There are many articles on the net that perport to advise the consumer on how to buy the best DVD player - and justifiably so, some might say. The sheer volume of choice a new consumer is faced with means that a friendly word in the ear certainly would not go amiss, especially when you have to consider things like SCART, RGB, S-video, Divx, VideoCD, Picture viewers, Dolby Digital, DTS, Progressive Scan or HD Upscaling - the list is daunting and seemingly endless as is the range and disparity in price of all the DVD players on the market. Despite this there are comparatively few guides offering advice on where you can purchase the DVDs to play on them without repeatedly handing over the sometimes extortionate RRP (which can break the £100 barrier if your interest lies with complete TV series boxsets). But fear not help is at hand and the first thing you have to remember is this: Seek and ye shall find.
The internet is literally filled with online stores offering the best available prices for DVDs, a quick search in any search engine for "Cheap DVDs" will bring out the best of these stores available in your locale. The majority of these sites will come with a glowing reputation and offer free postage and packing on all orders (although be aware that some sites, such as Amazon will only offer free postage if you spend more than a preset amount in a single transaction). These sites can offer better prices than the high street for a number of reasons,not least of which being that they are not bricks and mortar businesses and as such dont have the overhead involved in managing a vast chain of high street shops as do the likes of HMV or WH Smith. Many of these etailers are based offshore (Jersey is a popular outlet for many of the UKs most popular online stores, such as www.play.com or www.sendit.com to name but 2 and this means that they also benefit from certain taxbreaks which they can then pass onto the consumer. A highly recommended dvd retailer is CD-WOW, who deal in DVDs/CDs and Video Games, and are actually based in Hong Kong but offer free worldwide shipping on everything
So once you've identified your favourite online stores (and will find that they are numerous), you may be like a kid in a sweet shop - you might see your chosen DVD at a great price in Play.com (£10 cheaper than it was at that high street store you were in last saturday afternoon!!) so you place your place your order and wait for it to arrive, only to find as you skip across to Amazon that they had the very same DVD for another £10 less than you've just paid. Aargh. Quickly you cancel the order with Play and re-raise the order With Amazon with a secret smile and a pat on the back as you congratulate yourself on a lucky find, while you put the kettle on and check your email. But whats this? CDWOW are advertising the same DVD for another £5 less? Yes, shopping smart applies to the internet as much as to the high street. Fortunately, help is at hand in the form of price comparison sites. These are almost as numerous as the stores themselves. The biggies include Kellkoo.co.uk, and Pricerunner.co.uk - two sites that will search the internet and compare prices for just about anything you can buy online. Then there are the more specialist comparison sites which will compare prices on DVD's only - such as dvdbargainalerts.co.uk. You can search for your DVD by your chosen keyword (eg Harry Potter) and the engine will return a list of all matching DVDs (this might include Harry Potter and Order of the Phoenix (Single Disc) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2 Disc) ) You can then select which DVD to compare prices for and a list of online stores and prices will be displayed with the cheapest price at the top, another click of the button will take you directly to that store - Simple! The legwork done for you and you dont have to worry about stumbling upon the same DVD at a cheaper price elsewhere.
Finally sites such as dvdbargainalerts.co.uk, or thedvdforums.com, effectively combine the price comparison feature with another popular internet price finding mechanism - the community forum. These are powerful tools for keeping abreast of all the latest bargains using online communities who dedicate themselves to finding and posting the best bargains around, either genuine sale prices or the more lucrative and worthwhile Mis-price - Yes occasionally the online store will muck up their prices and if they do you can guarantee that you will learn about it in one of these bargain forums first. So remember the price can always be right, so long as you can find the right price.
About the Author
Badwolf is the administrator of Cheap DVD, Video Game & CD Website DVD Bargain Alerts. Dedicated to finding the best prices on the Internet.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Why People Have different Tastes In Music
Music is such a diverse area of the arts in that there are literally hundreds of different genres that people from around the world listen to. whether it be classical music from the time of Bach or mozart, through to the latest rap music, there is something for everyone to listen to. how does this come about?
Why do people have such different preferences for music? There are many reasons that range from the period that people were born or the country and culture that they were raised in. Let's examine some examples so that this can become a little clearer.
