MasterMaq's Guide to Buying Electronics

Okay so I have this thing about purchasing electronics. I used to think it boiled down to me hating crap. However, after a little bit of thinking, I realized it is a little more complex than that. Usually, the more you spend, the better the product you are going to get (there are exceptions as you will see). More importantly, I think, is the reputation of the manufacturer you are buying your electronics from. And I don’t mean reputation in general, but for that specific type of device. So, getting on with it, I present some simple rules to follow when buying electronics:

1. The higher the price, the higher the quality!
   Ever wonder why a Linksys network card is $35 and a Cicero network card is only $15? The answer is really simple – the Cicero card is absolute crap and that’s why it costs less. Less effort was spent on the design, manufacturing, and testing of the product, and hence it costs less. In the general case, I believe this rule is true. Exceptions come in specific situations, like notebook computers for example. You might think that because Apple notebooks cost so much, the quality will be higher, when in fact, Apple is quite notorious for having to replace notebooks due to problems with their screens and keyboards.
   Generally, the higher the price, the higher the quality.
2. “Consumer” editions of products by respected parent companies are good
   When purchasing your electronics, it is often useful to know who owns the company that makes the product you are interested in. For example, Linksys is owned by Cisco, arguably the most well-respected network device manufacturer in the world. Cisco really does power the Internet. As a result, a Linksys card is more likely to be a better purchase than a card made by a manufacturer that doesn’t have the backing of a parent company like Cisco. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule too. I would definitely steer clear of Aiwa devices, even though they are owned by Sony. Aiwa devices are not designed, manufactured, or tested in places even remotely resembling the places Sony branded devices are, thus their quality is generally quite a bit lower.
   Generally, products with respected parent companies are a safe buy.
3. Ignore salespeople
   If you are browsing for electronics at your local store, ignore the salespeople. Chances are, they know as much about the device you are interested in as you do. They will usually recommend something that will help their commission or which costs more before they will actually put some thought into what will work best for you. Of course, this rule is a really large blanket, but I think it generally applies.
   Generally, salespeople cannot be trusted.
4. Do your homework!
   Okay okay, I realize this rule sounds funny coming from me, but it’s very important! Before you run out and buy an electronic device, do some research about the products available that match your need. Learn about the differences between each one, and about the reputation of each product. This is also an important rule to follow if you choose to ignore the above rule – asking a pointed question about two products features will make it clear if the salesperson is a dumbass or if he or she knows what you’re talking about.
   Always do your homework first.
5. Get to know the companies!
   If you pay attention to the news, trade magazines, and other sources of information, you will learn quite a bit about the different electronics manufacturers. One of the most important rules to follow is to know the reputation of the different companies in general. If there is nothing else to distinguish your decision, you can always determine which company is best at a particular product, service or offering.
   Know company reputations in addition to the reputations of their products.
6. Always go with the “defining” product or company
   Even though there are many companies that make the same products, there is usually a distinguished leader for a specific product. Thinking of a UPS? Then get an APC branded one. Thinking of a sound card? Then go with a Creative branded one. Of course, there are some cases where two are probably equally as good, like video cards where you could go with ATI or Nvidia. Another is printers, where you could take your pick from HP, Epson, Canon, or Lexmark. The rule is still important however, as it rules out “Grandma Lee’s Printers”. Perhaps an important exception is found when looking at a product market more specifically. Thinking of an MP3 player? You might be tempted to say go with an iPod, and I’d say good choice. However, there are at least three other players with comparable or better features but which all have tremendously better battery life than the iPod.
   Generally, the defining brand is the best bet. After all, they do define the market!

In today’s high-tech world (bet you never heard that before) we buy electronics all the time. I hope you will find this simple guide useful in your future purchases. If you buy crap, you’ll get crap. If you spend a little more upfront and get a well-respected product by a well-known and trusted company, you’ll be better off in the long run.

Do you have another rule you follow? Any other companies you would avoid or recommend?