Suggestion for all Reports/Comments

[DereX888]

I was checking out compatibility section of dvd players and writers on this otherwise great website, something what I haven't done for quiet a long time (how many players and writers one already can have... and I admit I got really pissed yesterday, because I used to rely on it in the past.
Most of the comments/reports on those few models I was trying to get information about - most of them were from morons who say "I have this or that since yesterday and it works great" or "I have it for 2 days and it works great" etc etc Imean: WTF is this?! Any piece of crap including cheapest Apexes from few years ago would work OK within a day or two, and any device's functionality (i.e. readability of SVCD subts or PAL/NTSC etc) obviously won't change at all till they die, so why moderators allow comments/reports like this at all? IMO someone having new electronic toy for just a day or two and posting his/her comments about it is as reliable as the salesperson working his commission at the store...
I know it would be difficult to do, but at least there should be some kind of warning/reminder for all the n00bs that would pop-up saying "please do not post any comments/reports if you have just bought your new player/writer/other", perhaps followed by "enter your email here and we will send you comments/reports questionnaire in 30 days" or so.
Otherwise the entire hardware comments/reports section will become totally unreliable (it already is partially - just go check some single comments on some dvd players).

[teegee420]

I disagree. If I'm looking for comments it doesn't matter to me how long they've had the thing. The point is they have it and I don't. Would I like for people to only post once they've reviewed it extensively? Yes. Do I feel there should be rules forbidding someone from posting their thoughts on something they haven't had a long time? No. Take from the comments what you will. They're not supposed to be professional reviews.

[DereX888]

comments from a "one day owner" probably have no more value than reading specs of the product on manufacturer's website, therefore it misses the point of making a comment, dont you think? Comments from someone who has the product for longer period of time are more likely to include any possible defects which manufacturers certainly won't publish on their site.

Just an example: Kiss DP-450 comments (I think, Ive been checking so many yesterday). Out of ~100 comments there, most positive comments are from short-time users, while negative reports come from longer time owners.

What you say is "I prefer quantity of information over quality of information". Well, I disagree.

[teegee420]

Then simply disregard the comments you deem unworthy of your time. I don't care if someone has only used the thing for an hour. They're still entitled to post their opinions. The only people who shouldn't be posting are the ones who don't own the item in question. I take all opinions there with a grain of salt. I don't see why you can't do the same. No matter, this is simply where you and I differ. I completely understand where you're coming from though. I just don't believe in censoring people's opinions because someone believes that they're unqualified to make them. An opinion is just an opinion.

[DereX888]

Why yes, I do the same - I disregard what I think is not trustworthy
But its getting hard to compare few product's comments when there is 100s of comments to read on each model, and most are just as usefull as the salesperson at the store.
Having i.e. 30-day period of 'cooling euphoria off' before someone is allowed to post comment on the product would probably eliminate most of those 'junk' comments, and it would certainly made reliability and accuracy of posted comments much better.

[teegee420]

You make a good point. I'm just not sure if this is something that needs to be enforced. Regardless, I'll abide by and respect whatever the Admin/mods conclude on this matter.

[Baldrick]

I tried to moderate the lists..but it was just toooooo much work and what comments should I "believe" or what was just crap...

I maybe could add some kind of waiting period, you submit that you want to make a report and you have to wait a week or something.

[vhelp]

Morning all,

I read your post, and good point indeed. But, I think there's a better idea
for yours and others benefit. Good suggestion though :P

When a user of that product is commenting their experience on it, there could
be a box (dropdown) indicating how long this product has ben used by that
person. This way, those that are researching a new product could get a better
idea/analyisis and go from there w/ their research.

Other suggestions/things could spawn from this (or ways to provide this)

Hope that made sense.
-vhelp

[Baldrick]

SOunds also like a good idea.


Other suggestions are welcome.

[Supreme2k]

What does it really matter, since it's only opinion? None of the people posting reviews (or at least not a large percent) are experts in electronics, so you're going to get an "average" viewpoint. What if someone watches one video a week vs. the guy who watches eight a day? Even the "experts" may leave out the littl detail of frequency of use.

If it's going to come down of a matter of nitpicking, then maybe one or two people should be oing reviews. I'm sure that the millions in Baldrick's budget will allow him to purchase the new players/recorders/capture cards as they come out

The thing that makes this site so great is the fact that it is so open. You don't have to worry about bias because you have such a variety of opinion. Like this thread. I suggested a scanner that I had, while George suggested another. Simple opinions left up to the buyer to interpret.

[DereX888]

@Baldrick
Youre brave I wouldnt dare trying to moderate it, since Im sure you get hundreds of new opinions daily.
I think waiting a week for report submission is great idea. I'd probably extend it to a month, but minimum a week is probably good enough. In case of really crappy product it is already enough to notice overheating power supply or falling-out buttons (Apex AD-703 anyone? )

@Supreme2k
There was no intent in my original post to limit anyone's input/opinion
Exactly as you've said: real people (not experts) are making this site so great as it is.
But it striked me when I was researching opinions on products how many stupid (IMO) posts are there. By 'stupid' I mean exactly what I've quoted earlier - "I have this or that since yesterday. It works great". I don't think you (or anyone else) really need this kind of comment/opinion, since its not really an opinion nor comment, but more sort of rather stupid announcement which you could translate to "I just bought it and to my surprise it did turned on and appear to work"
Given the opportunity of some waiting period before posting his/her comment, Im sure many people (certainly not all) would have gave it a bit more thought in stating their opinion, if not altering them at all.
I did it myself too. I praised some crappy product when I posted one of my very first opinions here within few days from the day I bought it. Had I waited a month I would have totally bash it and suggested avoiding it.

@vhelp
Thats a good idea too. Although as with all dropdown selections there will be alot of people who probably just skip it leaving at its default.

[offline]

Baldrick,

I'm sure you could find someone crazy enough to moderate
each of the lists. Just offer them some nice blue text and
maybe their name on the "who are we" roll of honour.

I mean you did get me and my pal, KingJohn.
Remember KingJohn

[Baldrick]

I found Satstorm.

[Baldrick]

and i also found you offline.

kingjohn who?

[offline]

well you can't win all the time