2. The disclaimer above is to ensure that none of those big stores sue my a** off!

Now that we’re done with disclaimers (and their disclaimers!), it’s time to tell you the dirty truth about electronics store chains in Pune.

Recently, I have been around looking for an iPod docking station, a laptop, an LCD/Plasma TV and cell phones. I have bought all these items from different stores. That itself begs the question: what are these massive one-stop stores good for?

Yes, the hint is at Croma. As someone who takes his electronics quite seriously, I do expect store salesmen to be well informed. I don’t expect them to know all the minute details, but their suggestions should mean something. And at no store in Pune have I found this. The obvious incentive for them to push a brand/product is the commission they or the store stands to earn. In this regard, Vijay Sales (Sadhu Vaswani Chowk) is perhaps the best of the lot.

Plasma TV
42″ Panasonic Viera. At Croma (Aundh): Rs 50,000. At Vijay Sales (SV Chowk): Rs 40,000. At Xcite (Aundh): Rs 40,000.

No prizes for guessing that I didn’t buy at Croma. I bought at Vijay Sales. Because the sales people there were willing to take the effort of connecting a DVD player to the TV and demonstrating the quality to me. Because they didn’t cringe when I asked them to do it. That the cashiers are also smiling helps.

At Croma, I fail to understand the reason for the 25% excess price. It isn’t like their sales guys are really well informed or that Croma was offering me something additional with the TV. The same was experienced even when buying a cell phone and laptop.

Conclusion: Stay away from Croma. They don’t have decent parking either. Xcite is pretty good… I did buy the iPod dock (JBL) from them and almost bought the TV as well. Just that their staff is fairly aloof to your presence. It could mean they don’t get in the way of browsing. But it also means they aren’t around when you ask questions. Vijay Sales offers the best prices by far of all these. Whether kitchen electronics and appliances or entertainment of cameras. Be sure to tell them that you won’t pay the 1% or 1.5% extra they ask for on use of a card and they may agree! For Laptops, I’ve started to like House of Laptops (Aundh). The staff is very well informed and the range, although somewhat limited, is good enough for most consumer needs.

One of biggest problems with Windows was that BSOD. And so far, I’ve seen only one instance of it come up since the Beta was announced about a couple of weeks ago. Not bad!

One of the main reasons my Apple solidarity is beginning to waver is because of the lack of support for a range of things. My BlackBerry, for instance. It doesn’t always entirely sync with the Mac. There’s some selective work going on there. And then there’s some other stuff I’d like to use for daily work (like Windows Live Writer), but I can’t.

Now, about 90% of my work is on the web and Mac does pose some problems on this front for me too. Changing folder permissions on a server is one of these.

One of the biggest things about having a Mac is the reaction it gets from people (yes, still!). It’s odd how many people will look at you as if you’re from Mars or you have too much money if you own a Mac (neither of which is true, let me add). And I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t miss the snobbery owning a Mac allows me. (One of the common reasons I give when my iPhone doesn’t pair over Bluetooth with others is that “Apple doesn’t talk to inferior products!). I know there will be a lot crow to be eaten… live by it, die by it!

All said and done, the biggest reason is the lack of games for a Mac. I love the odd indulgence and with a Mac, I’m kind of stuck to Tetris (or Quinn, which I have). I wouldn’t mind the odd Saturday spent on Cricket or Formula 1 and I’m not too keen in investing in a console for that.

Over the coming weekend, I’ll be installing W7B using Boot Camp on my Mac to give it a test run. If it goes well, who knows? Maybe this year, I shall return to the Windows camp. Not without some kicking and screaming before, though!

Of course, the transition wouldn’t be painless. For one, finding a Windows machine with somewhat attractive looks and a good keyboard has long been a struggle. Only the Sony Vaio (and select Dell models) comes close. But the FW series of the Vaio is somewhat expensive to be honest. For the same amount of money, I could get a Mac! And that’s where I keep going in circles. A recent Lenovo acquisition by someone in office did make me take notice, but didn’t stay on in my mind for over 5 mintues. It looks rather large and ‘unlaptop-ish’ after a while. More so since I’m used to a 13″ MacBook. Not that I’m looking to change computers tomorrow. No sir-ee! It’s a long way back to move to Win.

So while I ponder and investigate options, I would like some help from those in the know. Should I? Shouldn’t I? Or am I on this side forever? You know… once you’ve gone Mac, you can’t go back?