As with a lot of things in life, trying to get our products right sometimes comes down to chance.  Trying to judge public demand is never an easy thing to achieve – sometimes you get it right, sometimes you get it wrong.  The public change their likes/dislikes like they change they clothes – styles and colours come and go.  Then once we at A2000 Systems have managed to get our products spot on (which we like to think we do a majority of the time) there comes the difficult decision to adapt to change which hopefully results in our goal to improved sales.  When we released out first range of Cable Management Systems we felt we were on to a winner and we were right with our solution. We had cornered a niche in the market, which to this day proves the value of our products.  Again when we launched the SPX range we took what was an already proven product and made it even better.  Instead of starting from scratch we took a tried and tested idea and made it simpler for customers to install.  The SPX cable management system range also has the added bonus of being adaptable with the changeable front glass panels, which allow to the customer to suit their tastes should they change their TV screen whilst keeping the original concept of the cable management system.

Now is the perfect time to start looking around as most manufacturers are unveiling their new models so if you are looking for a bargain try taking a look at the previous years modal. Older screens continue to be sold online long after they’ve disappeared from the various product ranges. The best part is that if you are willing to make a couple of sacrifices then you pick up an absolute bargain if you search in the right places. If you are not really fussed about that 3rd or 4th HDMI socket or the latest in processing technology then “online” is the ideal place to grab your dream flatscreen for less than you may think. With the new year just around the corner manufacturers are gearing up to release the latest TV’s so there are bargains to be had if you just take the time and effort and shop around. As most of the existing technology is not “old-hat” then the existing modals are more then capable of giving you that great viewing experience. Hopefully with the money you have saved then why not invest in a stylish and practical “Cable Management System” from www.a2000systems.co.uk and really show off your audio and visual set-up!!!!

I presume most people now have made the switch over to a flatscreen but if not just when you thought choosing one was a daunting task between a Plasma or LCD along comes the LED TV.  There is a bewildering array of TV screens out there to choose from from tiny 16inch ones right up to the 60incher ( it seems that 37 and 42 inch are the most popular).  Then you have each individual flatscreen’s spec which maybe just adds to the confusion - Full HD, HDMI’s, Tuner etc.  In a recent magazine there was an article entitled “An eye for the engine”  which went on to explain the various image processing technologies that the different manufacturers use in their screen.  The 9 makers listed used all sorts of ways and means to get what they hope is the ultimate picture and thus eliminating problems such as noise, judder, softness and smearing.  I know these sorts of reports are helpful in you making a choice but sometimes do wonder if they can be overloading the little grey cells?  Is it just me or are their others out there who basically want their new TV to have a stunning picture with blinding sound and not cost the earth!!

As the current economic situation seems to tighten its belt then all companies including www.A2000Systems.co.uk are looking at ways of cutting costs but at the same time being able to offer the same products.  This can be done in many ways from cutting prices of its products to re-designing/manufacturing them.  When we replaced our old Cable Management System with the new range of SPX units we hoped that we would be onto a winner and as time as moved on we are hopefully being proven right with increasing weekly sales.  It’s always hard when you replace something that is a big seller and sometimes it’s a gamble that hopefully has paid off.   At A2000 Systems we knows it’s a cutthroat market especially now that people are seemingly spending less but we will continue to give 100% effort and we feel safe in the knowledge that when you buy an A2000 product you are getting the best - at the end of the day its you out there, the buying public that decide if our products meet your needs and we appreciate the people that not only have purchased our products in the past but also may do so in the future.

Recapping slightly on a previous blog subject there are various products out there that are coming with some sort of cable management system. Again as with the range of TV screens there a huge selection of products to choose from.  First you need to choose either to have your TV free standing or wall mounted.  Then what sort of space is available for the placement of all visual and audio equipment?  And then there is the important issue of the price to take into consideration especially in today’s climate.  Our Tectra Twin and Ultima stands both feature brackets that can be used to mount your TV on a wall should you wish to do so at a later date – this has saved you a few quid on the price of a new bracket.  Wall mounting your TV can free up valuable floor space as well as giving you a solid fixing point for that screen.  Combine one of our tilt able brackets (available for most makes and models) with say our Black SPX cable management system and you have a stylish and practical answer to your TV placement as well as representing quality and value for money.  Why settle for an inferior product when you know www.a2000systems.co.uk sells the best!  

