Q: I was thinking of getting a 42 inch plasma TV for my family room. During my initial trip to the store they talk more about the add-ons then the TV. One thing they keep talking about these fancy �power bars� which regulate the power flow to ensure there is no spikes which (they tell me) is a must have and are much better then the normal surge protecting power bar. I was wondering if such things are really worth it. The minimum price one is $150 which seems a lot for a power bar. Do you use such things on your TV?

A: Yes, it is a real issue… No you don’t need to spend $150 on it. Plasma screens are quite sensitive to power spikes, but there are easier (and cheaper) ways.

Get a good quality UPS, from a brand like APC and you will be fine. Basically, the power supply charges the battery, and the battery powers the TV, so the TV is isolated from the power supply. A UPS will also protect against “brown-outs” where the power doesn’t go off, but the voltage level reduces.
A 350VA APC UPS sells for around $60. Don’t expect it to run for hours during a blackout (or even minutes), but it will protect the TV from surges. If it doesn’t, it’s got a $75,000 Equipment Warranty.

Q: I was wondering if you had any advice in buying camcorders. Things I should look for when selecting one. What media does your camcorder record to? Originally I was thinking the DVD would be good but then you can

Q: Hey guys, need your 2 cents. Do you think this is a reasonable TV?
http://monitor.tatung.com.tw/products/pdp/P42HSMT_U02.htm
Let me know, cheers

A: Reasonability is always a function of cost, so how much is this thing going for? If it’s $50, then it’s a great deal! If it’s $10000, then it’s not! (I’m guessing it’s somewhere in between) Here are some thoughts:

- 1024×768 is not High Definition, but better than most EDTV sets. It has Composite inputs, so it will likely convert 1080i or 720p signals, but it will not show every pixel in either a 720p or 1080i broadcast. A good primer on HD vs ED and resolutions: CNet

- Specs are good. Contrast, Viewing angle, Brightness are all quite good, as is typical for Plasma’s (vs. LCD)

- It has Audio, although I’d suspect you wouldn’t use it.

- Probably the biggest thing to look at, I can’t judge by the specs, and that is how it converts any Standard Definition (or DVD) 4:3 image onto its 16:9 screen. Many sets, just stretch it to fit, making everything look “fat”. The good ones apply algorithms to do an intelligent stretch, maintaining the feel of a familiar image. Best way to see this is go to a news channel, like CBCNW or CNN and watch the scroll across the bottom of the screen. On the good ones, the letters and words will appear to compress and expand as they go across the screen.

- I’m also not familiar with Tatung, so I don’t know what the quality is like. You know my NEC (a name I think we all trust) had issues, but it was a first-generation model, and over 5 years old. Still, I’d expect a TV like this to last 10 years or more, so the name matters.

Again, it’s all really a matter of value. If it’s a good price, I can’t say don’t go for it, but you should know what the tradeoffs are.

Q: Just wondered if you could give me your 2 cents (again). What would you rip your CD’s as, MP3 or AAC?

Oh, and why?

A: Well, AAC gives smaller files, but has strong DRM built into it. The real thing to take into account is that AAC is also less supported. Today, you may have an iPod that supports both MP3 and AAC, but the “next great thing” may not support AAC, but *will* support MP3.

It’s kind of like asking should you use MP3 or WMA. I know what your gut reaction would be, but the reasons for not using AAC are the same. Stay away from any proprietary compression.

Q: Hi Joe,

I am looking for a new laptop, and was wondering what you think about these models:

Tecra A2 http://www.toshiba.ca/web/product.grp?lg=en&section=1&group=1&product=3171

Satellite A70 http://www.toshiba.ca/web/product.grp?lg=en&section=1&group=1&product=3171

Needless to say there are some very interesting choices between these two models. Starting with the processors P4 versus Centrino. I have read that the Centrino technology is just as fast as the P4. The Tecra if chosen will be upgraded to 512 instead of the 256 by the way. Anyways comparing things like the video card intel versus radeon, firewire versus USB 2.0, from my understanding USB 2.0 is faster. (Firewire is for her i-pod) Sooo many questions! All I am really hoping for is your opinion on which one you would buy and why.

I