Everyone realizes that upgrades to technology are a never ending process. Just as you invest a few thousand in a new television and sound system a “better” and “more advanced” system is released. You may feel like you are always trying to play catch-up to own the latest and greatest technology on the market, but your wallet will eventually start to scream if you keep buying new products.

Now there is a better solution–Future-Proof Your Technology With the Buy Back Program from Best Buy. According to Best Buy CEO Brian J. Dunn, the company is instituting a new buyback program for technology purchased from Best Buy. “You purchase the technology you want today, and [Best Buy will] buy it back at a set price when you’re ready to upgrade to something new. You’ll know upfront what your gear will be worth, and you can conveniently redeem your Buy Back at our stores and immediately receive a Best Buy Gift Card,” said Dunn (RewardZone Premier Silver E-mail, February 3, 2011).

According to the Best Buy’s web site, “We’ll help you keep your technology fresh by buying back your TV, mobile phone, laptop, netbook and/or tablet anytime within 2 years of the effective date (4 years for TVs), giving you a Best Buy gift card with a set value to use toward another purchase” (Future-Proof Your Technology with the Buy Back Program, Best Buy, February 5, 2010).

Is there a catch? Not really.

Step 1: You simply have to purchase the Buy Back program along with your new product (similar to purchasing an extended warranty plan).

Step 2: Keep your product in good, working condition with accessories and parts. You can’t buy a new TV and abuse it and then expect Best Buy to buy it back (Buy Back program rules will be provided with purchase). When you are ready for something new you can take your well cared for item back to Best Buy.

Step 3: Once you return your product you will receive a Best Buy gift card for the value of your product. Best Buy provides a calculator to help determine the pre-set value of your product.

Redemption Schedule and Value

Each product will have a different value, but if you return the product in a specified time period you can receive as much as 50% back (up to 6 months), 40% back (6-12 months), 30% back (12-18 months), 20% back (18-24 months), 10% back (24-48 months –TVs only), for your product in good working condition.

This program can provide you with many options as you purchase new equipment and adds to the advantages for shopping at Best Buy. It may help you save some money as you enjoy new products more quickly than before and get more Best Buy Reward Zone points. Just keep in mind that you have to take care of what you own in order for the program to work.

Do you have any questions or ideas about how to use this new program? Our readers would love to hear your opinions about the Best Buy, Buy Back Program.

It can be difficult to remember when to change your clocks when we are springing forward and falling back, but it actually happens at the same time every year. We “spring” forward one hour on the second Sunday in March (at 2 a.m.) and we “fall” back one hour on the first Sunday in November (at 2 a.m.). So in the spring we loose one hour of sleep and in the fall we gain an hour of sleep (or so we would like to think). This is in a nationwide effort to reduce energy consumption largely developed during World War I and World War II.

How to Remember to Change Your Clocks

Changing your clocks can be a difficult task especially if you have several throughout your home. I have missed it before and wound up at the store an hour before it opened wondering where everyone was. I have also missed it and started traveling early in the morning not realizing I had an extra hour I could have slept in. So how do we remember? Well, many electronic clocks have a built in system and changes the time for you. If you have a new clock, you may want to check the owner’s manual to determine if your clock has an automatic system. Mine did and I didn’t realize it. I set my clock back one hour, losing an hour of sleep, and then when I woke up the next morning I didn’t realize the clock had subsequently set the time back an additional hour! I was quite confused for several hours on what the real time was.

Simple ways to to help you remember include writing the change on a desk calendar, programing it in your messaging system on your computer, or telling those you live with about the upcoming time change to help remember together. Or you can purchase an alarm clock with an automatic system.

Types of Alarm Clocks

As I mentioned, my alarm clock automatically changes from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time and back. Sony makes several products that can do this. One is the Sony AM/FM Clock Radio with Apple iPod Dock that can be purchased at Best Buy for around $100. Other Sony products also have this feature. When you are buying a new alarm clock look for the “Automatic time set and daylight saving time functions” this will “Ensure your clock is set to the right time.” The clock shows a little “sun clock” during Daylight Saving Time (see picture below) and this disappears when the clock returns to Standard Time (this helps you to know that your clock has changed settings).

In addition to Sony products, Timex also includes this technology. The Timex Dual Alarm Clock Radio XBBU Redi-Set Automatic Time Setting System and Jumbo Display (or similar Timex products) is available at Walgreens, Meijer, and other retailers for about $25.

The clocks are programmed to change according to the current time standards. If the time standards change I suppose we will all need to buy new clocks!

Taking the time to change your clocks seems trivial, but with busy lives surrounding work and play, many people do not have the time to mess with resetting their clocks. The easiest way is to purchase a new alarm clock that automatically adjust with the Daylight Saving Time.

Do you have any helpful tricks on how to remember to spring forward and fall back? We would love to know how to remember, so please feel free to post a message.

