Monday
Sensing my rapidly approaching deadline, I resorted to calling HP’s PR firm to find out once and for all about the DVD playback. I realize that not everyone has the luxury/burden of working with high-tech PR, but I had a job to do, gosh darnit, and would use every resource at my disposal. The PR folks said they would call the product team and get back to me shortly. I received a message later in the day that yes, I was right, the DVD playback was software-only. This made me rethink my enthusiam about the 8280, but it wasn’t a reason to disqualify HP until I got the same data from the competition.
This brings up the larger point, ladies and gentleman, of being as sure as all get out as to what you want before you start shopping. Not surprisingly, sales folks have a policy similar to the military of “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” If you don’t know the questions to ask that will make or break your decision, you’re certainly not going to hear it from those who are most anxious to climb inside your wallet and relieve you of your extra cash. Make a list, check it twice, and take it to the store or have it by the phone so you remember to ask about each and every detail. Now, back to our story.
I realized I had not specified a monitor, so I called the Best Buy store back and was quoted a price of $399 for a 15-inch HP monitor, and $650 for a 17-inch. Again, the salesman knew little of the monitors’ capabilities, prompting another call back to HP’s 800 number. Although the monitors had the features I wanted, I thought those prices were a little steep. I double-checked with NECX and confirmed that, sure enough, I could do better by going to another brand. Since Best Buy also carried NEC, Sony, and Panasonic monitors, I’d have my relatives pick one out at the store.
That was all the research I could squeeze in around my other “big picture” responsibilities of the day, so, like a really bad hangover, this process had to stretch out for yet another day.
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