I'm not that savvy about electronics. I know nothing about electronic games like Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. But when I visited a young friend in the hospital and played with a Nintendo Wii, I was sold.
First of all, I was so impressed that the children's floor at the local hospital had a Wii. I'd never seen one before. They had a full set-up. Maybe it's an institutional version. It had a large monitor on a rolling cart that children could request for their rooms. We played tennis and golf, and of course my friend beat me.
It's hard for children in the hospital. They are inactive and have little sense of purpose or accomplishment. And they are certainly not having fun. Nintendo's Wii allow them to engage in a sport, be competitive, excel, and laugh. We had loads of fun.
For those of us who don't have generous benefactors like the children's unit at my hospital has, discount online websites bring consumer electronics within reach. A number of online sites advertise big discounts off retail prices. Good Internet stores also offer manufacturers' guarantees and layaways. How can you tell a good online store from a disreputable one? One way is to check to see if they have good BBB standing.
I don't even have a cell phone or a digital camera. My friends are starting to get mad at me because they can't reach me when I'm away from home. I don't see the point, but today when my dinner plans dissolved because my friend and I couldn't find each other, I gave in and ordered a phone.
After my success with Wii, I'm thinking of expanding my collection of home electronics. I travel an awful lot. I like to hike and kayak and do anything else that takes me away from the maddening crowds. An MP3 or MP4 player would keep me entertained during long bus trips and airport layovers.
I'm even thinking about getting a GPS unit. My family wants to buy one for me so I don't get lost on my backcountry adventures. I've been insisting that I don't need one - I've never been lost for long. But I think they might be right, so I might just accept their generous offer. With the security of a GPS unit, I could travel even farther off the beaten track. I'll tell them about the discount electronics websites.
There's a way to save even more money on consumer electronics. You can subscribe to the newsletters of certain online electronics stores. Lifetime newsletter subscribers get cash discounts beyond the already discounted prices. Not a bad idea if you're electronics buff and like to buy the latest technological gizmos.
Whether you're looking for LCD TVs, camcorders, DVD players or any of the other home electronics I've already talked about, you can choose from a great selection of name brand products without leaving the comfort of your home. No need to brave the crowds at the mall and comparison shop. With fast shipping, you'll get your new toy before you finish your Wii tournament!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Electronic Check Conversion
What Kinds of Electronic Check Conversion Exist?
There are two major types of electronic check conversion - electronic check conversion and electronic check conversion with check guarantee. Before jumping into the key difference though, it's helpful to spend some time explaining electronic check conversion in general.
Electronic Check Conversion Explained Using Credit Cards
The best way to explain electronic check conversion (and even electronic check conversion with check guarantee) is to point to credit cards. Years ago, instead of swiping credit cards into an electronic reader, merchants had to physically place them into a metal contraption, along with a two-piece carbon form. A heavy roller created an imprint of the credit card. After signing the form, one copy stayed with the store and the other went to the purchaser.
But in the last twenty years shoppers and stores forego using extra paper since everything is stored electronically thanks to the electronic reader. With electronic check conversion an amount is entered and the check is scanned, much like credit cards today. When the transaction is complete the check is given back to the customer since everything is stored electronically. As with current credit card transactions, the business no longer needs to have an 'extra paper trail'.
Electronic Check Conversion Benefits
Electronic check conversion electronically records the transaction thanks to the check reader attached to the credit card terminal. Also like credit cards electronic check conversion or electronic check conversion with check guarantee, will decline a check if there is a problem with the account.
This helps reduce fraud. Any check a merchant gets is electronically verified against a database of closed accounts or accounts with risky histories. Although the businesses cannot see specifically what the problem might be, it will red flag any negative marks in the last 90 days and declines the check. This could be anything from a closed account to bouncing checks.
If the check passes the negative database, it is then converted to an electronic debit and the funds are deposited into the merchant's bank account. This happens if the check writer has sufficient funds in his checking account at the time the check is 'written'.
Electronic check conversion, however, doesn't automatically cover a check in the event that something is wrong with the account in the here and now. So that's where electronic check conversion with check guarantee comes into play.
Electronic Check Conversion with Check Guarantee
Electronic check conversion with check guarantee offers more protection to merchants. Businesses that have electronic check conversion with check guarantee don't have to worry because they still will get paid. Many companies offer both forms - electronic check conversion and electronic check conversion with check guarantee. However, they usually recommend electronic check conversion with check guarantee because this service offers more protection to merchants.
As with electronic check conversion, the check is approved at the time of the transaction. But more importantly, the store is guaranteed funding within 48 hours, even if the check is returned for non-sufficient funds. The same cannot be said for basic electronic check conversion.
