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Cepro wifi article!
This thread has 29 replies. Displaying posts 16 through 30.
Post 16 made on Monday April 9, 2012 at 00:18
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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On April 8, 2012 at 23:30, Audible Solutions said...
We all have biases. When they are obvious

to us, that is, we have spent time observing our behavior, and if we are moral people,

we state them up front. One of the causualties of truth in the Republican war on the Press is that one can not do his job honestly and report what he sees or is told honestly if one has personal prejudcies.

This, of course, goes for all reporters. As stated above, we all have biases, so reporters on both sides of every issue are biased, no matter what they think.

We all know this to be false.

I can't figure out what you're saying is false.

We criticise products we think are supurb. We recommend solutions we do not sell. We suggest solutions that are right for the client but do not make us money. If we are able to make honest judgements why would we think this trait particular to CIs and only CIs?

I follow you here after the first sentence, I think -- you're saying we're good guys who do the right thing (which, however, contradicts the first sentence).

Right. IF we are able to make honest judgments. ceied makes honest judgments all the time and tells us to use component, never HDMI. Jeff Boccaccio makes honest judgments and tells us about the joys of HDMI. Brentm makes honest judgments and tells us how to overcome the flaws in the type of products that Jeff supports. So.... you said IF we are able to make honest judgments. Earlier you said everyone is biased. I guess your "if" pans out to "well, we can't."

This point is so so true:
In our industry this has often not been the case. Editorial has often had to cater to the business end publishing. How many bad reviews can you name in publications. A bad product review means the loss of advertising. Trade publications are essentially PR arms of manufacturers. We all know this. Does this mean every article on HDMI or networking is tainted because the writer often has products for sale?

No, but it does mean that we have to teach our compadres not to just accept the word of a magazine that tells us it represents us, when it absolutely does not.

We have all met or known of people who discovered Jesus, exercise, Yaga,or some other "cure" and wish to share it with everyone they know. Do they do this from bias or from an honest wish to share the wisdom they've discovered? Yes, we all have biases. That does not mean we do not offer honest opinions based upon what we epically observe.

Kangen water fits in there, too.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 17 made on Monday April 9, 2012 at 01:11
gwilly
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On April 8, 2012 at 23:30, Audible Solutions said...
Ever notice that some products have on their labels phone numbers you can call with any comments or suggestions? Gladwell says this is how manufacturers discover "mavens" and once they know of them they court them. They know their product's success can depend on pleasing these indviduals.

Shucks, I'm that guy who calls tech support and they've never heard of "that problem" before...........and I've given plenty of constructive comments. I once called about a bad jar of mayonnaise, all I got was some coupons for free product.

I feel left out that I've never been offered to enroll in a maven program, I feel I should be compensated for my comments and suggestions.
Some people are so used to special treatment--that equal treatment is considered discrimination..Thomas Sowell
Post 18 made on Monday April 9, 2012 at 08:18
Audible Solutions
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On April 9, 2012 at 01:11, gwilly said...
Shucks, I'm that guy who calls tech support and they've never heard of "that problem" before...........and I've given plenty of constructive comments. I once called about a bad jar of mayonnaise, all I got was some coupons for free product.

I feel left out that I've never been offered to enroll in a maven program, I feel I should be compensated for my comments and suggestions.


Sorry, tech support calls are not define a "Maven". With Passover this week there are very few of the major brands in the cupboard. However, on a Domino Sugar box there is: Questions or Comments Call 1800 XXX-YYYY. Most of us have never noticed this number or only called that number if the product was defective.? Mavens will call and make constructive comments, not merely call to complain about a defective product.They will also will organize protests of products they think are dangerous or problematic--and most importantly, they get people to follow them.

Gladwell does not go past this one item of how companies find Mavens by putting a phone number of their products. I'm sure there are other factors that leads a company to define the caller as a Maven as separate from a consumer calling to complain about a spoiled product. Mavens are popular. That excludes me immediately. Through some mystery being studied, they attract people; they are sought out by others and their opinions respected. Mavens influence purchasing decisions. Mavens make it their business to know everything. The best hotels ( which often mean the best value hotels ), the best places to eat, shop, park, the best electronics. What makes these people desirable for manufacturers is that people consumers listen to them.

In the famous "6 degrees of separation" research Gladwell publicizes in his "The Tipping Point" there is a single individual that he calls "connectors" who seem to know everyone. These people, like "Mavens" have a way of attracting and influencing people. They are joiners and very social. In conversation they have a way of disarming their interlocutor and having him open up and share intimacies more quickly than others. They keep in contract with an amazing number of people and their list of acquaintances is vast and not just based on geography. They known and are known by seemingly everyone.

