Come chat with us.

Hi All,

If you’ve been here before, and I hope you have, you know I try my best to keep things casual. As always grab a cup of coffee and enjoy.

Today’s subject is upgrading customer service thru live chat.

I can’t speak for you but, sometimes when shopping on-line, I sometimes you have a couple questions but don’t really feel like talking on the phone but still want my questions answered. What to do? What to do? With that in mind, in an effort to make getting help faster and simpler for our customers, we have added a live chat program to our site www.strutmanelectronics.com . Want to know more about a product, want to check on an order, or you’re just bored and want to say “hi” all you need to do is click the “Start Chat” button at the upper right hand corner of every page.

To everyone out there in cyberland have a great day and don’t forget to send your questions or comments to us.

Respectfully,

Patrick Strutman, Owner/Underpaid and overworked worker ant but happy

Capturing the changing landscape of life with digital cameras

Capturing the changing landscape of life with digital cameras aka who am I.

Hi All, 

Today’s second topic is capturing the changing landscape of life with digital cameras, but first my welcome. As usual to the new people welcome, grab a cup of joe, relax, and enjoy. To those who have been here before, welcome back. My name is Patrick Strutman and I’m the co-owner of www.strutmanelectronics.com and a few other domains. I spend most of my week dealing with technical problems and helping people. One of my new responsibilities has become blogging. At first, I really didn’t know what this was all about. Maybe I still don’t, but am starting to enjoy it. I try my best to keep things informal and fun. These articles are as much, if not more, about expressing myself as they are about the actual products. I’m hoping people read them, look over our site www.strutmanelectronics.com and have fun. Life is too short. Take a stroll now and again, don’t always run.

I haven’t really decided what I want to say, but since I find myself in an introspective mood with a backache today, I think I’ll just wing it. 

I could be working on things like tweaking Google feeds, updating inventory, or other absolutely captivating subjects, lol, but I would prefer to spend my afternoon chatting with you.

I don’t think there will be a whole lot of technical things, but I’ll force myself to sprinkle some work-related things in so I don’t get yelled at too much by my business partner/brother. Lol. Sometimes working with family can be challenging but very rewarding. He’s a good guy even if he doesn’t know it. Life has blessed me with the most important things: good friends and family.

Let’s take a little stroll together and find out who this goof ball is that’s posting. I’m an animal lover. Sometimes I feel like Noah because I’m surrounded on a daily basis by my friends and pets. Here are some of them.

First is Moosie. Moosie is a blue russian who decided she needed a good home and moved in one day and just took over. She’s been a great friend and pet. She’s been around for about 2 years, I think.

Next we have Kitty. She is named Kitty, not because we are lazy, but because she reminds me of the cat from South Park.  How I, like Cartman, am always saying “No Kitty!” She’s just as prissy as she looks.

Kitty

 

Then we have Stinky. Stinky has been with us the longest. He’s 15 yrs old.  He’s not technically mine. Technically he’s my roommate’s, just like the turtles, but somehow I always seem to jump in to take care of them and, since we share a back yard, they are a part of my daily life.

Our old friend Stinky.

 

Then we have our lastest arrivals: Turtle & Soup. They were George and Wiessie after the old Jefferson’s tv show. After making themselves at home too much I unilaterally renamed them. You can’t imagine how much touble these big guys can cause.

George now named Turtle.

Weessi now named Soup.

 

Then we have my Mom. Greastest woman I have ever met. This was just a little snapshot at the pier on one of her recent trips to visit us.

Mom

 

Next is my father. He’s getting ready to celebrate his 80th. Everyone say, “Happy Birthday.”

My pop's

 

The last pic of my family and friends is the love of my life for the last 5 years or so, Pam. She doesn’t know I’m posting this and she’d probably have a fit but isn’t she beautiful?

Me and my baby.

 

About a year and a half ago I was forced to celebrate this my 39th. Even though I hate to admit I’m now 40ish. lol.

My 39th.

 

I hope you have enjoyed the little tour thru my life. I know some of these aren’t the greatest pictures. I’m sure I could have staged better and had better resolution on some. Some were taken with a digital camera while some were just snaps with my cell phone. They weren’t picked for the image quality. They were picked to show you my life.

Digital camera’s, just like all technology, have come a long way. You can get a digital camera for less then $50 and for around $150 or so you can get a pretty good one. Image quality and options will vary greatly depending on price, but even if it’s just an inexpensive digital camera, you should have one. Capture some of your own life. Keep the things that are important to you close to you.

As the old saying goes, “I’m off like a prom dress.” lol. I hope you have enjoyed these, God bless, and have a great day.

Respectfully,

Patrick Strutman, Owner/hard worker/just another worker ant.

www.strutmanelectronics.com

Digital camcorders capture life’s moments

Hi All,

 

Today’s topic is Digital Camcorders and how they capture life moments.