Personally, I was born into a musical family, my father was a piano player and my older brother a singer and multi instrumentalist. Now because of that family influence I too became involved in music and pursued a career in music and music education. I was influenced by the music my family listened to and so was fortunate to appreciate a very wide range of music from jazz to contemporary music. My studies extended into the genres of classical music as well. Therefore, I have come to enjoy many varied musical styles.
Another example may be of a person born into a culture that has a very strong folk music component. for example, the country of Hungary has a very rich and valued musical culture and young children grow up involved in music on a daily basis. Therefore, the tradition of their folk music is passed on from generation to generation.
People who were part of the teenage generation of the 1960's will have extremely strong ties with the various social and political movements that were reflected so strongly through the music of the day. Who can forget the wealth of songs written to protest about the Vietnam War or the songs that portrayed the new hippy culture. Songs by The Mamas and Papas or Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield......the list goes on. This era was an extremely powerful one in terms of social, economic and poliitical events that occurred during this time and so you will find many people who are reminded of such momentous events through the music that was written at the time.
More recently. there are many more new styles that seem to convey a message to our younger generation, in particular, rap music has found a place and though some of the messages are very dark, nevertheless, they are messages that give younger people reason to listen to the music. Also, you will find the world over, that lots of people just like to listen to music to dance to or for relaxation purposes. It really doesn't matter - this is a great thing and it is good that all people have different tastes in the music that they liten to. It keeps things fresh!
so, next time that you walk into a CD shop remember that you a one of millions who possess different tastes in music for a whole range of reasons. This may make you think a little wider about music and give you a greater tolerance for those who may not like your kind of music but other styles completely foreign to you. How does the saying go?.....Variety is the spice of life!! You betcha!
To read more articles by Greg Culver, check out www.myrecreationweb.com
About the Author
www.musicweblive.com is a website dedicated to providing articles and information related to music, the arts and entertainment. Greg Culver is the owner.
Why do people have such different preferences for music? There are many reasons that range from the period that people were born or the country and culture that they were raised in. Let's examine some examples so that this can become a little clearer.
Personally, I was born into a musical family, my father was a piano player and my older brother a singer and multi instrumentalist. Now because of that family influence I too became involved in music and pursued a career in music and music education. I was influenced by the music my family listened to and so was fortunate to appreciate a very wide range of music from jazz to contemporary music. My studies extended into the genres of classical music as well. Therefore, I have come to enjoy many varied musical styles.
Another example may be of a person born into a culture that has a very strong folk music component. for example, the country of Hungary has a very rich and valued musical culture and young children grow up involved in music on a daily basis. Therefore, the tradition of their folk music is passed on from generation to generation.
People who were part of the teenage generation of the 1960's will have extremely strong ties with the various social and political movements that were reflected so strongly through the music of the day. Who can forget the wealth of songs written to protest about the Vietnam War or the songs that portrayed the new hippy culture. Songs by The Mamas and Papas or Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Buffalo Springfield......the list goes on. This era was an extremely powerful one in terms of social, economic and poliitical events that occurred during this time and so you will find many people who are reminded of such momentous events through the music that was written at the time.
More recently. there are many more new styles that seem to convey a message to our younger generation, in particular, rap music has found a place and though some of the messages are very dark, nevertheless, they are messages that give younger people reason to listen to the music. Also, you will find the world over, that lots of people just like to listen to music to dance to or for relaxation purposes. It really doesn't matter - this is a great thing and it is good that all people have different tastes in the music that they liten to. It keeps things fresh!
so, next time that you walk into a CD shop remember that you a one of millions who possess different tastes in music for a whole range of reasons. This may make you think a little wider about music and give you a greater tolerance for those who may not like your kind of music but other styles completely foreign to you. How does the saying go?.....Variety is the spice of life!! You betcha!
To read more articles by Greg Culver, check out www.myrecreationweb.com
About the Author
www.musicweblive.com is a website dedicated to providing articles and information related to music, the arts and entertainment. Greg Culver is the owner.
How to Buy the Right mp3 Player You Would Really Love
Choosing to buy the right MP3 player isn't that difficult, but one player does not fit all. People will want different things from their players. MP3 CD players represent the best value: Most retail for less than $200, and additional blank discs are cheap.
* Think about how you'll use the player. Joggers will almost certainly want a lightweight, flash-memory-based device, since hard drives don't react well to the shock of bouncing around all the time; audio aficionados who want lots of music at their fingertips should keep their eyes on the highest-capacity hard-drive models.