Is Electronic Check Conversion With Check Guarantee Right For You?
Every business can benefit from electronic check conversion with check guarantee. The cost of electronic check conversion with guarantee is very similar to the cost of accepting credit cards. However, the discount rate for this feature usually costs less then the discount rate for credit card acceptance.
For a company to decide if electronic check conversion with check guarantee is right for them, they should consider how often they accept checks that become NSF, or become bad for other reasons, such as closed accounts, etc. Not only will electronic check conversion with check guarantee save businesses financial loss because of bad transactions, it also provides them peace of mind that they will receive payment for products or services sold.
There are two major types of electronic check conversion - electronic check conversion and electronic check conversion with check guarantee. Before jumping into the key difference though, it's helpful to spend some time explaining electronic check conversion in general.
Electronic Check Conversion Explained Using Credit Cards
The best way to explain electronic check conversion (and even electronic check conversion with check guarantee) is to point to credit cards. Years ago, instead of swiping credit cards into an electronic reader, merchants had to physically place them into a metal contraption, along with a two-piece carbon form. A heavy roller created an imprint of the credit card. After signing the form, one copy stayed with the store and the other went to the purchaser.
But in the last twenty years shoppers and stores forego using extra paper since everything is stored electronically thanks to the electronic reader. With electronic check conversion an amount is entered and the check is scanned, much like credit cards today. When the transaction is complete the check is given back to the customer since everything is stored electronically. As with current credit card transactions, the business no longer needs to have an 'extra paper trail'.
Electronic Check Conversion Benefits
Electronic check conversion electronically records the transaction thanks to the check reader attached to the credit card terminal. Also like credit cards electronic check conversion or electronic check conversion with check guarantee, will decline a check if there is a problem with the account.
This helps reduce fraud. Any check a merchant gets is electronically verified against a database of closed accounts or accounts with risky histories. Although the businesses cannot see specifically what the problem might be, it will red flag any negative marks in the last 90 days and declines the check. This could be anything from a closed account to bouncing checks.
If the check passes the negative database, it is then converted to an electronic debit and the funds are deposited into the merchant's bank account. This happens if the check writer has sufficient funds in his checking account at the time the check is 'written'.
Electronic check conversion, however, doesn't automatically cover a check in the event that something is wrong with the account in the here and now. So that's where electronic check conversion with check guarantee comes into play.
Electronic Check Conversion with Check Guarantee
Electronic check conversion with check guarantee offers more protection to merchants. Businesses that have electronic check conversion with check guarantee don't have to worry because they still will get paid. Many companies offer both forms - electronic check conversion and electronic check conversion with check guarantee. However, they usually recommend electronic check conversion with check guarantee because this service offers more protection to merchants.
As with electronic check conversion, the check is approved at the time of the transaction. But more importantly, the store is guaranteed funding within 48 hours, even if the check is returned for non-sufficient funds. The same cannot be said for basic electronic check conversion.
Is Electronic Check Conversion With Check Guarantee Right For You?
Every business can benefit from electronic check conversion with check guarantee. The cost of electronic check conversion with guarantee is very similar to the cost of accepting credit cards. However, the discount rate for this feature usually costs less then the discount rate for credit card acceptance.
For a company to decide if electronic check conversion with check guarantee is right for them, they should consider how often they accept checks that become NSF, or become bad for other reasons, such as closed accounts, etc. Not only will electronic check conversion with check guarantee save businesses financial loss because of bad transactions, it also provides them peace of mind that they will receive payment for products or services sold.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Electronics and Standards
Every few months, a new "gotta-have-it" product is released. Whether it be a phone, MP3 player, or computer, new ones are always being made. The more high-quality ones constantly bring something new to the table. A new feature, new design, or easier accessibility. The next company that does that is not "copying" off the original. Rather, they are meeting up to customer standards.
People on the Internet are always complaining about how one company "copied" off of another or how one brand "stole an idea". The fact is, the companies HAVE to do this to keep up with consumer demand. For example, Guitar Hero was originally a game franchise that allowed players to mimic playing a guitar, just a guitar. Then Rock Band came out and introduced the drum and vocals. Guitar Hero quickly implemented these features into their newest game, Guitar Hero: World Tour. Rock Band fans weren't all too happy that Guitar Hero "copied" the full band idea into their own game. To all the Rock Band fans agreeing with me right now, just listen to me for a second. If Guitar Hero DIDN'T add the drums and mic into their game, sales would definitely drop over time! Gamers would flock towards the game with "more features", which would destroy any competition that Guitar Hero had before.