Understanding the Basic Differences of Samsung LED TVs

It seems lately that every time you look on the internet or watch a commercial there is a new TV ready to hit the market.  On top of that, as soon as a new model hits the market the prices of all the older models drop. The question use to be what type of TV should I buy?  Should I buy a DLP, projector, Plasma, LCD, or LED?  After some minor research I think it is more about the need and function of what you want your TV to do.

Regardless of what you decide to purchase you need to make sure you are purchasing a TV that fits your needs.  In my case my preference came down to buying a LED TV and in more particular a Samsung TV.  There are a handful of LED TVs to choose from other than a Samsung, but given the point in time I made the purchase, Samsung offered the best deal.

Samsung offers five Series of LEDs to choose from.  They are the 6000, 7000, 8000, 8500 series, although the 9000 series is not available to the public yet.  Besides the size of the screen in each series the differences comes down to a handful of specifications and bells and whistles the customer should take into consideration. The following will provide some of the specifics for each series. Knowing this information can help consumers decide, based on the size of their room, the location of the television, and how the TV will be used, which series is the right purchase.

Highlights of the Different Samsung LED TVs

Samsung 6000 Series 32”, 40”, 46”, 55” 1080p / 120Hz / LED-LCD HDTV

Model Numbers: UN40B6000VFXZA, UN46B6000VF, UN55B6000
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 3,000,000 : 1
InfoLink™ RSS Service: For more details visit Samsung’s InfoLink™ description.
USB2.0 Movie: Multi-Media Center: Connect a thumb drive or digital camera quickly and easily. User-friendly interface allows access to videos, a music playlist and pictures via the remote.

Samsung 7000, 7100 Series 40”, 46”, 55” 1080p / 120Hz / LED-LCD HDTV

Model Numbers: UN40B7000, UN46B7000, UN46B7100, UN55B7000, UN55B7100
Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 3,000,000 : 1
USB2.0 Movie: Multi-Media Center
Internet@TV:

Samsung’s Benefits of using Internet@TV

–Access Internet content from Yahoo!®, Flickr®, and more while watching TV via easy-to-use TV widgets2.
–Add and delete the TV widgets of your choice in several easy steps.
–Enjoy the ever growing selection of content featuring information, video, photos, games, shopping, sports and more.

For further information refer to Samsung’s how to guide for setting up a network connection for wired, wireless, IDs, passwords and remote control.

Content Library™ (Flash):

Samsung’s Benefits of using Content Library Flash

–Content Library lets you easily access preloaded content.
–Additional contents can be downloaded from Samsung.com to a standard USB memory only.
–This additional content is played on TV using the USB.

For further information refer to Samsung’s how to guide for preloaded content and additional content.

DLNA™ Networking

According to the Digital Living Network Alliance “DLNA is a global collaboration of 245 of your most trusted brands, all working together to help you create the home entertainment environment you’ve always imagined.”  DLNA is promoting the sharing of digital media across personal computers, mobile devices, and other electronic products.

For further information reference Samsungs Guide to DLNA for their approach using their DLNA compatible TV products.

Samsung 8000 Series 46”, 55” 1080p / 240Hz / LED-LCD HDTV

Model Numbers: UN46B8000, UN55B8000
Refresh Rate: 240 Hz
Dynamic Contrast Ratio: 5,000,000 : 1
USB2.0 Movie: Multi-Media Center
Internet@TV
Content Library™ (Flash)
DLNA™ Networking

Samsung 8500 Series 46″, 55″ 1080p / 240Hz / LED-LCD HDTV

Model Numbers: UN468500, UN55B8500
Refresh Rate: 240Hz
Dynamic Contrast Ratio:  7,000,000 : 1
USB2.0 Movie: Multi-Media Center
Internet@TV
Content Library™ (Flash)
DLNA™ Networking

The biggest difference between the 6000, 7000, 8000 series when compared to the 8500 series is how they arrange their LEDs.  The 6000, 7000, 8000 series have their LEDs around the edge of the screen where the 8500 series has a full array of LEDs.  What this does is give the 8500 series more control of deeper blacks by turning off or dimming those LEDs in that area where deeper blacks are needed.

For more information on how local dimming works cnet gives a more in-depth review of  this function.

Samsung 9000 Series 46″, 55″ 1080p / 240Hz / LED-LCD HDTV

Model Numbers:  UN46B9000, UN55B9000
Refresh Rate:  240Hz

I am not sure when the 9000 series is due to release.  However some of the new features are the thickness of the screen which is a thick as a number 2 pencil, supports 3D with active shutter glasses, up-converts 2D programming to 3D, color touch screen remote, and lets you watch TV on your remote while another program is on the TV.  I will post more information about the 9000 series as it becomes available.

We would like to hear from you. Please contact us if you have any questions or comments.