* Try your favorite before taking it home. Make sure you can use the on-screen display to navigate to a specific song, and ask a clerk to show you how to transfer music to the device, if possible. Always bring your own set of headphones to listen to the sound quality of each unit you're interested in. If you plan to test CD-based MP3 players, bring your own disc.
* Get the largest-capacity device you can afford. Whether you buy a flash- or hard-drive-based MP3 player, make sure to choose a model with the largest storage capacity possible. Even if you don't think you'll need it now, you will probably be happy to have it later.
* Pay close attention to the user interface. The simplest-to-use MP3 players use a Windows Explorer-like file and folder interface to organize music on the player. While some players require you to use their software to pick the play order before loading music files, other players let you rearrange the songs once the music is in the player.
* Mind your power options. While some portable players use replaceable alkaline batteries, many feature a built-in rechargeable battery that cannot be easily removed. While these devices can keep going for tens of hours, if you're not going to be somewhere near a power outlet or a computer with a USB port, you might find yourself out of juice with no way to charge the player.
* Check the prices for extra storage. If you're considering a player that uses one of the major memory card formats (Secure Digital, SmartMedia, MultiMediaCard, or Memory Stick) to store music files, factor the price for an extra or replacement memory card into the cost of the player.
* Look for wide file format support. While this isn't a necessity, players that support music files in the MP3, WMA (Windows Media Audio), and OGG formats give you more listening options than players that support just one or two of those formats.
* Consider a player with an FM tuner. This feature isn't essential, but it's a nice addition--especially if you grow tired of your own music.
* Do you need a carrying case? The more expensive and more fragile the player (hard-drive devices are the most delicate), the more likely you'll want a custom-fitted case to protect it. If you plan to carry your player with you wherever you go, consider investing in both a fitted cover and a rugged carrying case that can also hold headphones, a USB cable, and/or spare batteries.
* Shop around, online and offline. MP3 players are widely available in almost every consumer electronics outlet, and their prices fluctuate.
About the Author
For more more information about mp3 players please visit http://www.buy-mp3-players.net
* Think about how you'll use the player. Joggers will almost certainly want a lightweight, flash-memory-based device, since hard drives don't react well to the shock of bouncing around all the time; audio aficionados who want lots of music at their fingertips should keep their eyes on the highest-capacity hard-drive models.
* Try your favorite before taking it home. Make sure you can use the on-screen display to navigate to a specific song, and ask a clerk to show you how to transfer music to the device, if possible. Always bring your own set of headphones to listen to the sound quality of each unit you're interested in. If you plan to test CD-based MP3 players, bring your own disc.
* Get the largest-capacity device you can afford. Whether you buy a flash- or hard-drive-based MP3 player, make sure to choose a model with the largest storage capacity possible. Even if you don't think you'll need it now, you will probably be happy to have it later.
* Pay close attention to the user interface. The simplest-to-use MP3 players use a Windows Explorer-like file and folder interface to organize music on the player. While some players require you to use their software to pick the play order before loading music files, other players let you rearrange the songs once the music is in the player.
* Mind your power options. While some portable players use replaceable alkaline batteries, many feature a built-in rechargeable battery that cannot be easily removed. While these devices can keep going for tens of hours, if you're not going to be somewhere near a power outlet or a computer with a USB port, you might find yourself out of juice with no way to charge the player.
* Check the prices for extra storage. If you're considering a player that uses one of the major memory card formats (Secure Digital, SmartMedia, MultiMediaCard, or Memory Stick) to store music files, factor the price for an extra or replacement memory card into the cost of the player.
* Look for wide file format support. While this isn't a necessity, players that support music files in the MP3, WMA (Windows Media Audio), and OGG formats give you more listening options than players that support just one or two of those formats.
* Consider a player with an FM tuner. This feature isn't essential, but it's a nice addition--especially if you grow tired of your own music.
* Do you need a carrying case? The more expensive and more fragile the player (hard-drive devices are the most delicate), the more likely you'll want a custom-fitted case to protect it. If you plan to carry your player with you wherever you go, consider investing in both a fitted cover and a rugged carrying case that can also hold headphones, a USB cable, and/or spare batteries.
* Shop around, online and offline. MP3 players are widely available in almost every consumer electronics outlet, and their prices fluctuate.
About the Author
For more more information about mp3 players please visit http://www.buy-mp3-players.net
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