The influence of reviews

[Andrew]

I think sometimes it also comes down to what the reviewer finds useful to himself about a product, versus what he feels he should write based on what the consumer may be interested in discovering.

For example, one of the brands I use at home has small rubber feet on the remote. None of the other remotes I use have this. A small thing, granted, but having regularly watched in horror as an accidental shove sends a remote skittering across the table and onto the tile floor because its feet are part of the plastic moulding, a remote that doesn't suffer from this was something of interest to me, and I'd have mentioned it had I written the review.

[RR]

Well Andrew, I'm glad to hear that you would consider the small things necessary to mention. Your specific example of rubber feet on the remote is actually quite nice and relevant for me to hear, having had several small damage due to remotes slipping.

Even if it is relevant for only 10 people reading the mag, it might make the decision easier to buy the one product over another, if the results was 50/50 up until then.

[Viagara]

Attention to detail makes a piece of equipment just that bit more desirable to me and something such as rubber feet on a remote means that the designer/manufacturer has thought about it and considered it to be important enough. Something like this makes me want to believe that more attention has been given to components "under the bonnet". Maybe wishful thinking, but you never know

[Viagara]

Going back to my original post, I want to give an example.

During 2006 Joel reviewed a LG RH-1999 Harddrive based DVD Recorder and based on his review I bought that model.

After living with it for 1.5 years, I can say that his review was spot on based on the time he spent with the recorder. If he had the opportunity to have the device for say two months, he would have found some "issues" with it as I subsequently have(nothing serious just minor annoyances)

When reading a review, we always have to bear in mind that the reviewer only has access to the equipment for a limited time and has to base his review on his experience during that period. Added to that is the human factor and possibly some bias(I do say possibly )

Guys you are doing a good job under the circumstances and for that I(We) thank you!