Re: Why magazine equipment reviews suck

From: Stephen Paul (spaul219_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 10/31/04 

Date: Sat, 30 Oct 2004 22:22:50 -0400

"RichA" <none@none.com> wrote in message
news:7m58o0lgscc808hkaa1ibmbefsev3s20dd@4ax.com...

> Myself, I couldn't care less about any particular scope. I buy
> them, test them, use them and if they don't do what I want, I get
> rid of them. Which is why I can say "X" is better than "Y"
> and then give reasons why that is my opinion.

None of this matters to the inexperienced reader. Nor does it matter to the
experienced reader, without a benchmark, a standard. For example, if you've
never looked through a TV-85 or TV-76, there is little value in a review
that uses them as a comparison to the Orion 80mm ED.

Any such person reading such a review, just wants the reviewer to tell them
it's okay/not okay to buy the cheaper scope. The only difference between a
reviewer and a sales person, is any vested interest in a particular product.
I'm weary of someone who is being liberal with their praise of the cheaper
scope, because they may "want" to like it, for the sake of a readership who
can't afford the alternative.

As for brand loyalty, I don't see a problem with that, as long as a
particular brand of equipment is meeting a need. I think that most folks
don't raise their "flag", until someone goes on the offensive in a way that
doesn't fit with the experience of many users of that brand. When 1000
yahoo-group members of the StellarVue group are happy with a particular
scope, and someone on SAA comes along and offers a singular contrarian view,
there is no doubt that there will be an outcry.

Happens all the time whenever one person speaks contrary to the experience
and knowledge of a group. For example, mention "Aliens" in a rational
science group, and see what happens. ;-)

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