Top Shopping Tips

Snooze You May Lose

Avoid long decision making if you want to purchase a particular item. Many items in warehouse stores are a one-shot deal and sell out quickly.

Price Compare

You will want to compare prices to insure you are getting the best price available. You cannot assume that just because an item is in a warehouse store that it is the lowest available price. For smaller products such as food items, often times the brand named items at warehouse stores will be more than the generic brands at your regular grocery store.

Double Up Savings with Manufacturer Incentives

Take advantage of the manufacturer incentives that may be available such as rebates and discounted extended warranties. Just because you are making the purchase at a warehouse store does not mean you forfeit your opportunities to utilize incentives like rebates. Keeping up with your receipt and any other necessary forms is also important if you plan on filing for a rebate.

Proximity is Important

The first decision to make is if the warehouse store is convenient and a store you will frequent on a normal basis. If it isn’t, the annual fee may not be worth the savings you will get from shopping there. To justify the annual fee you will need to spend at least $250 before you can benefit from there versus shopping in regular stores.

Come Prepared

Do your product researches before you go to the store. This is a good idea regardless of where you shop but in warehouse stores the sales personnel generally are not going to be product experts. This is not to say they cannot accommodate you in other areas but do not depend on them for product feedback.

Stay Focused

Avoid losing your focus on what you have come to the store to buy. There are often so many great bargains that it is difficult not to stop and start justifying why you need to buy numerous items you really do not need.

Do They Take Credit Cards?

Many times warehouse stores will not accept credit cards so come prepared to pay for your purchase with a money order, cash, or debit card.

Know All the Benefits

Read all the benefits that come with your membership to the warehouse store. Often times they offer benefits that consumers are not aware of such as discounts on carpet cleaning, one hour film processing, pharmacies, automotive services and other beneficial offers.

Small Business Owners Save More

Small business owners can get an executive card at get a 2 percent return on your expenditures at the end of the year.

Here’s How:

1. Have a plan. Check your closet and make a mental note of what you could use (e.g., a black turtleneck to go with menswear pants you own, etc.)
2. Set a budget. Knowing you can only pay $100 for a dress ahead of time will help you sort through the racks quicker.
3. Start early. For special occasions allow yourself at least two weeks prior to the event to find the dress. You’ll need extra time for shoes and accessories.
4. Dress for shopping. If you’ll be looking for a special occasion dress, try to wear or bring undergarments (strapless bra, etc.) to go with the style. Otherwise, wear easy on/off clothes. Also, styled hair and makeup will make looking at yourself in the dressing room mirror just that much easier.
5. Shop by yourself. If you really need a second opinion, put the item on hold and bring someone back with you later.
6. Keep a blind eye to sales and promotions. Stores put enticing promotional items at the front. Chances are you’ll blow your budget right there unless you stay on task.
7. Accept a salesperson’s help. You may be surprised by how much time you’ll save you if you’ll give them some direction about what you’re shopping for.
8. Try it on. Walk, sit, bend in the clothes. Do they move easily? Are the seams pulling? Do zippers, buttons, etc. all function properly?
9. Use the three-way mirror. Get an honest look at your rear and side views. Watch for extreme panty lines (too-tight pants), bunched up waist (too big) or other tell-tale signs of an ill-fitting garment.
10. Check the care tags. If laundry concerns matter to you, then you may want to do this while browsing. Otherwise, see how much care the item is going to require.
11. Check the return policy. Many stores don’t give cash back, just a store credit; but some mark sale items “final sale” which means you can’t bring them back at all.

Whether it’s jotted on a napkin, neatly typed or written on an attractive, categorized printable list found online, a grocery list can be the key to shopping smart and saving money.

Following is a list of 10 ways consumers can save money (and often time) with the help of grocery lists.

1. Make a list before leaving for a shopping trip. Obviously, this will help you remember the things you need to buy. But it can also be useful in ensuring you don’t buy things you’re not planning to purchase. If you make a list before you leave home, you’ll have a clear guide to get you in and out of the store with just the items you need.

