View Full Version : Computer Magazine Reviewers
When these dumbos get to review modern bits of kit - the kind that we like, you ever notice how wrong they usually get it?
Latest example - Computer Shopper March 2003, review of TFT Panels. They have two eyegonomics one of which is the T17. Usually these reviews will highlight features that differentiate one product from another. Here's what he says about the T17
"... It looks great with a metallic finish, and is fairly substantial."
It's extruded aluminium, idiot! The other point is that because it's aluminium it doesn't have coolling vents all round the perimeter. These are unique to eyegonomic at the moment and he misses the entire point!
The number of times I've seen Lian-Li and Cooler Master cases described as "smart metallic appearance" or words to that effect are numerous. - Then they usually say the PC in question is either under specified for its price or else too expensive!
I've written to some editors a few times but I don't think they get it yet.
The Pimp
21-01-2003, 22:14
hencewhy I don;t buy any of the PC magazines.
Graeme*Kustom*
21-01-2003, 23:30
shame really, not doing them justice - plastic monitors just look so inferior next to the eyegonomic screens !
We finally put an Eyegonomic screen on display in the shop yesterday, and it's attracted a lot of attention already - they definitely have a finish and quality that surpasses any other monitor
and a price to match :rolleyes:
danielctull
22-01-2003, 00:35
Originally posted by Graeme*Kustom*
We finally put an Eyegonomic screen on display in the shop yesterday, and it's attracted a lot of attention already - they definitely have a finish and quality that surpasses any other monitor
and price tag ;) they do look sweet as though, just me being too poor for my own good :(
Yeah, those Eyegonomic TFTs rock! I saw one in the shop the other day when Graeme stabbed a pen into the screen to show me that it's toughened glass covering the display - lol I tried to act cool but I nearly jumped, I never noticed the glass! Graeme explained that was to prove how resiliant they are!:D Wish I could afford one tho' in fact I think I'll buy 2 lottery tickets this week:p
The Pimp
24-01-2003, 01:13
I would like to see Graeme do that with one of the JML Iridium tipped fountain pens that you see advetised on TV :):):) BTW they are crap before anyone buys one(the pens that is). Virtually indestructible my buttocks!!! My 3 yr old boy destroyed it within 30 seconds of getting hold of it.
Originally posted by The Pimp
My 3 yr old boy destroyed it within 30 seconds of getting hold of it.
lol, never mind pimp :)
The Pimp
24-01-2003, 11:05
Originally posted by Sharky
lol, never mind pimp :)
I didn't mind. :D
I phoned JML & they sent me a complete new whole set in replacement!!!! :D :D :D :D
Tim Barnett
31-01-2003, 12:44
Glad to see that not everyone believes what they read in the press. The reviews in Computer Shopper were disappointing in as much as the reviewer completely misunderstood what the Eyegonomic products are all about.
They chose to highlight that the units cost much more than other models on the market. What they failed to do is to explain WHY they cost so much more.
If you compare the Eyegonomic screens on paper to any other monitor the units look overpriced with a similar spec. However, if you compare Jaguar and Golf GTI on paper you'll find that the figures will not be dissimilar (0-60 speeds etc). You can't always use raw figures to compare two different products.
There are features on the Eyegonomic products that improve the performance of the unit which are not shown in the data figures. The anti-reflective glass screen allows you to use the screen even in direct sunlight. The glass is also a high purity contrast filter which improves the image clarity and reduced the glare.
The only way anyone can appreciate why they cost more is by going along to the KustomPC's store and taking a look. I suggest that you ask Graeme first before smacking the screen with a metel pen!
Press reviews can often be a double edged sword. A good review written by an imformed and knowledgable editor is fantastic PR - a poor review which lacks insite is less fantastic. Personnally I hate sending our products for review because the units are always abused (the two brand new units used in this particular review were ruined. The cables had been cut open (why?), the stands had all been taken apart, the metal on both units had been scratched with what looks like a nail, power suppliers not returned, etc etc) and often the person writing the review is significantly less knowledgable than most of the people who use this forum appear to be.
Kustom have stuck their neck out on our products and have spent money on these units because they believe that the product is a winner. When you see a T17 or T22 etc - you'll understand why!
danielctull
31-01-2003, 13:11
Unfourtunately some people wont see those other quality features, just the price. And as much as I try, I cant see me getting anything more than an X15, due to money, and mainly my lack of it :o But I still may be changed as I do love that stand on the X15. Any chance of being able to buy the stand seperately ;):D
And the website you have is well sweet, loads fast and is clutter free, unlike the Samsung one which is all over the place ;) Like the 3D views on the screens as well!
