10 Things Not To Buy in 2015 - Comments Page 2

IF you really want to save money on razor blades, ditch the goatee and grow a full set. The wife's dressmaking scissors are great for trimming so cost falls to zero.

You think I'm joking? I'm Welsh and we make the Scots look like spendthrifts!

Happy New Year

Jon

P.S. Check ebay prices on Amazon (often cheaper).

Digital Cameras: I agree with previous posts, there is nothing like a good quality DSLR to get the pictures you want. Your article sums up the thoughts of most people - bigger is better (not size, but megapixels). Just because your smartphone has a 40 megapixel processor, it is a guarantee that the quality of the lens is not anything like a Canon or Nikon lens. So, collect an image through a cheap lens and you will get a blurry 40 megapixel image. That being said, the average consumer probably never connects the smartphone to their 60 inch TV to show the pics, where the lack of quality would be immediately visible. They probably never take a pic and crop a small section to become a new pic - another area where inferior pics just don't work. Smartphones have their place, just understand their limitations.

Good suggestions, Bob, as usual.

"Cable": I can't get rid of my DirecTV. This is our complete entertainment, as we do not go to the movies or out to dinner. When, I say "out to dinner", I mean a real restaurant, not fast food! So, I have learned to wait, for the latest movies, to come on DirecTV. There are a few, that come to DirecTV, right as they are being shown in movie theaters. However, I refuse to pay the price, those are way too expensive, in my book.

"Fax": I learned years ago, to use an All-In-One printer, that has a "stand alone" Fax. I may only need to Fax, a couple of times a year, but, it does save me lots of time and money. I can do it all, at home ... No gas wasted or money spent at UPS, etc. ... No time wasted, either! The only bad thing ... Is when you are out of ink, right when you really need to do a Fax. I solved that problem, since, it happened to me ... I have backup ink cartridges, so, I am never out of ink!

"Anti-Virus": I do pay for the Premium, but, not the most expensive one, either. Usually, there are about 3 different prices, to Anti-Virus Software. I only want the one, where I can schedule scannings, without having to do it manually. Honestly, I am 71 years old and tend to forget, when I am suppose to do things, with my Desktop PC. So, I have not only my Anti-Virus software Pro or Premium, I also have my Malwarebytes Pro and CCleaner Pro, all for the same reason ... I can schedule automated scannings with the paid versions.

"OEM Ink": Again, learned that long ago, I only get Remanufactured or Generic Ink Cartridges. I simply, refuse to pay the prices for OEM Ink Cartridges!!! I have also, learned to look for the "bargains" in buying multiple cartridges, to save even more money. Plus, I really do like to have several cartridges, on hand, so when it's midnight and I need to replace some ink, I've got it, in my storage drawer. One of the best bargains, I ever have gotten, was a Brother MFC240CN printer. It was refurbished and only cost $30.00!!! I got it in December 2008 and it literally, just "died", in Summer 2014. I would say, I got more than my money's worth, out of that printer!!!

"Music": Must admit, my streaming Music sounds pretty darn good, on my PC Stereo Speakers! No, it is not like having a regular AV Receiver and excellent speakers, but, it does get the job done for me and trust me, when I say, I LOVE MUSIC ... It is ALL kinds of music, too!!!

"Cloud Storage": While, I do have a couple of Cloud Services, Dropbox and Google Drive, the only thing that I use my Google Drive for, is to backup my LG Smartphone. I got Dropbox, as a benefit from my Avast! Anti-Virus Software. I do keep the Dropbox up to date, but, for my Desktop PC, I prefer to use my Seagate 3TB External Drive.

Again, excellent article, Bob ... 100 AttaBoys for you, on this one! These type of articles, really help so many people and for those of us, who are computer savvy, it is an excellent reminder. Plus, the computer savvy people tell what we do and why we do it. :^)

As a Board member for a cable access program which mainly is financed from cable subscriber fees--as mandated by federal legislation--I strongly disagree with the dump-cable recommendation. Community-based PEG access--Public/Education/Government--is a mainstay nationwide system which not only serves as a training model for community producers, unlike other broadcasting modes, PEG Access systems offer program producers unfettered unlimited opportunities to show anything coming across the transom at least once. That never happens with outlets such as Direct TV, much less "normal" systems. Eliminate cable and PEG access will fade away.

I truly think we have abandoned QUALITY for things easy. Music! This I know because I've played in a band since I was 15. I'm old now! MP3's and itunes are terrible. The best music recordings were Direct to Disk, followed by regular vinyl records. In a stereo shop I heard a Thelma Houston D2D record played through 2 Macintosh tube amps, and a pair of Kilpsch corner horns. Unreal quality.

Cameras! I was a pro photographer. My own studio. Cell phone photos are really not good. Film is best. Film (120 Hasselblad) costs about $20 a roll for film/processing/printing 12 shots. My digital Canon T3i cam is basically free. Are the images the same? NO! But the Canon is easy and cheap. I shoot mostly digital, but I always bag my Hassie 500CM for special shots.

Rel your info on razor blades. If you keep your razor in a small glass of vegetable oil you will get many more shaves out of it. Theory being the blades do not get dull but microscopic rust builds up on them. Keep up the good work,

I agree with Bassman, who says we have abandoned quality for things easy.

CAMERAS: Like several others, I like my digital camera, and no, Randy O, you are NOT the only one without a smart phone! I tend to want to do things at which a camera still excels.

MUSIC: My husband and I both have a musical background. We have a great stereo system, and CDs definitely sound better than MP3s. So while I listen to lots of MP3s, mostly when exercising or at the computer, for serious listening I will keep my CD player.

CABLE: Since we are far from a "local" station, I will also stick with cable. When a tornado is on its way, I want the local broadcast! (A rooftop antenna would get us nothing--the stations are too far away.) We switched from satellite to cable because we were able to lower our costs--to get some of the stations we liked without paying for channels we never watch.

BACKUPS: I am paranoid about losing my files, so I alternate between two external hard drives. Our cable internet is fast, but I still do not trust "the cloud" to be as secure as my own desktop and hard drives.

I will be very, very serious in what I'm about to say: I will carefully read this article at least two more times, follow your recomendations and bookmark it for many years to come.
Thank you, Bob. Thank you very much.

Regarding Razors

Per ClarkHoward.com you can actually use the same razor for at least a year if you dry it very carefully after each use.