2. Take some time to make your shopping list. If you rush the list-making process, you might overlook items you need to purchase, or buy a food product you already have at home, which could lead to storage or spoilable problems. Glance in your pantry and refrigerator as you make your list, or keep a detailed “master list” or “pantry list” in your kitchen so you can check off staple foods and other items as you run out of them.

3. Menu planning, in conjunction with a grocery list, is a great way to save money and also limit return trips to the store for forgotten times. By planning out a week’s worth of meals in advance, you’ll see how you can make ingredients pull double-duty and stretch leftovers. Some printable lists include room for menu planning, and printable menu planners are also available online.

4. At the store, purchase only items that are on your list. If you “stick to the list,” you won’t bust your budget (Or, for that matter, your diet.) Of course, you could leave yourself some flexibility and include items such as “crunchy snacks” or “family dessert,” and then choose your favorite at the market.

5. You could decide to use a shopping list that’s separated by aisle or category. An organized list help you “shop the perimeter,” which means healthier foods, fewer packaged foods and less impulse-buying. If you have a list that’s organized by category, you won’t even go down the aisle (i.e. chips, soda), in which you know you don’t “need” anything. Consider a printable list you can customize in a word processing program, because then you can type over the aisles or categories so they match the layout of your supermarket, which is very efficient — saving time and money.

6. Planning ahead by making a good list saves time, and time is money! With an organized list, you won’t be roaming willy-nilly all over the grocery store because you’ll know exactly what you need and where to find it so you can get in and out before you get hungry or distracted.

7. If you have children who tend to ask for their favorite foods at the grocery store, decide ahead of time how you will handle this. Some parents find it helpful to “blame the list.” If a child asks for something, the parent can ask, “Is it on the list?” If not, the answer is, “Not this time!”

8. Use lists to avoid wasting money on unplanned meals out. A good grocery list, combined with menu-planning, is at strategy that will save you money by making it less likely that you’ll decide to grab takeout or go to a restaurant because there’s “nothing in the house to eat.”

9. Keep coupons where you keep your list. If you have a list, it reminds you what coupons you’ve clipped so you don’t forget to use them and miss out on saving money.
Try making your shopping list based on the weekly ads. Match the items on your ad-based list with coupons you have, and vice-versa, so you know to use coupons when items are on sale, thus maximizing the savings.

10. Print out a master grocery list. With one large list that includes dozens of food items, you can simply check off what you need, and the list will also jog your memory on commonly used but often-forgotten items. A master list is great for big shopping trips. Larger, infrequent trips save gas, and also save money if you’re at a warehouse store, discount supermarket or using coupons.