Big Adam
31-01-2003, 13:20
Heh, I may not be able to afford the monitor but it looks like I'm not the only one who uses an el cheapo Ikea utensil holder as a fancy pen pot!!
http://www.eyegonomic.co.uk/active/images/T17_desktop.jpg
Tim Barnett
31-01-2003, 14:30
The X15 stand has a standard VESA size fitting which means that you could put any other monitor onto it. I'm not sure what the balance would be like with someone elses screen on this stand but we have no problems in providing Kustom with just the stand - I'll let Graeme know the price details for just the stand in the next few days - badger him about it next week.
Heh, I may not be able to afford the monitor but it looks like I'm not the only one who uses an el cheapo Ikea utensil holder as a fancy pen pot!!
I knew that someone would spot it one day!
The Pimp
31-01-2003, 14:50
Tim
Is your company based near St Ives by any chance?
Hey Tim, good points you made, even if you are biased!
But, why aren't Kustom PCs on your list of "Where to Buy" ?
To add to your comments about the Computer Shopper review, I looked at it again last night and the way they mark the features is quite sad. You get an extra star for having multi media. How can anyone regard, as a bonus, two piddling little 1w 'speakers which usually also ruin the look of the unit?!!!
Mind you, they were right to criticise the lack of DVI. Having said that, a good quality monitor will show very little difference between VGA and DVI. I went from VGA to DVI on my Philipps 150P2 and saw absolutely no difference at all. (Mind you, I wished it was an Eyegonomic - particularly the aluminium finish - which Shopper describes as "industrial".) Hah!
I still haven't seen one in real life - just as well, Graeme would plunk it on the counter, let me stare at it for five minutes and then say "Cheque or Visa?" (He did it to me before with an ATC 110):D
Tim Barnett
31-01-2003, 15:19
We're based in Cambridge - about 15 minutes from St Ives (not the St Ives in Cornwall obviously!).
We will shortly be uploading the UK front end for the website. This will include details relevent to the UK i.e. a UK based 'where to buy' - KustomPC's and the other resellers will be listed accordingly.
I hear the comments re: Dvi. We all know that it is next to impossible to differentiate between a decent analogue signal and a Dvi signal. Until recently the demand for Dvi was only there from sectors of the market who wanted it because it was new. However, as graphics cards advance we are seeing the demand for Dvi reach a point where you are hampered if you do not offer it - many people do not really know why they want Dvi, they just know that they have to have it.
The X17 will be launched in a few months (probably after Cebit - you heard it here first) and this will be a dual VGA/Dvi unit. We may also offer this unit with a video input (S-VHS and Composite). I'm sure that Dvi will spread throughout the range but frankly we're not in any huge rush. I have yet to see a Dvi screen that will display a better image than any of the Eyegonomic products - due to the non-reflective glass, the contrast filter on the glass, the lack of fan (in large units this can cause slight image flicker) etc. (he says standing tall on his soap box).
Re: Audio - Anyone who is paying for a premium screen is likely to spend a few quid extra and get an external audio system. This is why we have no audio incorporated into the products. I agree with you that the sound quality from most screen speakers is pants. The cost of the speakers used in most screens is less than £0.38 - yep they cost about thirty eight pence each. The reason they are so cheap is because they are rubbish. We have had discussions with Mission (located just outside St Ives) to investigate the idea of incorporating a 1inch wide NXT panel behind a brushed aluminium mesh that would clip to either side of the T-series screens. We'll keep you posted about that one........
How many back lights do your monitors have, particularly the 17" ?
The only advantage I have seen so far with DVI is that you can use a longer cable and, I understand, the image on poorer quality monitors usually improves under DVI. I would assume the reason for that is that having spent less money on the analogue electronics due to a price point, it just doesn't convert the signal as well.
P.S. Clearly, the cost of your monitors is not due to the price of the TFT panel itself, and aluminium doesn't cost that much, I assume the cost is due to fabrication, quality, relatively low production numbers and the "exclusivity" factor.
I would be willing to wager that your image quality isn't any better than, say, an iiyama 4281 or 4332 - both of which are also very nice looking units, but you do have them beaten hands down on the looks department.
Point is, with increasing TFT panel production, prices are constantly falling, even good units like the iiyamas, so what will happen to Eyegonomic prices? The last thing one would want is to buy one and have the price plummet by hundreds of pounds over a short period.
It's not that I'm going along with the "reassuringly expensive" marketing approach but that would be a massive bummer!
I appreciate we're going off topic a bit. Where else would this go?
Tim Barnett
31-01-2003, 16:03
Good points.
Dvi does make a difference at the crap end of the market. However, I still maintain that if you are only measuring image quality that a good analogue signal will produce as good an image as a Dvi.
