Kaalenarc wrote:

cool! thanks for the warm welcome

I believe, that I speak for all of us here, when I say that we're one of the tightest communities around.
Here it isn't usual to slack anyone. If you got an impression of that in my reply, an apology is at order.
The "Base Group" around here is having much happening in their lives right now, so we are not as active as we used to be. But one thing you cannot deny, is the atmosphere at these forums and pages! So again, we bid you welcome

However, Monster isn't all bad -

They make a lot of adapter cables, especially pro audio style adapters that either aren't available from anyone else or are physically of much more durable construction than than the lower cost alternatives. I use a Monster minijack to dual RCA adapter for my PC speakers. There's always Hosa cables as a cheap alternative but they aren't shielded at all (had one of their Y adapters for a MIDI synth).

mister_scary wrote:

However, Monster isn't all bad - They make a lot of adapter cables, especially pro audio style adapters that either aren't available from anyone else or are physically of much more durable construction than than the lower cost alternatives. I use a Monster minijack to dual RCA adapter for my PC speakers. There's always Hosa cables as a cheap alternative but they aren't shielded at all (had one of their Y adapters for a MIDI synth).

I dont think Monster is as bad as the retailers who mark them up so much. I mean, they are already incredibly expensive from the manufacturer but places like Best Buy mark them up 70% or more which is simply insane. I realize they are a business and in it for a profit. But given the high cost, and the fact that any quality difference is virtually nonexistent when buying another brands comparable cables... I have to go with the ones at 1/20th of Best Buy's cost.

more info here:
consumerist.com/353938...80-markups

Quote::

I mean, they are already incredibly expensive from the manufacturer but places like Best Buy mark them up 70% or more which is simply insane. I realize they are a business and in it for a profit.

Profit? How bout price gouging?

Price gouging is when you have to have something and they jack up the prices. An example would be doubling hotel rates during a hurricane, or a store raising prices on water before it hits land.

Video cables are necessary for those who want to watch images on their new televisions, but hardly something you have to have at any price.

If you don't like the price a place charges go somewhere else. Enough people do that and they'll drop their prices or go out of business.

Tex

Texfire wrote:

Price gouging is when you have to have something and they jack up the prices. An example would be doubling hotel rates during a hurricane, or a store raising prices on water before it hits land. Video cables are necessary for those who want to watch images on their new televisions, but hardly something you have to have at any price. If you don't like the price a place charges go somewhere else. Enough people do that and they'll drop their prices or go out of business. Tex

By your own definition then, they are price gouging , because at the time of your equipment purchase(tv , dvd player, blu-ray, etc) they are so high pressure as to make the consumer feel as though they have no choice, that the cable IS required. And that it HAS to be a monster cable. Go hang around a BB some saturday afternoon and watch it happen.

I disagree. They don't have to buy that HD TV. They don't have to buy that cable. Pressure placed on poorly informed consumers by misinformed or predatory salesmen, while a problem and something that shouldn't be tolerated, is not the same thing as price gouging.

Televisions and other entertainment devices are not a necessity of life, no matter what some people think. Water, food, lodging, heat and transportation are. Totally different to my mind.

Texfire wrote:

I disagree. They don't have to buy that HD TV. They don't have to buy that cable. Pressure placed on poorly informed consumers by misinformed or predatory salesmen, while a problem and something that shouldn't be tolerated, is not the same thing as price gouging. Televisions and other entertainment devices are not a necessity of life, no matter what some people think. Water, food, lodging, heat and transportation are. Totally different to my mind.

I understand your point. Shades of grey. Of course those things arent necessities. My point is that consumers are led to believe they have no other option in those circumstances. Regardless of what you label it, its pretty sketchy of BB to do.

Threw in the towel this afternoon. Was shopping around for a Blu-ray player and found out that the PS3 was highly rated as a player. It doesn't have the capacity of playing 1080p24, but neither does my Sony HDTV so that's a non-issue for me.

A little more research revealed that the discontinued US 60Gb model had a hardware chip for backwards compatibility with PS2 games, the only one that has had that chip. Since I'd like the capability of playing old PS2 games, this was a desirable feature for me. After some searching I was able to find a US 60Gb model, new not refurbished, for less than the 80Gb model which uses software emulation for PS2 games. I decided if I wanted a PS3 now was the time so I now have a Blu ray player.

This gives me the option of dropping my cable at a later date if I get too annoyed at the price. This means I can order Planet Earth on Blu ray and delete them off my DVR. Up till now cable was my only source for an HD signal, and Time Warner annoys me periodically. High definition movies here I come.

I just missed the expiration date of the five free movie deal by ten days, but wasn't really excited about the movies they were offering anyway. I'm going to look at Amazon and pick up Blu ray movies that I want as they go on sale. I'm not willing to pay more than $20 a movie, but you can find them under that if on sale.

Tex

Texfire wrote:

It doesn't have the capacity of playing 1080p24, but neither does my Sony HDTV so that's a non-issue for me. Tex

To my knowledge (I don't own one) PS3 got support for p24 at the latest firmware/OS-update...