The Journey: Buying a TV

I already work for a tech account where one of the integrated services is TV. Ironically, I had to resolve TV issues then when I really had no interest in watching TV at home and not even keen on owning one, until recently.

No. I haven't changed my mind about the news and noontime shows and soaps. I use it primarily for watching movies, when my small laptop screen is straining my neck already.

So the journey begins in selecting the TV. LED? LCD? Smart TV? 1080P? Full HD? HD ready etc. Someone would expect of me that I should be more than aware what these things stand for, not until you're confronted with the choice of picking one, lest paying for one and bringing it home to enjoy for the years to come. What actually triggered my interest was the possibility of owning my own game console so that I can play Tekken internationally at the comfort of my own couch, cool huh?

The jargons didn't really swallow me whole. What was really upsetting was the service I was receiving while I was shopping for a TV. I've been around Ortigas and Cubao, been to several stores: Automatic, Western, Abenson, to name a few. The first thing a salesman offers would always be the largest, most expensive one. Not interested. He would try to show how awesome it is hwo much he'd memorize the brochure, but when you start asking about differences in features for certain models, that's when he starts scratching his head. Two models would have fairly different picture quality, unless you bring your own sample video to actually test it yourself. After the quick, often empty pitch, once I inform them "I only have a ceiling of 20k and I want to have the largest screen possible". Most of them would frown, or would rather walk away, perhaps to be polite.

I would be left alone to tinker with the back, getting little or no responses or assistance once they have already tagged you "cheap".

So, some stores have handsome salespeople. That's the end of it. Ask them to compare models, you might have wished you've just asked them to smile and not utter a word.

I was hesistant at first to purchase from a Department Store, especially SM, thinking it would probably cost me more compared to these stores. My experience was so much better. I started checking Sony and Samsung, however, with the budget I have I was aiming for something between 27-32 inches as much as possible. I was told that it would be ambitious with my budget but I might be willing to settle with a less premium brand but with equal quality. The salesman was awesome! He even showed me the difference between an HD ready and a Full HD model. There really is no significant difference, all relies on the input or resolution of the video itself, it will deliver the same picture quality. I chose something that can play USB and has as many ports possible. End of day, I got myself a ChangHong 27" slim border HD Ready TV with a free wall mount and a free adapter so that I could attach my 3.5mm speakers to go with it.... all for just 13k!? 

I was happy and contented with my purchase and no longer do I need to strain my neck trying to watch in a 19" laptop. I am pleased with the service I received and glad I made the right decision!

Tekken here I come!

Past Forward

It's not an oxymoron but it might as well be. For this year, I don't really know what is the main core reason, but I have been trying to bridge the gaps between the past and the present. Recently, it have been immersing myself to   impulsive hobbies and tasks I used to set aside and made excuses for long ago.

As with last year, I started the year by reading my first novel. My mother started collecting novels and series of all sorts and none of them pre loved. If she likes an author or happens to be interested, she buys the entire catalog. How i wish I had that much money. I came across Paulo Coelho when an acquaintance from a Christmas party asked for his book as an exchange gift. Funny, for of all the titles he wrote, I picked "Eleven Minutes", and with my last post I was even puzzled as to what whores and blowjobs had anything to do with me? 

I am about to read his next book, the Alchemist, but I also promised myself to catch up with the Classics. I have yet to muster the patience to actually digest To Kill a Mockingbird. I managed to finish the Hunger Games trilogy through audiobook listening on my daily commute but even the audio version of the classic, not even the Southern accent of the narrator could hold my attention far too long.

My laptop is running on Windows Vista and after seeing the app improvements  on the W8 interface, mine feels frickkin' ancient already? In addition, the 150GB memory it used to boast then didn't seem enough to catch up with all the upgrades that drain it to a real time low. I barely have 10GB to work with. I still love my "entertainment system".Oh yeah,I bought a new TV too! Yey! I still don't watch local shows.I pretty much use it for movies, which further aggravates my memory problems.

I was very much surprised as to what I could find in Torrents! HD copies of almost any movie I want! In as much as I would like to catch u with literature,I kinda felt deprived of during the days I really didn't get to watch on the big screen or I had to wait until it is available on tape or there's a somewhat decent copy from a video taken inside a theater.

I started to look for titles such as: 

Little Nemo, all I recall was "pajama pajama!" and a scepter and a flying bed but couldn't recall the plot.

The Last Unicorn, I remember the scene when she was charging the Red Bull to retreat to the sea,but I also had no recollection of the story.

Pipi Longstocking, I can recall the first line from the chorus and a scene where she used two brooms and flew off like a chopper but again,never the plot. I'm sure I enjoyed it but how come I don't know why?

One more thing that is also eating up my memory would be, language. I'm trying to squeeze in any free time during my waking hours to study French. I am glad to find a material that I am finally comfortable and motivated to work with!

Lastly, if I added and tried to do so many things with my computer, I decided to take hiatus from Facebook. I vowed never to log in or update my profile for 30 days. One of the main reasons I liked FB was due to phototagging, liking, and comments. But recently I have been far too overwhelmed that people already had no censorship or discretion as to what they wish to share. Scandals, violence, and other disturbing thoughts and images shared impulsively. Before, photos of food can only be seen on magazines, but people nowadays take photos of almost every meal and drink they take? Where they checked in, who they are dating, the plans for the weekend, who they are with, etc etc etc. I am witnessing their lives unfold, but I feel like I failed to take part of it? Sometimes I feel like we are all connected, but still alone. I'm sure you might have seen this somewhere: you see a group of people gathered around a table, all quiet and tinkering with their small screens and barely interacting with each other.

I choose not to participate with that.

So, perhaps this year my theme is to catch up with my life. Recap the past, see if there was anything possibly significant that I have missed. I don't think I'd appreciate Powder (1995) then if I had seen it, but I am glad to watch it now. Maybe I'm getting all too excited about nearing my 30's? Am I crazy or what?

I have not yet made a fortune. I have not yet realized my dreams. But I feel like, compared before when I feel sluggish and procrastinating, suddenly, 24 hours doesn't seem enough and my brain is pouring and absorbing almost anything like a sponge.

And so we all missed yet another failed Doomsday prediction, but we still wouldn't really know when it will be?

I don't care anymore.

I have finally made the choice to live.