On Thu, 25 Aug 2022 19:35:19 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

>Just so people don't think my scrounging always pays off...

Scroungers Log, junkdate 022.246

Nothing added this week, but instead there's a potential loss. That
55" Sony I acquired a few weeks back is showing problems. Various bits
of... well, I guess they're digital static, but they look more like
flickering barcodes - are appearing randomly on the screen. They're
just a five or ten centimeters across (and maybe 10mm high) and -
individually - aren't very noticeable... but their numbers are
multiplying.

(Actually, I first noticed them while playing the "Terminator:
Resistance" game and thought them a visual effect from the game, a
recreation of the pseudo-code as seen through the Terminator's
viewpoint... but the static persists even when all inputs are removed
from the TV, so it is obviously hardware related).

The effect is likely the result of a failing capacitor (isn't it
always?) and I've inclination to fix it. Arguably I don't have the
talent - my soldering is haphazard at best and unless the damage is
obvious, I often have difficulty finding the capacitor - but I'd be
willing to give it a try. I mean, what's the worst that could happen;
I ruin an already dying TV? Unfortunately, the size of the TV prevents
the repair; I just don't have the room to take the thing apart.

I haven't shipped the 55" off to e-waste yet (I haven't given up hope
of somehow refurbishing it) but that's its likely destination. In the
mean time I'm back to my older 42" screen, and - honestly - the
difference isn't that noticeable (except its color gamut isn't quite
as expansive). Still, while I would have liked to keep the 55" I'm not
heartbroken at the loss. I got almost a month of good use out of it,
and anyway, you take your chances when scrounging; there is a reason
many of these old electronics are dumped on the curb. And 42" is still
a respectable size.

The hunt continues.

On Sat, 03 Sep 2022 11:21:59 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Fri, 02 Sep 2022 20:40:43 -0600, PW
><iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>>I was at Target today. It was a Vivio TV that we returned not a
>>Samsung. I have no idea why that brand is so popular. Worst picture
>>and sound of any TV I have ever seen. And it only looked good at
>>certain angles. Piece of junk!
>
>(It's "Vizio")
>
>And you do know why Vizio TVs are so popular: it's the price. They are
>one of the cheapest brands on the market; low-price has been the
>company's goal, and it sacrifices visual and build quality to achieve
>this. The models sold in stores are usually the cheapest of the cheap
>too, because nobody goes to a B&Q or Target if they're expecting to
>buy high-end gear. It's all about "what's on available", "what's on
>sale" and, "Oooh, I guess that looks nice in the store, might as well
>get that" ;-)
>
>Vizio are junk because they're designed to be junk.
>

*---

So I gave them a step up with me spelling their name by adding a Z
which sounds so much more "French" so to speak.

Yesterday, I learned alot about shopping in Bozeman, MT. I hopefully
assume that the same experience I had at Target yesterday is not just
here? Look, us locals who live around Livingston, MT had an
expression for that town ever since I moved here 30 years ago:
"BozeAngelas" and and have had a joke about that place" "The best part
of Bozeman is that they are only 20 miles away from Montana". True
story right there. Livingston is 20 miles east of BozeAngelas.

So, in Target yesterday my wife needed something for us there. The
men's underwear and other sections were totally vacant. But yet,
there were plenty of "sheep" waiting in the self-checkout line. The
mile must have been 100+ deep. So, since my wife are not sheep and do
not live in a place like BozeAngelas, we saw two checkers all by
themselves. Not self-check, but actual people!

We paid for our purchases in about 2 or 3 minutes and headed outside
to our truck, covering our ears because of the lillegal people
pretending to play programmed "instruments".

We looked back before heading out the exit of Target, and we noticed
that maybe 1/4 of the lines (there were more than one for the
self-checkout) caught one to what we did: Avoid that line and fine a
human person at the checkout registers!

The rest of these sheep were very happy to follow the other sheep in
front of them in the self-check out line, even to pay for perhaps 5
items!

I live in the USA (or what it used to be called) but I have always
been a huge fan of British music, especially all the amazing talent in
the 80's ("New Wave").

My wife and I used to love the band the House Martins. I sang the
lyrics to one of their songs to my wife when leaving Target entitled
"It's Sheep We Are Up Against" hehe!!

-pw

On 03/09/2022 16:21, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> On Fri, 02 Sep 2022 20:40:43 -0600, PW
> <iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>> I was at Target today. It was a Vivio TV that we returned not a
>> Samsung. I have no idea why that brand is so popular. Worst picture
>> and sound of any TV I have ever seen. And it only looked good at
>> certain angles. Piece of junk!
>
> (It's "Vizio")
>
> And you do know why Vizio TVs are so popular: it's the price. They are
> one of the cheapest brands on the market; low-price has been the
> company's goal, and it sacrifices visual and build quality to achieve
> this. The models sold in stores are usually the cheapest of the cheap
> too, because nobody goes to a B&Q or Target if they're expecting to
> buy high-end gear. It's all about "what's on available", "what's on
> sale" and, "Oooh, I guess that looks nice in the store, might as well
> get that" ;-)
>
> Vizio are junk because they're designed to be junk.
>

Can't say I've even heard of the brand but they don't sound very good.
As you say there's a reason companies put stuff out cheaply and it's not
that they are being charitable.