It's a fair point about the image from the panel when compared to something like the iiyama units. But ontop of this you have an extremely pure pane of glass. The glass makes a huge difference to the image and also protects the panel.
The extra cost for the Eyegonomic comes from the materials (the glass is extremely expensive and pressing aluminium is much more expensive than moulding plastic), the build quality (T-series are put together by hand), the engineering for the stand, the warranty cover and the obvious fact that as a 'premium' manufacturer you sell less units than a mass market competitor - simple economies of scale mean a higher price. It is also more expensive because we are only offering it via a very select network of partners. Kustom will be one of the few places in the country where someone can walk into a shop (or go on-line) and purchase the monitor.
I think the price for TFT's generally has further to fall - but not an enormous amount more. I think 17 inch will become so cheap that it'll almost spell the end for 15 inchers.
Whilst our prices are likely to be reduced slightly they are never going to reduce on the sort of scale that you see elsewhere. This is because the panel (which is the component that has seen the biggest price drop) is not the most expensive part of our products - in this we are unique.
As a general point - I'm sure that you will see our prices reduce slightly over time but not enough so that everyman and his dog will be forming an orderly q outside the doors of KustomPC's.
Originally posted by Alan
I appreciate we're going off topic a bit. Where else would this go?
I could bump it to hardware, but it did start as a rant. Just have a row about something whilst you discuss.
My dad's bigger than your dad ;)
danielctull
31-01-2003, 16:47
Originally posted by Tim Barnett
The X15 stand has a standard VESA size fitting which means that you could put any other monitor onto it. I'm not sure what the balance would be like with someone elses screen on this stand but we have no problems in providing Kustom with just the stand - I'll let Graeme know the price details for just the stand in the next few days - badger him about it next week.
Tim, you are brilliant! At first I was only joking about it, most companies would say "stuff ya", but that goes to show how willing to please you are :)
Tim barret Your screens look amazing and you should be congratulated on making such a cool looking screen
Just one question. Will ya send me a free one :D I`ll be your friend if you do . :p
danielctull
31-01-2003, 16:53
Originally posted by kopite
danielctull Your screens look amazing and you should be congratulated on making such a cool looking screen
Just one question. Will ya send me a free one :D I`ll be your friend if you do . :p
I don't make the screens :confused: Tim Barnett's the one who's with the company...
The Pimp
31-01-2003, 17:18
Thanks Tim.
I may have to make an appointment to come and visit your company in the very near future, so I can have a look at these 'marvels' with my own eyes. I am literally 15 minutes from you & the reason I asked was that another one of my suppliers reps has Eyegonomics as a call when he comes up this way (yet he mentioned St Ives for some reason).
Originally posted by danielctull
I don't make the screens :confused: Tim Barnett's the one who's with the company...
Thats what I said mate ;)
Dont know where you got that dodgy quote from (thank god for edits lol, shame they leave info that you edited it though)
Anyway TIM GIVE ME A FREE SCREEN OR THE CAT GETS IT :p
Graeme*Kustom*
31-01-2003, 20:17
Alan,
You'll be interested to know we have an X15 on the shop counter now... so I'll get you next time ;)
Welcome to the forums, Tim - and thanks for your input.
Ummm... Tim, the next time you're on, how many back lights do the 17" models have?
P.S. Graeme, before you get me for the T17, I really want that black CM 111:D
Hmmmmmm!
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/alan.mcgeagh/ergo1.jpg
Tim Barnett
01-02-2003, 13:57
Tim, you are brilliant! At first I was only joking about it, most companies would say "stuff ya", but that goes to show how willing to please you are - You should speak to my wife!
Tim barret Your screens look amazing and you should be congratulated on making such a cool looking screen - Thanks, glad you like 'em. But you still 'aint getting one for free. Ask Graeme if he'll give you one for nothing. It should be noted that Kustom also deserve congratualting for having the foresight to take this type of product on - in an endless quest looking for nice kit Gaeme found us.
Pimp - Obviously it'd be better to see the products at the Kustom shop. But given the geography involved that would plainly be barking. You are welcome to come and see us but all pricing and purchasing queries would have to go via Kustom. BTW - where was the sales rep from?
Originally posted by Tim Barnett
Tim barret Your screens look amazing and you should be congratulated on making such a cool looking screen - Thanks, glad you like 'em. But you still 'aint getting one for free. Ask Graeme if he'll give you one for nothing. It should be noted that Kustom also deserve congratualting for having the foresight to take this type of product on - in an endless quest looking for nice kit Gaeme found us.
You heard the man graeme :D He said to give me a free screen ;)
Seriously though if I had that type of cash i wouldnt hesitate in getting a pair of em cos they`d look the mutts on my desk project I`m working on :D
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