1. 
   Always go with a list. If you go without a list, you may as well just throw your money away. Better yet, donate it to me — I probably need it more than you. Seriously, though, you need to prepare a list of everything you need, pulling from your weekly menu (next tip) and checking to make sure you don’t have it in your pantry, fridge or freezer. Make sure you’re not forgetting anything. Now stick to that list.
2. Plan out a weekly menu. This is the best way to ensure that your list is complete, and that you have enough to serve your family dinner for the week. I often plan a weekly menu and then duplicate it for the next week — this way I can shop for two weeks at once. Be sure to plan a leftovers night.
3. Don’t go when you’re hungry. This is a common tip, but it’s true: when you’re hungry, you want to buy all kinds of junk. You’ll end up spending a lot more. Eat a good meal first, and you’ll be more likely to stick to your list.
4. Have a budget. When I go to the store, I know exactly how much I can spend. Then I try my best to stick within that limit. If you don’t know how much you can spend, you’ll certainly spend too much.
5. Do a rough running tally. Related to the above tip, if you want to stay within your budget, it’s best to know where you’re at. Then, when you can see you’re going to go above it, you can decide whether you really need that 10-lb. box of bon bons. I keep a running tally on my grocery list, just rounding off so I can do some quick math. An item costs $1.85? I say $2. Then I don’t need a calculator or all those complicated math skills.
6. Keep a list on your fridge, and write things down immediately. When you run out of something, don’t leave it to your memory. Jot it down immediately, and you’ll never have to run back to the store because you don’t have eggs.
7. Make a pantry checklist. Make a checklist of everything you normally stock in your pantry. Keep it posted on the pantry. Put a slash next to each item for the number of items you have (if you have two cans of stewed tomatoes, put two slashes). Then, when you use something, turn the slash into an x. This makes it much easier when it comes time to make your list.
8. Keep things stocked for quick-n-easy meals. Easy meals for us might be spaghetti or mac-n-cheese or a quick stir-fry. We’ve always got the ingredients on hand, so we can whip something up fast when we’re feeling lazy.
9. Buy in bulk when it makes sense. If you can save money, over the course of a month or two, by buying in bulk, plan to do so. But be sure that you’re going to use all of it before it gets bad — it isn’t cheaper to buy in bulk if you don’t use it.
10. Keep your receipts, then enter into a spreadsheet. This will be your price list. Use it so you know when bulk or sale items are a good deal. It’s also a great way to comparison shop between stores — buy your baking goods in Store A but your fresh fruits in Store B. The spreadsheet can also serve as a checklist to use when you’re compiling your shopping list.
11. Buy frozen veggies. While fresh veggies are a little better, frozen veggies are almost as good, and much better than nothing. And since you can keep them in the freezer, they rarely go bad.
12. When you’re running low, write it down. Don’t wait until you run out. when you see there’s only three toilet paper rolls left, put it on your list. Because when you run out, it will be too late.
13. Cut back on meat. Meat is expensive. We have vegetarian meals several times a week (think pasta or chili) and for other meals, you could just use a little meat as a kind of seasoning instead of the main ingredient — think Asian, Indian and other such cultural food. Actually, I eat vegetarian all the time, but the wife and kids do a little of each.
14. Pack your own lunch snacks. Buying pre-made snacks is convenient, but a big waste of money. Buy little baggies and buy the snacks in bulk, then it will take just a few minutes to pack some snacks for lunch each day.
15. Make leftovers for lunch. Plan to cook a bit extra for each dinner, so that you’ll have leftovers for your lunch and for the kids’ lunches. Pack it right away, after dinner, so you don’t have to worry about it in the morning.
16. Cook a lot, then freeze. Alternatively, you can cook a whole mess of spaghetti (for example) and freeze it for multiple dinners. A great idea is to use one Sunday and cook a week’s (or even a month’s) worth of dinners. Plan 5-6 freezable dinners and cook them all at once.
17. Always have batteries, toilet tissue and light bulbs. And other necessities that you always seem to run out of — buy a whole bunch when they’re on sale, or buy in bulk. Be sure to check to see if you have these items before you go to the store.
18. Try crock pot dinners. We discovered these in the last year, and they are easy and cheap and tasty. Cut up a bunch of ingredients, throw them in the pot in the morning, and have dinner ready for you when you get home. Can anything be more perfect than that? I submit that it cannot.
19. Clip coupons. I know, sometimes they seem like too much trouble. But it’s not really that hard to clip a few coupons and toss them in a coupon envelop to take on your grocery shopping trip. And you can save 10-20% of your bottom line with coupons. Check store entrances, newspaper and flyers for coupons.
20. Only use coupons for items you were already planning to buy. Don’t let them trick you into buying something that’s not on your list, just to “save” money.
21. Look for specials. Every store has specials. Be sure to look for them in the newspaper, or when you get to the store (they often have unadvertised specials — look on the higher and lower shelves for deals). Don’t buy them unless they’re things you always use.
22. Try the store brands. Brand names are often no better than generic, and you’re paying for all the advertising they do to have a brand name. Give the store brand a try, and often you won’t notice a difference. Especially if it’s an ingredient in a dish where you can’t taste the quality of that individual ingredient.