 

Welcome back to those of you who have been here before. To any new people, pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy. Around here I like to keep things informal. I try to make it as if we are having a discussion over a cup of coffee. I realize these articles are supposed to be mainly about items we are trying to sell, but try to have a little fun at the same time. Even though we have yet to get many comments or questions, I know there are people out there. I can hear you all chuckle from time to time. Please, please, please send us your questions or comments so I have a better idea what to write about. Back to today.

 

Today’s topic, as I have said, is digital camcorders. In the last few days, I have been trying to straighten up the place, and while doing so came across some home movies I took with my digital camcorder. I won’t say which, because I bought it years ago, before we opened the doors for www.strutmanelectronics.com and we don’t carry it, but to tell you the truth, it is less important which one you have – just that you have one. Anyway back to the point, (my mind is all over the place this morning, which is usually a sign I haven’t had enough coffee yet) you need a digital camcorder.

 

As I was going thru the movies I had found, I came across one of my pet bird Delila, who decided to fly off one day without so much as a “goodbye catch ya later.”Another movie was of my brother’s and my cross-country trip that turned into the the trip from hell, but that’s a story for another day. Another movie was of my father. My father is getting ready to celebrate his 80^th in a few days and also has Alzheimer’s. Happy birthday Dad. I love you. The movie I found of my father was during a trip back home to visit shortly after my father had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. You could see the beginnings of the Alzheimer’s, but he was still almost himself. I don’t think we should talk much about that subject because it just might bring me to tears, as it often does, and no one wants that.

 

It’s amazing to me that the digital camcorders on the market today can and do produce extremely high quality audio and video.

Do you remember years ago when home movies were just starting? The quality of the recording wasn’t so great and the equipment itself was bulky and confusing to work with - well not anymore. Today’s digital camcorders are smaller than ever. The one’s that I prefer have the little flip out screen. This is convenient for both recording and for playback, so you don’t need to jam something up to your face.

Also, todays digital camcorders produce great quality in both sound and video. When looking for a digital camcorder, look at all the features. Some produce true hd (High Definition) output and some even produce wide-screen format. They also produce surprisingly good audio from the built-in microphones, no need to have a additional microphone, but for most it is an available option should you want one.

Also, with todays digital camcorders, you have many storage options. When picking out yours, take this into consideration. Pick out the storage medium that is most convenient for you. They come in many formats, but among them are the MiniDvd’s which look like a standard dvd just smaller. These are nice because you can play these in most computers and dvd players. Also available is the Blu-Ray which is similar physically to the MiniDVD.

 

Another storage option is the hard drive. Many digital camcorders have a built-in hard drive. These come as large as 120 gb today, and I can only imagine where they will be in a few years.

The last storage option I’ll mention is the flash memory. These come in a few types but are nice because you can store a lot and only have to carry a small chip should you need more.

Also with today’s camcorders, you can do standard photos, some very fun editing, use of night vision on many models, and lots of other things.

So to sum up a few things, the audio and video are light years ahead of where they were. You truly end up with high quality movies with little effort. When picking one out, ask questions and make sure whoever is answering those questions is knowledgeable. There are a lot of options.

Just a little side note to those of you starting in any industry, but especially to those of you in sales or technically-oriented industries, “get to know your product.” Fancy degrees and a piece of paper don’t mean you know your product. Take some time to play with the different products. See what and how they do things. In all business, there are slow times. Take that time to get to know what you are selling or servicing beyond what is required of you. Your customers will be much happier and they will notice. Back to the article.

The last thing I’d like to say is get a digital camcorder. It doesn’t need to be from us but it would be appreciated. Digital camcorders do a great job at capturing memories. Home movies go beyond the still photo, in that they capture and convey more. They take you back to a moment in time. If you’re not careful, they can even bring a tear to your eye but it’s a good tear.

To those of you that who been here before, I apologize. I don’t think this has been my best, sorry, coffee must not have been strong enough. To those who are new, I hope you come back again and again and give me another try. Thanks, God bless, and have a great day.

 

Respectfully,

 

Patrick Strutman, Owner/Head worker ant

www.strutmanelectronics.com

Wireless Office Headsets vs Corded Office headsets

Hi All,

Today’s topic is “Wireless Office Headsets vs Corded Office headsets.” Having worked for many years in a large office, or cubicle farm, I won’t say where but they like to say, “Can you hear me know?”, I have spent a lot of time tethered to a phone. It wasn’t until I purchased a wireless headset that I realized just how bad that part of it was. Great people, great job, but tied literally to a phone. Now I’m wireless and I would have to recommend it to anyone who is on the phone much.

Today wireless headsets are great. Most are good to around 30′ from the base. You answer and hang up simply by pushing the button on the headset. Many have built in noise cancelling. Most have 5 hours talk time and 100 hours stand by, so getting thru a full day’s use is no problem.  With some you can even toggle between your office phone and cell phone.