On Sat, 03 Sep 2022 11:21:59 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
<spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Fri, 02 Sep 2022 20:40:43 -0600, PW
><iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>>I was at Target today. It was a Vivio TV that we returned not a
>>Samsung. I have no idea why that brand is so popular. Worst picture
>>and sound of any TV I have ever seen. And it only looked good at
>>certain angles. Piece of junk!
>
>(It's "Vizio")
>
>And you do know why Vizio TVs are so popular: it's the price. They are
>one of the cheapest brands on the market; low-price has been the
>company's goal, and it sacrifices visual and build quality to achieve
>this. The models sold in stores are usually the cheapest of the cheap
>too, because nobody goes to a B&Q or Target if they're expecting to
>buy high-end gear. It's all about "what's on available", "what's on
>sale" and, "Oooh, I guess that looks nice in the store, might as well
>get that" ;-)
>
>Vizio are junk because they're designed to be junk.
>
>
*--

And they have a nice, fancy, professional looking box :-)

On Sun, 04 Sep 2022 14:02:00 -0600, PW
<iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:
>On Sat, 03 Sep 2022 11:21:59 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
><spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
>>On Fri, 02 Sep 2022 20:40:43 -0600, PW
>><iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:

>>>I was at Target today. It was a Vivio TV that we returned not a
>>>Samsung. I have no idea why that brand is so popular. Worst picture
>>>and sound of any TV I have ever seen. And it only looked good at
>>>certain angles. Piece of junk!

>>And you do know why Vizio TVs are so popular: it's the price. '

>And they have a nice, fancy, professional looking box :-)

Well, yes. Never discount the power of marketing. Who can resist the
shiny box? It's psychological manipulation and nobody is immune to it.

....

Now I want a shiny box too.

On 9/4/2022 2:50 PM, Spalls Hurgenson wrote:
> On Sun, 04 Sep 2022 14:02:00 -0600, PW
> <iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:
>> On Sat, 03 Sep 2022 11:21:59 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
>> <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Fri, 02 Sep 2022 20:40:43 -0600, PW
>>> <iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:
>
>>>> I was at Target today. It was a Vivio TV that we returned not a
>>>> Samsung. I have no idea why that brand is so popular. Worst picture
>>>> and sound of any TV I have ever seen. And it only looked good at
>>>> certain angles. Piece of junk!
>
>>> And you do know why Vizio TVs are so popular: it's the price. '
>
>> And they have a nice, fancy, professional looking box :-)
>
> Well, yes. Never discount the power of marketing. Who can resist the
> shiny box? It's psychological manipulation and nobody is immune to it.
>
> ...
>
> Now I want a shiny box too.
>
I want to know how they made the cardboard box shiny.

--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky
dirty old man.

And here we go again...

I still haven't disposed of the 52" TV I found a month ago. It worked
for a couple weeks before it started showing problems - odd half-lines
of barcode-like static - that are indicative of failing capacitors. It
needs to go to the e-waste depository, but it's so annoyingly large
(and heavy!) that I haven't shifted it yet. Instead, it sits in the
corner of the room collecting dust.

Thus, the last thing I need is /another/ big screen monitor. And of
course, that's what I got.

Because there it was, sitting lonely on the curb just waiting for a
new owner. Who was I to deny it a new home?

(There was also a 36" TV and an ancient 14" 5:4 Dell monitor sitting
next to it but I wasn't quite so charitable with them. The 36" was
gone a day later so obviously I'm not the only scrounger in the
neighborhood. The Dell monitor languishes, however).

This new one isn't quite as big as my last find; a 'mere' 47 inches
(46.9" viewable, says the manual). It's actually right in the 'sweet
spot' for my needs. The 52" was almost too big (and the 70" I found
six months prior was just too huge). This new monitor is quite a bit
brighter than I am used to, and I haven't quite tailored its colors to
my taste but I'm generally satisfied with it. That it weighs about a
third of the 52" (and uses about half the electricity!) are both
bonuses as far as I'm concerned. It does need a special cable for
component video, though, and it lacks the remote, but these are minor
issues (and both solvable for modest fees, should I really care enough
about either). All-in-all, it is a happy find.

But will it last? That's the big question. Bulk aside, I was rather
happy with the 52"... right up until it started showing problems. This
new 47" may have a similar lifespan; I mean, it ended up on the curb
for a reason, right? (Although its equally likely it got tossed
because its 'smartTV' functionality is out of date. Since I use it
just as a monitor that's not an issue to me). Still, so what if it
dies in a month or three? Like nobody ever says, "there's always
another monitor on the curb". I'll keep my old 42" TV on standby just
in case.

I'm still hoping for another PC to show up... preferably with a beige
desktop chassis I can salvage so I can finally assemble my Win9x
computer. One of these days, one of these days...

Meanwhile, I really gotta see about getting that 52" outta the
house... my back aches at the mere thought.