I hired someone, can I trust they will be objective?
 

I hired someone to put together a proposal for my home theater. It seems
like one projector (BenQ PE8700+) sounds better according to reviews than
the InFocus Home ScreenPlay 7205. He seems to want me to go with the
InFocus instead of the BenQ, saying that the InFocus is their preferred
choice, and that he has one himself.

My question is do these people (who you can hire to put together
recommendations, then buy the things for you, then install them) typically
have a reason to go with a certain projector (maybe because they are
associated with that brand), even if the projector isn't as good?

I know everyone is different, but I'm just wondering if anyone knew if this
is a common thing.


Thanks, Brad

Bradley Burton wrote:

My question is do these people (who you can hire to put together
recommendations, then buy the things for you, then install them) typically
have a reason to go with a certain projector (maybe because they are
associated with that brand),

Sure, but nobody who wants to stay in business is going to steer you to a truly
inferior solution. Magazine reviews are notoriously unreliable, unless there
is some hard test data associated with them (and even then). Moreover, there's
no sense hiring somebody to do it for you and then second-guessing them. If
you are going to do the research anyway just buy your own stuff and pay
somebody to install it.

JGM

On 14 Dec 2004 01:40:16 GMT, (JGM) wrote:

Bradley Burton wrote:

My question is do these people (who you can hire to put together
recommendations, then buy the things for you, then install them) typically
have a reason to go with a certain projector (maybe because they are
associated with that brand),

Sure, but nobody who wants to stay in business is going to steer you to a truly
inferior solution. Magazine reviews are notoriously unreliable, unless there
is some hard test data associated with them (and even then). Moreover, there's
no sense hiring somebody to do it for you and then second-guessing them. If
you are going to do the research anyway just buy your own stuff and pay
somebody to install it.

Better would be to get more than one proposal before hiring a
particular installer.

Kal

"Bradley Burton" wrote in message
news:[email protected]_s53...
I hired someone to put together a proposal for my home theater. It seems
like one projector (BenQ PE8700+) sounds better according to reviews than
the InFocus Home ScreenPlay 7205. He seems to want me to go with the
InFocus instead of the BenQ, saying that the InFocus is their preferred
choice, and that he has one himself.

Have you even seen this projector in action?

My question is do these people (who you can hire to put together
recommendations, then buy the things for you, then install them) typically
have a reason to go with a certain projector (maybe because they are
associated with that brand), even if the projector isn't as good?

They probably have alot of these in stock, so the more money they make.


I know everyone is different, but I'm just wondering if anyone knew if
this
is a common thing.


Thanks, Brad

Bradley Burton wrote:
I hired someone to put together a proposal for my home theater. It seems
like one projector (BenQ PE8700+) sounds better according to reviews than
the InFocus Home ScreenPlay 7205. He seems to want me to go with the
InFocus instead of the BenQ, saying that the InFocus is their preferred
choice, and that he has one himself.

My question is do these people (who you can hire to put together
recommendations, then buy the things for you, then install them) typically
have a reason to go with a certain projector (maybe because they are
associated with that brand), even if the projector isn't as good?

I know everyone is different, but I'm just wondering if anyone knew if this
is a common thing.


Thanks, Brad

I don't think anyone here can tell you what motivates this particular
consultant. He might be getting a kickback on the Infocus, or he might
want to install what he's familar with, or he might truly think it's the
best unit. I assume you did some research on the guy. You're going to
have to trust him or find someone else (or better yet get quotes from a
few someone elses, or even better just do it yourself).

"Bradley Burton" wrote in news:bPqvd.256192
[email protected]_s53:

I hired someone to put together a proposal for my home theater. It seems
like one projector (BenQ PE8700+) sounds better according to reviews than
the InFocus Home ScreenPlay 7205. He seems to want me to go with the
InFocus instead of the BenQ, saying that the InFocus is their preferred
choice, and that he has one himself.

You can try Cedia.net for a list of installers.