I am going to revisit a topic of an earlier A2000 blog – so a big SORRY if you’ve heard it before.  Whilst manufacturers of certain products like mobile phones etc bring out new products in a variety of colours/designs the makers of LCD/Plasma’s don’t seem very adventurous when it comes to TV’s.   Its not just TV screens that need a change but also things like Blu-ray/DVD/Hi-Fi equipment that’s may benefit from a splash of appropriate colour.  Again nothing too in your face just something other than black or silver (or combination of both!)  I know the two colours most makers do are the tried and tested finishes for screens; no one seems to want to take make that leap and bring out a TV in a more exotic finish.  Even flicking through a magazine I have come across at least 5 colours that I think would look really nice – manufacturers and the public will probably disagree with me.  I know it will boil down to personal taste I just wish at least someone would make that leap and bring something more colourful out. 

News from the west coast of America has the California Energy Commission pushing ahead with a ban of certain Plasma TV’s from 2011 due to the high power consumption of these screens.  The Los Angeles Times says that LCD’s use 43% more juice than tube TV’s.  So bad news if you are either a bar owner or have one of these screens in a public place. Even the Governor “The Terminator” has backed the plans.  With 35 million TV’s in the Golden State and TV electricity consumption accounting for around 10% of household bills these figures I imagine will increase when people make the switch from CRT’s to either Plasma or LCD screens.  As with everything there are probably many “clauses” to this idea with both sides in the argument saying it’s a bad or good idea.  This is not just a California or even USA problem with everyone being urged to cut power usage and hopefully save the planet.  Most if not all manufacturers are committed to releasing energy saving screens so only time will tell if this plan is pushed through??

Recently there has been a TV advertisement for a credit-busting scheme from a well-known Japanese TV manufacturer offering up to £150 off one of its new LCD screens.  This advert features that ageing rock god Alice Cooper talking about the days when rock stars like himself got rid of their TV’s by lobbing them out the nearest hotel window.  The scheme offers customers the advantages of swapping old for new and thus encouraging a responsible way of disposing of your old television.  Whilst there are terms and conditions for this scheme it does appear that it’s another step in the direction of helping save the planet although others will probably disagree.  Whilst we have become a disposable society with most items being superseded on an almost weekly basis maybe schemes like this one being offered will catch on with other TV makers in a drive to cut down on waste – it also lets you save a bit of money in these cash-strapped times.

Imagine you have just spend the good part of  £500 on a new screen, brought it home and set it up on your existing stand/table.  At first it looks OK but after a while you notice that the two don’t quite match – the table is clear whilst your TV is black for example.  Most if not all furniture doesn’t allow you the option to change its appearance but here at A2000 Systems we think we have come up with a novel idea.  A lot of people go for the tried and tested option of mounting their LCD/ Plasma on a table or stand mainly because that’s what they did when they has a CRT, however mounting it on a wall allows you to free up valuable space where once that table stood.  As well as our selection of wall mountable brackets we also offer a huge range of cable management systems (with its unique magnetised glass front panels) that allow not only placement of your visual/audio equipment but also keep all those cables and leads out of view and thus presenting a tidy set-up and room.  If you hadn’t thought about wall mounting your new screen check out our website www.a2000systems.co.uk gallery – you may be surprised. So if your TV needs a place to live then check us out.

Just when you think you have purchased the latest model you go and read that a new “kid on the block” is superseding this technology.  I can’t help but think that with technology changing on a seeming weekly basis how can anyone keep up to date with it all?  Having flicked through a recent visual publication and read that the next step in TV technology is LED and when I reached the back of this magazine it said that in the next edition there would be a review of the world’s first ultra-widescreen TV.  As if you don’t have enough choice out there with both Plasma and LCD’s some makers offering a huge selection of screens – some makers having more than one TV of say a 32inch screen.  If I was looking at buying a TV my first concern is value for money – what sort of “bang” do I get for my pound.  Even this is a difficult choice as there is so many TV’s out there for say under £500 that even narrowing it down to two or three may be a near on impossible decision.  But like a lot of thing in life this matter is no different I suppose.