23. Cut back on your “one-item” trips. They waste gas, and almost inevitably, you buy more than that one item. If you plan ahead, make a weekly menu, and shop with a list, this should drastically reduce the number of trips you make for a small number of items. But if you still find yourself running out for a few items, analyze the reason — are you not making a good list, are you forgetting some items from your list? Stock up on the things you frequently go out for.
24. Sugar cereals are a bad buy. Lots of money for no nutrition. Look for whole grain cereals with low sugar. Add fruit for better flavor.
25. Be watchful at the register. Keep an eye on the scanner — you’ll keep the cashier on his toes, and catch any mis-priced items.
26. When there’s a sale, stock up. Sale items can be a great deal. If it’s an item you normally use, buy a bunch of them.
27. Comparison shop. Look at the different brands for a certain type of product, including store brands. Sometimes there will be a significant difference. Be sure you’re comparing apples to apples — you need to divide the price by the amount (ounces, pounds, etc.) in order to get the comparable unit price.
28. Go during slow times. One of my favorite times to shop is late at night. But during working hours or other non-peak times is good too. Avoid right after 5 p.m., on paydays and near major holidays.
29. Know when the store stocks its fresh fruits and veggies. In my area, that makes a big difference. Fruits and veggies can go bad quickly, because they have to be shipped. So I know that the store re-stocks on Thursdays, and so I usually go on Thursdays or Fridays, otherwise I’ll be getting old items.
30. Plan one big trip a month for bulk staples. You can get fresh items at another store on other weeks, but doing a big bulk trip will cut back on the expense and amount you have to carry for the other three weeks. Avoid buying on impulse at the bulk store too — just because they sell a lot of it doesn’t mean you’re saving, if you weren’t planning on buying it in the first place.
31. Avoid trips to the corner store. Or the gas station! These are some of the most expensive stores. (Ranking right up there with airport stores.)
32. Try co-ops. You can often save a lot of money at these types of places for staples.
33. Consider shopping at two stores. There’s no store with a monopoly on savings. Each has savings on different items on different weeks. You might switch between two stores on alternate weeks.
34. Think deep freeze. If you really want to save, you’ll need a big freezer. Ask around — someone you know might have a relatively new model they don’t need anymore. You can use freezers to stock up on meat, frozen veggies, and similar staples, and to freeze big batches of pasta, casseroles, and other dinners you prepare ahead of time.
35. Use everything possible. Got a bunch of leftover ingredients (half an onion, a bit of tomato, some pasta, a few other veggies?) … combine them for a quick meal, so that these don’t go to waste before your next grocery trip. The more you can stretch the food, and the less you waste, the less you’ll spend in the long run.
36. Don’t waste leftovers. Have a list on your fridge of what leftovers are in there, so you don’t forget about them. Plan a leftover night or two, so you’re sure to eat them all. Pack them immediately for lunch, so they’re ready to take the next morning.
37. Don’t buy junk food (or buy as little as possible). Junk food not only costs a lot of money for about zero nutrition, but it makes you and your family fat and kills you. Talk about a bad deal! Opt for fruits and veggies instead.
38. Rain check. If an item is on sale but the store has run out of stock, ask for a rain check.
39. Go when the kids are in school. When you bring kids, they will pester you and pester you until you buy some kind of junk food. Even if you’re able to stick to your guns, it’s not pleasant saying no 10 million times. In most cases, you’ll save money shopping without the kids.
40. Go for whole foods. The processed kind is lacking in nutrition and will make you fat. Look for things in their least processed form — whole grain instead of white or wheat bread, fresh fruit instead of canned or juice, whole grain cereal or oatmeal instead of all other kinds of cereal. You get the idea.
41. Read labels. Look for trans fat, hydrogenated oils, high amounts of sugar, saturated fat, lots of sodium, cholesterol. Then avoid them like the plague. Look instead for fiber, good fats, protein, vitamins, calcium.
42. Clean out your fridge. You’ve got stuff growing in there and turning from solids to liquids. The leftovers have begun to organize their own political party. Toss em out and make room for the new.
43. Stick to your list. Avoid impulse buys. They are almost always bad, and even if it’s just a couple dollars, they will add up to $50-100 for a trip. Over the course of a year, that can mean thousands. Tell yourself you will not buy anything that’s not on your list unless it’s an absolute necessity (why isn’t toilet paper on my darn list?).
44. Use store savings cards. These can add up to big savings over the long run.
45. Cut back on your restaurant eating. It’s never cheaper or more nutritious than eating at home. Plan your dinners (see above tip) and bring your lunches to work and save a ton of money.
46. Avoid frozen dinners or prepared entrees. Again, these cost way more and are usually much less nutritious.
47. Drink water. If you regularly drink iced tea, Tang, sodas or other types of drinks, cut those out completely and just drink water. It’s much better for you, and much cheaper.
48. Prepare your grocery list by aisle. If you regularly shop at the same stores, organize your list so that you can easily find and check off items as you walk down the aisle. We always shop from right to left, so we’re not constantly running back and forth in the store.
49. Get cloth grocery bags. You’ll save tons of plastic over time, and help the environment tremendously.
50. Pack healthy snacks for the kids. Whole wheat crackers, popcorn, cut-up fruit, raisins, and other kid-friendly snacks are much better than the junk you often see in kids’ lunches. And cheaper.

