables that are constantly changing -
>and there is nothing inherent in the design of optical disc recorders that
>can accommodate that in all instances.

I was referring to DVD products for the masses.

BTW, Pioneer, one of the leaders in DVD, has abandoned DVD
development. It is going to buy components like just about every one
else does.

My point is that DVD products have reached a critical point where they
are rapidly becoming consumer commodities. There are no firmware
upgrades for TV.

It is cheaper to buy units that have limited lifetimes than to buy
units that are upgradeable.

One thing you overlook is the extended warranty. With that you can
protect your purchase. However the only extended warranty I have found
to date that is worth spending the money on is the one offered with
WalMart products. Maybe you know of other warranty plans that are
worthwhile.

I will likely promote the Polaroid DRM-2001G to secondary backup
status before my 3-year extended warranty runs out (with the factory
warranty added on, the total time I am covered is 39 months). I expect
the Insignia to succumb to laser rot right after its 1-year warranty
runs out (the 4-year extended warranty offered by Best Buy is
worthless).

We are about to move into a new era with digital broadcast mandated by
Congress in a few years. Also, the cost of HDTV is beginning to show
signs of affordable (see some of the Black Friday specials). I am
satisfied with my game plan to cover the interim as being the most
cost effective based on current offerings.

A friend bought a Philips and paid top money for it too. It was in the
repair shop 4 times before he shitcanned it. I cannot afford to
shitcan $400 DVD units every year just because they offer firmware
upgrades. That ILO Cyberhome experience taught me a lesson. So did
Sony BetaMax years ago in the VCR arena.

Buy "models have a short service lifetime and are sold to consumers
that are not expected to pursue or utilize tecnical resources like
firmware upgrades" and either get a cheap extended warranty or shitcan
the unit when it croaks.


--

Rope, Tree, Journalist - some assembly required.

Chain, Pickup, Politician - some assembly required.

[Back to original message]