Another example would be the recently revealed Zune HD. The next Microsoft MP3 in line, the Zune HD boasts a host of new features. New features include 16.9 aspect ratio for widescreen video viewing, a web browser, NVIDIA Tegra chip, HD radio, and HDMI to an HDTV. It's prime competitor, the iPod Touch, brought the Internet to MP3 players with the Safari app. So, essentially, the Zune HD copied off of the iPod Touch. No, it didn't. The iPod Touch set a standard for MP3 players and the Zune HD followed that standard. Soon after news of the Zune HD surfaced, Apple released information about their OWN iPod Touch HD. The Zune HD fans didn't like that too much. "Those Apple copycats!" they said to themselves. But, in their news about the Zune HD, Microsoft set their OWN standard: high-powered mobile devices. Apple's own device can't play high definition movies, NOR does it have a powerful computing chip like the NVIDIA Tegra chip (It is unknown at this point if the iPod Touch HD will include the Tegra chip or something similar to it; the Touch HD is also a tablet instead of a portable music player).
Still, even with people's developing interests, there are still some things that companies will not accept as standards, or "copy". Still on the Microsoft vs. Apple debate, Microsoft's Zunes come with a built-in radio receiver, which Apple's iPods do not have. The closest you can get to radio is internet radio, available through the App Store on the iPhone and iPod Touch only. On top of that, if you are using an iPod Touch, you can only access radio in areas with Wi-Fi. Microsoft's Zune Marketplace, their answer to iTunes, also trumps Apply with their music subscription service, the Zune Pass (download as many songs as you want for $15 and choose 10 songs every month to keep forever). People have been asking Apple for a subscription for a while now, but Apple never provided.
The bottom line is the people who think of the ideas, profit off the ideas. Just think about it. Something that YOU made up isn't copying off of anybody, and people will trust YOUR idea as the true original source. The point is, make standards more than you follow them.
People on the Internet are always complaining about how one company "copied" off of another or how one brand "stole an idea". The fact is, the companies HAVE to do this to keep up with consumer demand. For example, Guitar Hero was originally a game franchise that allowed players to mimic playing a guitar, just a guitar. Then Rock Band came out and introduced the drum and vocals. Guitar Hero quickly implemented these features into their newest game, Guitar Hero: World Tour. Rock Band fans weren't all too happy that Guitar Hero "copied" the full band idea into their own game. To all the Rock Band fans agreeing with me right now, just listen to me for a second. If Guitar Hero DIDN'T add the drums and mic into their game, sales would definitely drop over time! Gamers would flock towards the game with "more features", which would destroy any competition that Guitar Hero had before.
Another example would be the recently revealed Zune HD. The next Microsoft MP3 in line, the Zune HD boasts a host of new features. New features include 16.9 aspect ratio for widescreen video viewing, a web browser, NVIDIA Tegra chip, HD radio, and HDMI to an HDTV. It's prime competitor, the iPod Touch, brought the Internet to MP3 players with the Safari app. So, essentially, the Zune HD copied off of the iPod Touch. No, it didn't. The iPod Touch set a standard for MP3 players and the Zune HD followed that standard. Soon after news of the Zune HD surfaced, Apple released information about their OWN iPod Touch HD. The Zune HD fans didn't like that too much. "Those Apple copycats!" they said to themselves. But, in their news about the Zune HD, Microsoft set their OWN standard: high-powered mobile devices. Apple's own device can't play high definition movies, NOR does it have a powerful computing chip like the NVIDIA Tegra chip (It is unknown at this point if the iPod Touch HD will include the Tegra chip or something similar to it; the Touch HD is also a tablet instead of a portable music player).
Still, even with people's developing interests, there are still some things that companies will not accept as standards, or "copy". Still on the Microsoft vs. Apple debate, Microsoft's Zunes come with a built-in radio receiver, which Apple's iPods do not have. The closest you can get to radio is internet radio, available through the App Store on the iPhone and iPod Touch only. On top of that, if you are using an iPod Touch, you can only access radio in areas with Wi-Fi. Microsoft's Zune Marketplace, their answer to iTunes, also trumps Apply with their music subscription service, the Zune Pass (download as many songs as you want for $15 and choose 10 songs every month to keep forever). People have been asking Apple for a subscription for a while now, but Apple never provided.
The bottom line is the people who think of the ideas, profit off the ideas. Just think about it. Something that YOU made up isn't copying off of anybody, and people will trust YOUR idea as the true original source. The point is, make standards more than you follow them.
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