Orginal article from: http://zenhabits.net/2007/04/50-tips-for-grocery-shopping/

A Little Homework
Planning before you head off to the supermarket will help you shop more economically. Take the time to do a quick inventory of your kitchen to determine the food that you need. Prepare your shopping list and make notations of applicable coupons that you may want to use. Read the newspapers and circulars to find the best deals.

Choosing the Right Store
For basic grocery needs many grocery stores now offer excellent product and price selection, frequent shoppers programs and double coupon days. However, when buying in bulk you may want to tackle the warehouse clubs or superstores. Non-perishable items are often at unbeatable prices at such stores. For the best prices on health and beauty products check the national drugstore chains and superstores.

Eat First
Grocery stores know the power of the sweet smell of freshly baked bread. Just one sniff will ignite the appetite and send even the most hardened shopper down the aisle grabbing for anything that looks good. Remember, everything looks good when our stomachs are screaming, “feed me!”

Coupons, Rebates, and Frequent Shopper Programs
You can save hundreds of dollars a year by taking advantage of product incentives. Even the less enthusiastic coupon clipper can shave an average of 10 percent off their bottom-line by cashing in a small handful of coupons per trip.

If your store offers a frequent shopper program, why not sign-up? You will receive advanced notice of special loss leaders, double-coupon days and other money saving information.

Store Brands – Try it, You May Like It
The days of generic type packaging and bland tasting food in store brand products is over. Companies have worked hard to improve their private-label brands and often the taste is equal to the national brands. Do not be afraid to experiment. If you find the product meets your standards, you can save an average of 40 percent off your annual grocery bill.

Setting Limits on Impulse Buying
Avoiding spontaneous shopping trips is one of the best deterrents to impulse buying. Sticking to a well thought-out shopping list will help will help cut down on grabbing for things that you do not need. In addition, giving yourself enough time to shop will help prevent dashing in and reaching for the first item that you come to. Setting a dollar limit for impulse buying will help soothe cravings without busting the budget.

Comparison Shopping
To determine the true value of a product read the unit price, not just the package price. The unit price information is usually on a sticker located on the shelf that holds the item. The package price only tells you the cost of the entire item. The unit price shows the cost per pound, ounce, etc. Taking a moment to compare this information in similar products will help you get the best value for your dollar. Also, be certain to check “expiration” and “use by” dates to insure you are buying the freshest products.

Beware of Marketing Strategies
Avoid marketing ploys designed to draw your attention to a particular product. Knowing some of the tricks of the trade will ultimately save you money. Beware of end-of-the-aisle dump bins, island displays, recipe related item placement and middle-shelf items. This is typically where higher priced and impulse products are placed.

Learn to Be a Label Reader
Reading the product label is the best way to find out more than what is advertised on the box. Ingredients are listed in order by the quantity actually used when making the product. The ingredients used in the highest quantity are listed first. For example, if you are looking for avocado dip you will want to see avocadoes listed in the first part of the ingredient list, not the last part.

If you are looking to cut fat from your diet, be careful of words such as “lite” or “fat-free” which can have broad definitions. By reading the label you can get a better idea of what the fat-to-calorie ratio is as well as other valuable nutritional information.

