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Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1271
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 8:27 am: | 
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Granted, I rarely have to buy cables any more. I've got a good collection of the 'older' cables, and for newer stuff I usually buy mail-order when I purchase the components.
So anyway, I go to the store to purchase a USB cable for a new printer. (I could have sworn I had a cable, but apparently I was mistaken). How much could a cable be, right? Try $35! For a 6' cable! Bad enough those guys were getting over $20 for a simple Ethernet cable... what a huge ripoff these printers are! Between the cables and the cartridges, I was truly disgusted.
I didn't bother buying one - went online and got a Belkin cable for $5. Even with $4 shipping its still a huge improvement over BestBuy and CompUSA. I mean... I knew there was a markup, but that seemed almost criminal to me.
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Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 12888
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 8:29 am: |
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Cables have always been the highest markup items of the computer biz. And they keep inventing new kinds that we need!
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upondaroof
Citizen
Username: Upondaroof
Post Number: 598
Registered: 4-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 9:18 am: |
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In the same vein, there is a difference between USB 2.0 & 1.0 ports and devices, but is there a difference in the cables since the cables are never marked as 2.0 or 1.0? Hmmmm.
But yes, the cables are dear and since the computer age has increased our jones for instant gratification, the retailers (and manufactures) prey upon us. At $5.00 per cable, I'd order up 2 or more to have on hand for the next time since a lot of devices are shipped sans cable. |
sportsnut
Citizen
Username: Sportsnut
Post Number: 2330
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 11:47 am: |
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Ran into the same thing when I went to BB to purchase an HDMI cable for our new TV. BB and CC both wanted over $100 for "Monster" brand cables.
I went online and found the same cable for around $20. Works great. I'll never buy cables from those big stores again. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1274
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 12:24 pm: |
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I still remember building my first cable - an old RS232 ribbon for my external 1200 bps modem.
In fact, I bet I still have it around here somewhere.... |
\2{Monster}
Supporter
Username: Monster
Post Number: 2467
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 12:52 pm: |
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Cables Direct |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 344
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 13, 2006 - 11:03 pm: |
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You can get these on eBay for $0.99 plus $4.00 S&H, for instance http://cgi.ebay.com/10FT-USB-2-0-A-TO-B-HIGH-SPEED-PRINTER-CABLE-NEW_W0QQitemZ58 76837328QQcategoryZ42322QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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ccurtis
Citizen
Username: Ccurtis
Post Number: 20
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 7:14 pm: |
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http://www.bluejeanscable.com/
at least for audio cables. stuff like HDMI and TOSLINK/Optical cable isn't going to gain much by using a super expensive cable, because the cables are transmitting digital info, so its either a 1 or 0. Electrical interference won't really do much...
And MONSTER cable is so high priced because of good marketing - their stuff isn't REALLY any better. You are paying for the brand name only. Like Bose. but don't egt me started on that! |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13471
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, April 6, 2006 - 7:17 pm: |
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Most signals are modulated in an analog way. Even digital signals have leading and trailing edges. Electrical interference most certainly does a lot, even when there is a digital component. With digital, there is error correction, but that can either slow things down or cause losses, which come through as distortion.
I'm not saying expensive cables are always worth the price. I just wanted to refute your claim that digital means interference and cable quality don't matter. They matter very much.
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ccurtis
Citizen
Username: Ccurtis
Post Number: 22
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 11:58 am: |
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I would agree with things like speaker cables, but I have yet to see a difference in file quality with something transferring over a $10 firewire cable, version a $30 one of the same length. I might spend a little more if the cable were for a long run, but it kinda depends on the use.
For things like HDMI, there are countless forum debates on the issue of quality and if its necessary to spend it on a name like Monster Cable. I personally don't think its a huge issue (obviously if you spend the absolute lowest amount on generic radio shack cable. The bigger issue is if Monster Cable is really just paying for a name, which I personally think it is. You are much much more likely to get a degraded picture quality (from hmdi - or most other video cables as well) by plugging your tv into a non-power-conditioned powerline anyway.
For something like computer cables, The money you spend at CC or BB is certainly going to be alot more, for something that isn't necessarily better. But sometimes the cost IS justified, by comparing prices on the SAME BRAND/item on the internet. I use alot of firewire stuff, and there is a difference between cheap stuff and pricey stuff - not in the amount of errors, copying, or anything like that, but when the cables get bent, moved, etc, they can fail internally (wires can fray, etc). The actual connectors are also USUALLY a better fit (they don't wiggle lose as easily).
my convoluted $.02 worth. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13479
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 7, 2006 - 12:34 pm: |
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It depends on what the cable is for. If it's for listening to audio or watching video, I'd be concerned with quality. I don't usually buy the best cables, but I hope to avoid the worst, too. For transferring files, all it can do is slow things down. In the worst case, the transfer will fail, but one of the computers (or both) will notify you of the failure. And this isn't too common. I've seen it with failed cables or the wrong type used, but not new cables.
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ccurtis
Citizen
Username: Ccurtis
Post Number: 30
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, April 9, 2006 - 9:56 am: |
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ok, so what's your opinion on TOSLINK/Digital Optical cable? it really should not matter at all, since it is converted to an optical beam of light. I mean, electrical shielding wouldn't do anything. So I guess it would just the be the amount of insulation to keep it from getting kinked, no? |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13536
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, April 10, 2006 - 8:06 am: |
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Again, it depends on the application. I can't speak much about optical cables, because I don't use any. I work at a phone company, where we use literally tons of cables, both copper and optical. You can bet we can't afford to use cheap cables. I can ask my cow-orkers what their criteria for optical cables are. Of course, commercial use and consumer use are already different applications. Consumers can afford less than top quality, almost always. I just don't believe your suggestion that there is no difference in quality.
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