If you are interested in Gladwell's ideas you can read "The Tipping Point" The bottom line is that some people are more persuasive than others and they help people not merely because they make money from this effort. They like to help people.
"This is a Christian Country,Charlie,founded on Christian values...when you can't put a nativiy scene in front fire house at Christmas time in Nacogdoches Township, something's gone terribly wrong"
Post 19 made on Monday April 9, 2012 at 08:40
AnthonyZ
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Sounds like social media in today's world and there are definitely "mavens" in the employ of CE firms (a la J.Mota).
"Just when I thought that I was out they pull me back in"
Post 20 made on Monday April 9, 2012 at 08:59
Audible Solutions
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But the "Mavens" that Gladwell writes about and which are the subject of research are not in the "employ" of anyone. This doesn't mean that manufacturers do not wish to use the data they've amassed about how "mavens" influence people to deceive. One of the key differences is that "Mavens" are real people whom you know, not merely names on web sites. But in a decentralized world social media does become a force driving sales. Research supports the idea that you will buy products your "friends" use It is the idea behind Spotify letting your friends know what you're listening to as they know it will influence what you purchase.

Mavens are people you meet every day. They are not just anonymous folks you do not know on web sites or they will be people who you "know" from sites like this one with whom you come to know over time. Fake reviews work. We do want some "expert" to recommend the best product. We seem to know instinctively that there are differences. "Mavens" make it their business to learn what is best and industry has learned to exploit the need in consumers to be told what to buy. Gladwell suggests that both "connectors" and "mavens" both have the ability to attract people. They are liked and their opinions matter more than other's. What you are speaking to is how manufacturers and retailers use this "data" to confuse us into believing the disinterested opinions found on social media or Amazon are in fact fake and very much the product of interested parties.

There may be much pseudo-science in Gladwell's writings but I've enjoyed all of his books. I've found his arguments very convincing and I'd recommend his books to everyone.  See, a disinterested opinion and were I viewed as a Maven one that would drive Gladwells sales. But to be a "Maven" you need to be liked and have your opinion respected and believed. It is not merely expertise but the ability of these few, rare individuals to influence purchasing decisions.
"This is a Christian Country,Charlie,founded on Christian values...when you can't put a nativiy scene in front fire house at Christmas time in Nacogdoches Township, something's gone terribly wrong"
Post 21 made on Monday April 9, 2012 at 09:18
Audible Solutions
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Research about "Mavens" aside, the point our friend from Texas has made strikes me as being both cogent and correct. You can have an opinion and make a recommendation without having a financial stake in the outcome. I'd suggest that those of us who play on these sites prove this even as some of us also buy into the nonsense that the information in the press is always and in all cases distorted and biased. People can and do separate the personal from the professional. Most of us prove this point every time we respond to some one's request for help. Yet we somehow distrust someone Else's recommendation or information as being biased.

Does Anthony base his opinions on BD on pecuniary interest? I think not. However, we do factor in his personal bias when reading his thoughts about hard media and streaming audio. However, one might pay attention to his thoughts on players or reference discs. Passion rubs both ways but interestingly, "Mavens" are not passionate. They wish to help but they don't seem to mind if you don't listen.
"This is a Christian Country,Charlie,founded on Christian values...when you can't put a nativiy scene in front fire house at Christmas time in Nacogdoches Township, something's gone terribly wrong"
Post 22 made on Monday April 9, 2012 at 12:25
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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On April 9, 2012 at 01:11, gwilly said...
I once called about a bad jar of mayonnaise, all I got was some coupons for free product.

I once used an online form to complain about a quadrille paper pad that fell apart after you ripped off the first page. Told 'em it was useless. They sent me a coupon for four more.

Why I want more of a useless product?

Re the :connector:

They are joiners and very social. In conversation they have a way of disarming their interlocutor and having him open up and share intimacies more quickly than others. They keep in contract with an amazing number of people and their list of acquaintances is vast and not just based on geography. They known and are known by seemingly everyone.

The guy I work with who does mostly commercial projects is one of these. The epitome of his connectedness showed one night a dozen years ago. We were waiting for a burrito place to close in one of the ten or so sets of embarking places at LA International Airport (sorry, that's not the right term, but my brain isn't quite awake yet). On a random Tuesday night, after 10 PM, he saw two people he knew who came in on flights.

Once I did some work for Nancy Wilson of Heart. When I told my buddy about this, he said to ask her if she remembered the kid with long green hair from Seattle's Rock-n-Bowl, from about fifteen years before. Yup. Him. She did. Amazing.

On the latest job we worked on together, I saw three people come up to him and ask if they hadn't worked together before... and they worked it out. They had, one more than a dozen years before.
And this guy's list of contacts is ridiculously long.

Last edited by Ernie Gilman on April 9, 2012 12:32.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 23 made on Monday April 9, 2012 at 16:06
juliejacobson
CE Pro Magazine
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Thanks for the feedback, guys. Indeed, some duds do find their way onto our site, but by and large I firmly believe we have the strongest editorial in the business, with exclusive in-depth pieces and some solid and controversial opinions.

They can't all be that way or we wouldn't get any traffic, and we wouldn't exist.

It's funny ... we get bashed all the time from manufacturers because we generally don't publish their fluff PR.

Yeah, sure, I wish we could have a little asterisk by the stories that you should really, really read -- whether they're gritty or controversial or funny.

I suppose I could post them here once a week or something?

Like this?