Watch the Scanner
It may mean you need to put down the magazine, because this is no place to get lax. Keeping your eyes peeled to the scanner has dual advantages. First, it will keep the cashier more alert. Secondly, it will allow you to stop the checkout process if an item is showing the incorrect price. Keeping the store circular nearby is also helpful in disputing an incorrect price. You can also ask the cashier to stop ringing while you accompany the employee to the aisle to check the price of an item.

Once you have some items in mind which you’d like to purchase, it is time to find amazon coupons. There are some different ways to look for amazon coupons, include shipping discounts, percentage off, specials promotions, etc.
Which way is your most favour?

1. If you’re looking for Amazon coupons for free shipping, you’ll want to try www.FreeShipping.org. They offer over 800 stores’ free shipping coupons.

2. If you’re looking for specific items or/and specific percentage off, try www.tophotdeal.com/amazon-discount-finder/ , You can specify your category, keywords, how much of a percentage off you’re looking for (10% – 90% off), price range, and more.

3. If you’re looking for at certain percent off items, then www.junglecrazy.com is your best choice. You can find all great deals on its front page.

4. Also try RetailMeNot.com or currentcodes.com for specific coupon that can be applied to your purchase at checkout.

5. Last but not least, try to check amazon.com itself.

Santa Monica, CA (July 4) — High-Definition TV, which delivers crystal clear-images on big-screen sets, is expected to revolutionize the TV industry.

However, despite dropping prices, HDTV-enabled sets are still in
just six million homes, according to the Consumer Electronics Association. In addition, even fewer viewers have digital tuners that enable them to watch shows broadcast in high-def.

So, what is the future of High-Definition TV? Here are five predictions.

1. The Cable-Satellite War Will Boost HDTV Sales
The cable TV industry was slow to launch HDTV channels. However, under pressure from the federal government — and competitive pressures from satellite TV operators — cable operators this year added HDTV services in most major cities.

DIRECTV and Echostar, the nation’s two satellite TV operators, have offered HDTV for a few years. And, both companies are expected to increase its HD lineup in the second half of this year. However, DIRECTV and Echostar do not have the bandwidth to offer HD feeds of local channels. Cable, however, does and you can bet that cable operators will exploit this in the coming months.

The HDTV audience is not large, but it has money. Both cable and satellite operators know that high-def owners are more likely to subscribe to premium movie channels and other pay packages. So, the cable-satellite war will lead to more HDTV feeds getting on the air. And that will encourage more consumers to buy an HDTV set.

2. Sports Will Drive HDTV Sales
For some reason, most retail stores display HDTV nature shows on demonstration sets on the floor. I have never understood this. The Discovery Channel, for instance, is a sensational HD channel, but no one is going to spend thousands of dollars to get a better view of the Albanian bumble bee.

The retail outlets should broadcast ESPN HD or Mark Cuban’s HDNet, which has a heavy sports lineup. Sports can — and will — drive HDTV sales because the early buyers are largely male.

There is a precedent for this. DIRECTV began its meteoric rise in the mid 1990s when it added the NFL Sunday Ticket, the exclusive package of pro football games.

When a sports fan sees a game broadcast in high-def, he will be hooked.

3. HDTV Recorders Will Drive Sales
Sony, TiVo/DIRECTV and Echostar have all announced plans to launch high-def recorders later this year. (Thomson and Zenith have already introduced DVRs that can record up to nine hours of high-def programming.) The HD recorder will encourage more consumers to buy HD sets. Americans have become conditioned to believe that they should be able to record anything. The lack of a recording feature has tempered enthusiasm for the new technology among some viewers.

4. The Networks Will Soon Increase HDTV Programming
To date, there are less than 15 channels that offer high-def programming. The relative lack of HD content has had a negative impact on sales. Why buy a $3,000 set if you don’t have anything to watch?

However, ESPN has just launched an HDTV network and Bravo is expected to follow suit in the coming weeks. Fox, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, has announced plans to add HDTV programming to its primetime lineup in 2004.

Other networks, which have been hesitant to invest in expensive HDTV production facilities, will soon change their tune to keep pace. Starz, for instance, just announced that it will soon launch an HDTV channel. The movie network, of course, competes with HBO and Showtime, which have already launched high-def channels.