Trust me on this. You want to be wireless. No more getting tangled up in cords. No more stretching to try to reach something and coming unplugged. No more close lining or tripping someone by accident as they walk past you, although that can sometimes be fun. lol. So to all you people tethered to a phone I say, “revolt and go wireless.” Like I said, “trust me on this” wireless is so much more convenient.

For those of you that I can’t convince, we still carry a wide selection of corded headsets. Well I have lots of work today, so I have to run. As always, please feel free to comment or drop us a question.

Have a great day!

Respectfully,

Patrick Strutman, Owner/Just another worker ant.
www.strutmanelectronics.com

Picking a good camera for you

Hi All,

I’m new to this social networking thing, so I hope I do it right. I’m going to try to take the approach that it is just you and I discussing things over a cup of coffee, because right now I’m having a cup of coffee.  I’m not a drinker, but I can’t make it thru the day without my coffee. lol.

So today let’s discuss some basics of picking out a digital camera. We all know that we want good pictures, but think about the way you use your camera. Are you the type that is never without your camera? Are you the type that takes it out only on special occasion? Why, you ask, is this important? I’ll tell you where I’m going with this. If you always have it with you, then you might want to make sure you get something small enough to stick in your pocket; however, if you only take it out occasionally, you may opt for a little larger camera. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Most of the time the better cameras are a bit larger. They have to be in order to accommodate things like a larger optical zoom vs having mainly a digital zoom, but that is a subject unto itself.

Also, think about the fact that what is the appropriate camera for a 16 year old may not be the right one for my 80 year old mother. God bless, her she is a great woman. When I purchased a camera for her, I thought it important to pick one that was just a little larger physically. The one I purchased for her had a little larger screen and a few less buttons, but not options. I wanted her to have something to hold on to.

Also, think about what you will be doing when using it. I like to travel and, as luck would have it, I’m in a wheelchair. A few years back I went to the Philippines. While there I went to see some volcano’s and such. Yes, I wanted to get pictures. At the time I had a regular film camera and a digital camcorder. The camcorder doubles as a camera, so I could take regular pictures with it. Both took excellent pictures, but I love the camera because it takes better pictures when zooming in at a long distance. The camera was my Cannon Rebel and, although a great camera, I didn’t use it much on the trip because it was a pain to carry it. When vacationing and traveling, I have found that it is sometimes better to have a smaller camera, that you will actually pull out of your pocket and use, vs a larger nicer one that ends up sitting in the hotel room because you don’t want to lug it all over.

Does the smaller one take as good a picture? Up close yes, but not at a distance. This will take us back to the digital vs optical lens. I plan to write on that in the not to distant future, but let me give you the basics. A digital lens suffers more degradation in the picture quality because it is not actually zooming in. It is the equivalent of taking a picture and enlarging it thru software or on a photo copier.  With the optical zoom it actual uses optics, I know, I know, you are never supposed to use the same word when explaining it, but we are not in class anymore. lol. An optical lens actually brings in the subject closer and does not loose any of it’s crispness.

Ok, I’m going to wrap this up by saying think about who is going to be using it. Also think about how they will be using it. It does no good to have the best camera in the world if it stays in the hotel room or if it’s so small that the person for whom it was intended for is uncomfortable with it.

Please drop us your questions and or comments. We would love to hear from you.  Have a great day and feel free to browse our digital camera section. There’s something there for everyone. Pictures capture life for us to remember, so take a bunch.

 

Have a great day.

Respectfully,

Patrick Strutman, owner/just another worker ant

Welcome to Struman Electronic’s Blog

Welcome By Patrick Strutman

 
Hi,

Welcome to Strutmanelectronics.com’s first blog. Strutmanelectronics.com is family owned and operated. Strutmanelectronics.com is enjoying it’s second year on the Internet. We do discount sales of top brand consumer electronics. We carry a large selection of digital cameras, digital camcorders, gps, hd tv’s, mp3 players, cell phones, home and mobile audio and video, and much more. We carry top brands such as Canon, Pentax, JVC, Kicker, JBL, Jenson, Kenwood, just to name a few. Feel free to browse our inventory at www.Strutmanelectronics.com.

In this blog we will attempt to post articles that are usefull and informative relating to all types of consumer electronics. These articles will not just be sales pitch articles but also how to articles. These articles will not and are not intended to be for the expert. We will write them using as little industry specific jargon as possible. We will try our best to explain and answer questions in plain English. We hope you enjoy and find them useful. We welcome any and all positive or negative polite input. We also welcome your questions. As Humphrey said in the end of one of my favorite movies, “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Thank you and have a great day.

Respectfully,
Patrick Strutman, owner/worker ant.