Generally speaking, InFocus has a good name in the projector business -
their projectors are all pretty good. Sort of like an IBM Thinkpad, a good
thinkpad is excellent... but even a poor thinkpad is pretty good : )

--
Lucas Tam )
Please delete "REMOVE" from the e-mail address when replying.
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/coolspot18/

They are going to sell you what they sell.
In other words if you go to an orthodontist you'll get braces.
Now I've seen a lot of talk about Infocus projectors, and read up on them a
little, and they are okay but primarily designed for business use, usually
with a max resolution of 800 times 600, which is hardly HD.
You need to get on the net and research the subject, I cant give you any
advice nor can anybody else unless they know what price range you're talking
about, are you buying a caddy, a ford, or a ferrari?
But basically you have two choices in projectors, you can go the business
projector route, and thats what all the cheaper projectors are, no matter if
they have "home theater" in their name or not. These arent bad but you wont
get true HDTV.
Or you could go with a real home theater projector, anything from a runco
for 10 grand up, or a cheaper HDTV DLP projector, look at spending five
grand at least.
And if your "consultant" hasnt explained that your infocus most likely wont
be HDTV, kick him to the curb. The most important decision in your choice
is, HDTV or not?
Anything non-HDTV is a waste of money IMHO
We use the cheaper business type DLP projectors at work, not bad, but
certainly not state of the art
"Bradley Burton" wrote in message
news:bPqv[email protected]_s53...
I hired someone to put together a proposal for my home theater. It seems
like one projector (BenQ PE8700+) sounds better according to reviews than
the InFocus Home ScreenPlay 7205. He seems to want me to go with the
InFocus instead of the BenQ, saying that the InFocus is their preferred
choice, and that he has one himself.

My question is do these people (who you can hire to put together
recommendations, then buy the things for you, then install them) typically
have a reason to go with a certain projector (maybe because they are
associated with that brand), even if the projector isn't as good?

I know everyone is different, but I'm just wondering if anyone knew if
this
is a common thing.


Thanks, Brad

Good god man, you hired somebody to plan and setup your HT? Thats like 90%
of the fun of home theatre if you ask me. Once you pick the components out,
and you dream up in your mind what it will be like. Then boxes start
showing up at your door and you house gets full of all the packing
materials, man oh man I can't imagine a better day than that. It sounds
like you know the technology and don't really need somebody to do it for
you.

Whatever works for you is cool with me, but I thought I would at least point
that out. I also recognize many don't have the free time to enjoy many of
the simple things in life, too busy frying the big fish. The simple things
in life, like setting up a fiber optic HD DVI link to their bedroom so they
can watch movies at bedtime. I love that stuff.

--Dan

"Bradley Burton" wrote in message
news:[email protected]_s53...
I hired someone to put together a proposal for my home theater. It seems
like one projector (BenQ PE8700+) sounds better according to reviews than
the InFocus Home ScreenPlay 7205. He seems to want me to go with the
InFocus instead of the BenQ, saying that the InFocus is their preferred
choice, and that he has one himself.

My question is do these people (who you can hire to put together
recommendations, then buy the things for you, then install them) typically
have a reason to go with a certain projector (maybe because they are
associated with that brand), even if the projector isn't as good?

I know everyone is different, but I'm just wondering if anyone knew if
this
is a common thing.


Thanks, Brad

wrote:
They are going to sell you what they sell.
In other words if you go to an orthodontist you'll get braces.
Now I've seen a lot of talk about Infocus projectors, and read up on them a
little, and they are okay but primarily designed for business use, usually
with a max resolution of 800 times 600, which is hardly HD.

You're about 3 years out of date. Infocus have some very good Home
Theatre projectors nowadays (their "Screenplay" range). The suggested
projector (the 7205) is a 1280x720 HD DLP projector, factory calibrated
to D65.

You need to get on the net and research the subject, I cant give you any
advice nor can anybody else unless they know what price range you're talking
about, are you buying a caddy, a ford, or a ferrari?
But basically you have two choices in projectors, you can go the business
projector route, and thats what all the cheaper projectors are, no matter if
they have "home theater" in their name or not. These arent bad but you wont
get true HDTV.
Or you could go with a real home theater projector, anything from a runco
for 10 grand up, or a cheaper HDTV DLP projector, look at spending five
grand at least.
And if your "consultant" hasnt explained that your infocus most likely wont
be HDTV, kick him to the curb. The most important decision in your choice
is, HDTV or not?
Anything non-HDTV is a waste of money IMHO
We use the cheaper business type DLP projectors at work, not bad, but
certainly not state of the art

I agree with the general advice, though there are now some true home
theatre budget projectors (which aren't just rebranded business models)
- if Bradley has the time to go view projectors and read reviews, he
should decide on the set-up himself. If he doesn't have the time to do
this, he's going to have to settle with trusting the consultant (though
the 7205 is a very good projector in my opinion and won't disappoint).

--
drbob

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