5. HDTV Will Not Replace Analog TVs By 2010
Some industry officials have expressed hope that the Digital TV will be in every home by decade’s end. Despite increasing sales — and the Federal Communications Commission’s mandate to push Digital TV — high-def sets will be in no more than 50 percent of American homes by 2010.

That may sound disappointing, but no technology becomes a household staple overnight. Many Americans are simply not interested in buying a new set, no matter how much better it is. They like to buy one set and hold onto to it for years. In time, they will come around, but it may not be this decade.

HDTV will indeed change the TV industry and, in many ways, our culture. And, factors such as dropping prices and increased programming will continue to boost sales. However, HDTV growth will be slow but steady.

How Compatible Is HDMI?
HDMI is fully backward compatible with PCs, displays and consumer electronics devices incorporating the Digital Visual Interface (DVI) standard. Both HDMI and DVI were pioneered by Silicon Image and are based on TMDS®, Silicon Image’s powerful, high-speed, serial link technology. HDMI supports standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It transmits all ATSC HDTV standards and supports 8-channel digital audio, and with 5 Gbps of bandwidth, HDMI can accommodate future enhancements and requirements. Because HDMI was designed specifically for consumer electronics applications, it offers an array of additional consumer enhancements. As digital content can manifest itself in a variety of sizes, resolutions and formats, HDMI-enabled systems will automatically configure to display content in the most effective format. In addition, if implemented in a specific device, HDMI enables a single remote point and click, allowing manufacturers to deliver home theater systems that automatically configure from a single command from a remote control — turning on or off the components necessary to view a DVD, listen to a CD, or watch cable or satellite TV.

How can I identify which HDMI products support a specific feature, such as DVD Audio or Deep Color?
The key for consumers to remember is that HDMI has consistently enabled a variety of the most innovative new technologies (whether they are DVD Audio, SACD, 1080p/60, etc.). However, in many cases, it is up to each manufacturer to choose which features to implement in any given product. The manufacturer can choose the mix of features that makes sense for its customers and products. So, customers must choose devices that have the features that they want (instead of focusing on which version of HDMI is implemented by the device.). Consumers interested in confirming whether a particular consumer electronics product supports DVD-Audio or any other feature over HDMI are urged to review users’ manuals and product reviews, or check with manufacturers directly.

What is the difference between HDMI 1.3 and HDMI 1.3a, or 1.3b?
For consumers, there is no difference between HDMI version 1.3 and 1.3a or 1.3b. These minor revisions to the specification typically relate to manufacturing or testing issues and do not impact features or functionality in a specific product. In addition, HDMI Licensing, LLC is actively working with manufacturers to reduce confusion for consumers by de-emphasizing version numbers and focusing instead on product features and functionality.

What Is Firmware Upgradeable?
Many of today’s electronics product are design for today’s standards.  Yet like personal computers, they have advanced capabilities that will let them be upgraded for use with new technologies and standards.  The ability to upgrade the firmware of an electronics product allows you to extend the useful lifespan of the device you purchase, and be able to expect support for many (if not all) of the emerging new standards.

What is the difference between Active HDMI and Passive HDMI?
There is no active or passive HDMI in the HDMI specification. These terms apply to cables. Active cables have built-in electronics to enable long cable runs, and typically these cables require a power supply. These cables use active electronics to help push the signal farther than typical passive cables.

1. AUDIO: I noticed that if you use the optical output from the DVR and connect it to any receiver’s optical input (I have a Kenwood receiver), you can hear the audio without having to keep your HDTV on. However, you must have speakers installed on your receiver. 

I mention this because my wife likes to listen to classical music located on channels 800 and above. I belive that this capability should save electricity and the life span of your HDTV screen. I think the DVR’s optical output must be on all the time. 

2. VIDEO QUALITY: The Blue Ridge technician shared a trick on seting up the very best video quality, when viewing non HD channels. He told me not to watch non HD channes using the HDMI input. Instead, use one of your AVI inputs. I connected both. One for HDMI and one for AVI and I switch the inputs using my tv’s remote control. I takes only a few seconds to switch them.