Stories worth reading:

image The next big thing in security, home automation and digital health technology could be IBM’s multitouch floor that detects family members, falls, intruders and other activity.View this story


Sonos CR200 Wireless Controller Sonos says it is discontinuing its CR200 Wireless Controller starting June 1, 2012. Sonos will replace it with apps.View this story




Vantage Equinox It's not a touchscreen, but a single-gang LCD keypad from Vantage that has a simplified user interface that mimics Apple-like experience. A seven-inch touchpanel complements the line.View this story

image Nobody really likes taxes, but the Internet sales tax is one integrators will benefit from as price will no longer be the major reason a purchase is made.View this story


image 2Gig appears to be the first to offer local DVR on self-contained security panels -- up to 1TB via built-in SATA drive. Service complements cloud-based solution from Alarm.com.View this story


Kaleidescape CEO Michael Malcolm tells CE Pro the Court of Appeal has granted it a temporary stay, meaning the injunction won't take effect April 8, 2012.View this story

image Best Buy reported a fourth quarter loss of $1.7 billion, which results in the big-box retailer closing 50 U.S. stores and cutting $800 million in costs by fiscal 2015.View this story

Kaleidescape CEO Michael Malcolm will petition to overturn injunction on movie servers in DVD CCA case, continue to ‘develop exciting new products and services’View this story


You know we're big fans of RC and participants here. Sorry I haven't been around lately. Will try to do better. Thanks for your support (usually) and you know where to find me ... (Ernie does, anyway) ... [email protected]

P.S., I still lurk, but haven't found much occasion to chime in. Often, I forward mfr-related queries to the mfrs -- like this one which I managed to get sony to answer ... [Link: remotecentral.com]

Last edited by juliejacobson on April 9, 2012 16:15.
"CEPro: your website sucks!" - Fins
www.cepro.com
[Link: twitter.com]
Post 24 made on Monday April 9, 2012 at 17:01
kgossen
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Isn't this just like a manufacturer promoting their equipment? You posting links to articles on your website driving people from this one? I would think Daniel might have a thing or two to say about that.

Instead of doing this why not just write better articles? I used to visit on a regular basis until it started to go farther and farther downhill, sorry.

I firmly believe we have the strongest editorial in the business, with exclusive in-depth pieces and some solid and controversial opinions.

This really depends on who you're comparing to!
"Quality isn't expensive, it's Priceless!"
Post 25 made on Wednesday April 11, 2012 at 07:38
mrtristan
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Can't think of better marketing than this:

[Link: thestar.com]
Post 26 made on Wednesday April 11, 2012 at 14:05
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
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30,104
I laughed out loud after reading this thread and getting my new CWPro today with these words in a logo on the cover:

QUEST FOR QUALITY

Of course, they were referring to our suppliers, not the magazine itself.

jj, love you anyway.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 27 made on Wednesday April 11, 2012 at 14:33
juliejacobson
CE Pro Magazine
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On April 11, 2012 at 14:05, Ernie Gilman said...
I laughed out loud after reading this thread and getting my new CWPro today with these words in a logo on the cover:

Of course, they were referring to our suppliers, not the magazine itself.

jj, love you anyway.

If you hadn't sent me those T-shirts, Ernie, I might have to hurt you.
"CEPro: your website sucks!" - Fins
www.cepro.com
[Link: twitter.com]
Post 28 made on Wednesday April 11, 2012 at 14:50
oprahthehutt.
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I was actually excited to read that article. Then I went further and further down the rabbit hole.

A lot of us know the basics of networking. What we dont typically know is what is possible or what some of the terminology is.

For instance creating a guest wifi network in a home that doesnt have access to any shared folders etc. What about VPN, what is it and how do we do it. Maybe outline a couple of the ESC focused solutions and their way of doing things.

What about an article on Acoustics, and treatments. Here is how you find your first reflection, here are things to look out for, here are some of the products that can be used.

An article on the different methods for lining up Front projection systems in detail. There is the pencil, and string method, double triangle method, and the laser method. Show examples not just text.

I hate commenting on grammar (Surely this post is riddled with grammatical errors), but something should be done in that area as well.
Post 29 made on Wednesday April 11, 2012 at 14:59
Ernie Gilman
Yes, That Ernie!
Joined:
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30,104
Just so it's recognized, Julie, we love you, and Julie, I know from personal correspondence that you see exactly what we see and you're trying to make it better.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 30 made on Wednesday April 11, 2012 at 18:43
juliejacobson
CE Pro Magazine
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On April 11, 2012 at 14:59, Ernie Gilman said...
Just so it's recognized, Julie, we love you, and Julie, I know from personal correspondence that you see exactly what we see and you're trying to make it better.

Thanks, EG! Very true. We know our slideshow engine is awful (you should see the back end!) and our Web site is dreadfully slow. We also know that junk gets posted, but we're very proud of our gritty reporting, exclusive news and some great reviews from the likes of Fred Harding and Joe Whitaker.

We crave contributions from dealers, which is where we get our best stuff. So let me know if you're interested!

Like most of you here, we are extremely lean and very stretched. We're not getting rich off this stuff. We do what we can and hope to share useful information and be a part of the community in any way we can ...
"CEPro: your website sucks!" - Fins
www.cepro.com
[Link: twitter.com]
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