Is the Change Worth it? Yes, Say Our Experts

By Richard M. Sherwin

(With Max Jay, Christine Eads, Bob Plunkett, Amy Eller, Erick Royer, Jennifer Auspitz and Susan Davis)

The most frequent question we all get about what product or service to buy is usually based on: “I heard this is the best TV, Tablet, PC system, Cell phone carrier, audio system,” etc. “But I heard this other one is cheaper and just as good. Should I switch?”
In addition, many of our readers and listeners have discovered alternative methods of getting their photos, pictures, music and outside content onto their TVs instead of spending extra bucks for TVs with some internet features.

So we decided to examine the second and third most popular products and services in the most asked about categories. Then, we were able to see whether consumers switched strictly for financial reasons or because they disliked option one. Was switching to the less expensive option a good idea?

For the majority of consumer electronics and home or mobile computing products, our experts believe the Alternative and sometimes third or fourth best product or service is worth it for many reasons and not just price.

Here’s what we discovered:

Is it worth it to purchase a new TV with the advanced Internet Apps built into the unit or is it just as smart (or smarter) to purchase a Netgear Neo, Roku or Google Chromecast set-top box that you can plug into the TV and connect to WiFi?

• It’s not worth it to buy an Internet enabled TV. If you look hard enough you can still purchase a top of the line TV without Internet Apps and save about $200. The Internet set-top boxes are available for as little $35 so you do the math.
• In a similar vein, Roku (always a favorite of ours) has about 70% of the add on Internet access set-top box for TV market and now its brand is as well-known as TiVo, Sony Bravia, Sharp Aquos…but you should know that Netgear sells Internet access TV set-top boxes with the same or better features at a few dollars less than Roku. Plus, Google’s hot selling Chromecast at $35 is a bargain.
• Another product we love is Slingbox and, while no one else has made streaming video content from your house to anywhere as easy and affordable as Slingbox , the newest TiVo DVRs have a reasonably priced option that also sends your own TV programming to almost any TV or Laptop or Smartphone and Tablet. And Netgear makes a small device that slings all of your tablet or smart content in HD to your TV.

• Moving over to your Smartphone and Tablet, some folks have been complaining that Verizon’s Mapping App (while the most accurate) also uses up the most data service charges, especially if you are paying by the minute for data. So why not use the free Google Travel Maps App, which also features a great voice activated travel and directions service and costs literally nothing.
• Now very few services can match Verizon Wireless or AT&T for mobile phone coverage in North America and both have reduced their prices a lot recently, but for some, who live in areas that support the Alternative carriers you can save lots of money a month with T-Mobile and Sprint. And for those who want to save even more money, check out Consumer Cellular, Credo, Net 10, Virgin Mobile, Tracfone and Straight Talk. But remember, the new discounted “More Everything” Verizon plan where users get their data cap doubled at no extra cost is a way to keep Verizon and save money. For $40 a month, consumers get 1GB of shared data instead of 500MB. The $50 plan offers 2GB instead of 1GB, and the $60 plan offers 3GB of data instead of 2GB. The data charges are on top of a $40/month charge for unlimited voice and messaging for smartphones and $30/month for feature phones.

• What about buying a smart phone? IPhone for a long time was somewhat pricier but worth the extra cost. Lately Samsung, HTC and LG have passed the venerable Apple product with models like the Samsung Galaxy 4, LG G2 and LG Optimus and HTC’s One, which provide more features, lower cost of ownership and frankly are better all-around devices. One caveat though! Make sure you purchase a 16 or 32G model of these non-Apple phones, or make sure the place you buy the phone from has lower cost add on –micro SD cards. The IPhone 4 with minimal storage memory can now be purchased at a very affordable low price though some consumers may run out of room for their pictures, music and videos.

• Many experts claim Bose is still the one to beat in headphones and certain other audio products and no one ever went wrong buying a Bose product for a family member or friend. But more and more we are seeing such fast rising or formerly unknown stars as Tivoli and comebacks by Panasonic’s long underrated audio division reemerge as best buys in their audio categories. Yamaha, Denon maintain a very high status quo in receivers but Sonos was the best home networked audio system.  In this category, however, the Alterative purchase may just come from Vizio, the fast growing TV maker. Their competitively priced Sound Bar and built-in subwoofer have the experts saying, “Why can’t other audio makers do away with the ugly and room grabbing subwoofer?”  A hidden gem in audio products is getting a deal on a Blue Tooth Radio that can get offer connectivity to your Tablet, MP3 player or Smart Phone and doesn’t take up the mammoth space you use when buying a full component set up. Tivoli, a high end radio and audio manufacturer still makes conventional AM-FM radios, but now added Bluetooth, in a beautiful form factor that also delivers unbelievable sound from a small chassis.
• If you still want a conventional loud speaker, receiver tuner setup (the best way to play and enjoy top flight audio), and you have B@W Speakers, JBL, Onkyo, Marantz or Pioneer branded products, then your best bet is to get last year’s models of the high-end receivers and speakers. This past year was such a long slump for high-end audio, that many top flight audio makers are literally knocking down prices by 50% to 60%. And since high-end audio does NOT change much year to year, you may be getting a bundle combo (receiver, tuner, speakers, subwoofer,) at a near budget price for a home theater package. For instance, we recently saw a regional audio video retailer offer, a Yamaha receiver, B@W speakers, and Onkyo subwoofer package for less than $800. A lower quality home theater package available in Best Buy’s from LG was only $50 less. So for $50 more you are getting the brand name you wanted even if you have to mix and match components.

• In home computers, the Alterative has become the pick de rigueur as Apple’s various Macs have become the choice of many computer buyers. So what’s the Alternative to the Alternative? If you find the Macs still too pricey and absolutely can’t stand Windows 8.1 or can’t stand dealing with Microsoft at all, The Google Chromebook at $299 is a fine all around computer, just limited by memory and some software programs. The next best bet is to try to get one of the Windows 7 PCs that Dell, HP and Lenovo have available for around $499 to $799 that keeps you away from the dreaded Windows 8.1 operating system. And if you have tried and liked (the not quite ready for prime time Windows 8.1 operating system) then the Surface Tablet, literally dropping in price every minute, might be worth the trouble to learn how to operate.

Part Two Next week: Tablets, printers, headphones, modems, routers and Internet accessories