Consumer Maven

DTV Converters and DVD/R set ups

I've never been a fan of waiting until the last minute, so I redeemed my DTV Converter coupon and purchased my converter box.  Now for any of you who know me personally, you are no doubt rolling your eyes and wondering how anyone so into high tech gadgets and having geek DNA could possibly want to continue using 'rabbit ears,' but that is my preference!

Setting up the converter box was relatively easy, although I should remind anyone reading this that is planning to do the same, that they need to purchase audio visual cables.  Radio Shack has them in stock as would most stores that sell electronic equipment.  The converter I purchased, by Philco, came with an antennae cable which I appreciated, since I've had problems in the past finding them.

The main point of why I am writing about this is that there seems to be a dearth of information out there about the other side of our forced compliance in going with HDTV signals.  It's called compatibility.  While the TV part of the connection, passing through the DVD/R,  went well there was a problem when we tried to view the television using the DVD/R.  When I hooked up our DVD/R and tried to get a television signal through it, it looked as if we had no antennae whatsoever.  I checked the connections multiple times, called Philco's tech support and all I could say was that between the two of us, we beat it to death and could only say that it was connected properly.

This morning I did some online research on and discovered that I needed to get a DVD/R that either had upscaling abilities or one that could handle HDTV.  The one I had could only handle ATSC, so the HDTV signal coming through the wire was basically useless.   So for those of us who actually need to record TV programs, come February 2009 we will have needed to have switched to cable or purchased a DTV converter AND purchased a new DVD/R if our current one only handled ATSC.  So for us, this required format conversion is not just costing us a converter box but an additional expenditure of over $200 for a new DVD/R, and that is NOT covered by any government converter coupons.

Resources:
http://hometheater.about.com/od/dvdrecorderfaqs/f/dvdrecgfaq14.htm
Solid Signal.com (Digital Converter Boxes)
JR.com (HDMI/HDTV upscaling technology DVD/Rs)

I've personally dealt with JR.com many times and have always been pleased with their service and the knowledge level of their sales people.  Solid Signal I discovered as a result of needing a Digital Converter Box.  Their customer service is very good and their tech support was also very good.  We would definitely shop at either again.

Finally, Asian Americans as Real People!

 

A "shopping experience" that I've not touched on in the Consumer Maven is the subject of entertainment, particularly what is brought to the masses.  Because most ethnic subcultures tend to live in urban and metropolitan areas, the perceptions of minorities by the general population is strongly influenced by what the media shows.  Because the entertainment media has been very slow to include Asian Americans, Native Americans and Latinos as they live and breathe as 'real' people with 'real problems, emotions and experiences and growth' (just like 'everyone else'), I find it even more important that they take responsibility in how minorities here are portrayed.  African Americans, who have also long fought the way they have been portrayed, have been finally getting better programming options.  These have not necessarily come from the major networks themselves, who seem to be a few beats behind and continue to do the 'same old' same old.  Those options have been opened up by African Americans themselves, many of those shows being on the CW.  It's been refreshing to see how successful African Americans are sharing their success in improving the quality of entertainment programming for all Americans.  Personally I've been a fan of the shows that the Waynans have produced, and I look forward to more diversity as that door gets opened wider and wider.

    

     In that spirit, I want to share that I just saw Eric Byler's film short entitled, "My Life Disoriented."  Eric Byler, whose ancestry is half Chinese, brings a unique perspective.  Though short, it has to be his best work to date. I was very disappointed that PBS in Chicago (WTTW) rescheduled the air date for 2:30 am, but thankful that I could record it. The film centers on an Asian American family that has to relocate from San Francisco to Bakersfield, where there are far fewer Asian Americans. Byler and writer Clair Yorita Lee address issues head on that Asian Americans across the country face, and issues that ALL teenagers experience.  The film deals with how we face our issues, grow from them, find a sense of who we are, develop our concience and our sense of conciousness, and learn who we are in this world and who we want to be.  Byler's film covers all the important emotive areas that shape our lives from teenagers to adults.

     It is also with great relief that Byler, along with his generation of Asian American film makers, are bringing to the American public films that are rooted in reality. For most Caucasians, they see themselves reflected back in the entertainment media and have done so since television first aired entertainment, and since they can probably remember seeing a film. For Asian Americans, it is an entirely different and wondorous experience to finally see people who they can relate to visually, but are also not forced stereotypes with accents and boilerplate situations.  I was excited to see this on television, even if it was at the UnGodly hour of 2:30 am. 

     Perhaps someday, a major network will also grow up and carry a series the likes of Byler's "My Life Disoriented." For now, we can only hope many, many people of all races and ancestry see this fabulous film short. For those who don't have Asian American friends, this may be their only shot at really 'seeing' and experiencing Asian Amercians in all their complexities, their family situations and their mixed race relatives, who for once are also given a voice.

My thanks to my good friend, Cultural Edge for sharing her comments with me.  For a clip of the film check out My Life Disoriented on YouTube.

JR.com Hauppage USB TV tuner

I often order items on line for my mother, who does not use a computer.  On several occasions, the best price/deal seemed to keep bringing up JR.com, and so she's had many orders put in with this company.  I was always impressed at the consistently rapid order processing turnaround.  With on line ordering, one expects that we will receive a confirming email for both the order and the shipping, and JR.com is no exception. 

When my old CRT style television finally bit the dust, I wanted the luxury of shopping around for an LCD that would fit my budget and needs.  Being a continual student of popular culture, I had to watch this season's newer television programs.  I needed a quick solution for the interim, and ordered a Hauppauge USB TV tuner.  It came quickly, I set it up with no problems on both my desktop and notebook, and had fun watching TV on either computer.  In less than a week I had what is known as an equipment failure.  Neither computer would any longer recognize the USB device.  I called JR.com and explained the situation, received an RA and soon after returning it, I've just received an email that my new tuner is being shipped out to me.

Many companies can boast low cost prices, but a company that can provide a competitive price AND great service is the company that I want to return to again and again.  When do we really find out about great service?  Unfortunately this experience comes when we have problems.  JR.com has not disappointed me, and I'll be glad to buy from them again.