Reason: The HDTV digitizes none digital signals introducing additional noice to the signal. Plus, you will notice that your channels will jump faster, using the AVI input. As you all have noticed, it takes a few seconds changing channels using the HDMI input.

You will be surprised how good the non HD channel look.
By the way, don’t try to connect component cables and HDMI at the same time, the DVR unit won’t let you.

3. COMPUTER CONNECTION: Yes, I am using my computer with my 50 inch Dell Plasma TV. However, don’t use the VGA input in your tv. Instead, spend about $50 and get the new HDTV enabled video cards. Many stores sell them. It makes a lot of difference. Windows XP looks sharp. Without it looks like crap. Also, do spend the money for a wireless keyboard and mouse. I use the picture within a picture function so that I can watch tv on one window and the computer screen on the other. Belive me when you a have 50″ worth of screen real state, there is plenty of room for two windows. 

Be aware that the new Windows operating system will support HDTVs.

Which Size HDTV is Right for My Room?

With standard-definition TVs, the rule used to be that viewers would feel comfortable watching a set from a distance of 3 to 6 times the screen size in inches. With HDTV, the resolution is so much better that you can sit closer to a larger TV without noticing the pixels. So with HDTVs, the rule tends to be you can sit anywhere from 1.5 to 3 times the screen size (in inches) for the best experience.

These rules have been designed to tell you where to sit in relation to your new TV. Look at it another way: You know the size of the room you have already, where you want to sit, and where your new HDTV should go once you get it. So, which size TV should you get?

Doing the math backwards, you get this formula:

Minimum size= Viewing distance/3

Maximum size=Viewing distance/1.5

Doing that math straight up can give some unusual size numbers, so if we round the math to existing common HDTV sizes we get this handy chart:

If the TV you need for your room is 40 inches or less, a flat-panel LCD TV is your best bet. Between 42 and 60 inches, you can choose between plasma, LCD, or rear-projection sets. Plasma HDTVs tend to be the most popular choice in this size range, as they offer good picture quality and flat-panel allure. Flat-panel LCDs are now competitive in price with plasma in the 40- to 46-inch sizes, but generally not available over 52-inches–and at that size they can be pretty expensive.

Rear-projection TVs, such as DLPs or 3LCD rear-projection TVs, are often going to be the best priced of these large-screen TVs. These sets offer a great picture, but where flat-panel HDTVs are about 4-inches thick, rear-projection models are anywhere from 10 inches (on the very slim side) to 16 inches–so you aren’t going to be hanging one on your wall. It turns out most flat-panel HDTV buyers don’t end up hanging theirs on the wall either. Another rear-projection option is LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon). This technology is highly regarded for picture quality and is generally only available now in full 1080p resolution models. LCOS is a generic term; the two different implementations of this technology you’ll find on Amazon.com are the HD-ILA TVs offered by JVC and the SXRD sets offered by Sony. While there are subtle technical differences between these two, we find both provide excellent picture quality.

If you want to go really big with your TV (it’s OK, don’t be ashamed to admit it), you’re looking at a rear-projection model or a front-projection model. Rear-projection models (including LCD, DLP, and LCOS) are available up to 70 inches in size (a little bigger for some brands). That’s a really, really big TV set. Please measure your room first, check the dimensions on the model you’re looking at, and make sure that’s really going to fit. For screens bigger than 70 inches, you need a front projector, also known as a home theater projector or a home entertainment projector. These are just what they sound like; they project the image forward like a movie projector does. The technologies available are the same as for rear-projection TVs. If you buy a home theater projector, you’ll also need to think about the screen you’re projecting on to. Also remember that home theater projectors don’t come with built-in TV tuners, these are really just for projecting an image. To get TV, you’ll need to hook your projector up to an external tuner and/or DVD player. At this size, seriously consider stepping up to HD DVD or Blu-ray for your movie needs. At the very least, make sure you have an upconverting DVD player. Standard-definition images look pretty poor at really large sizes. Also remember that if you want to go with a front projector, you’ll also need to get a screen.