TheBolt

Calling all college students:

As August anxiously approaches, we are forced to come to terms with the inevitable: summer is coming to a close and that means it’s time to start thinking about (brace yourself) going back to school.

While most companies associate “back to school” with the products, our goal is to shift the focus from product to place. By this we mean, whether you are a returning student or an incoming freshman, there is one task you cannot avoid and that’s the move.

Moving is never easy. It’s time consuming, tiresome, and it takes A LOT of work. So instead of spending hours loading and unloading your dorm or apartment, why not let Abt assist you? Abt would like to make your transition from beach to books a lot easier. Enter our Abt2School sweepstakes today and welcome your Fall ’16 with open arms.

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We’ve been waiting all season long for the big game and it’s just days away! Do you have what it takes to get ready for game day? Show us how you get ready for game day for your chance to win a LG 43″ HDTV. It’s pretty simple to enter! Snap a pic of your awesome man cave, or of game day at a party with your friends! You can also show off your cooking skills and share a photo of the delicious food you made. Then, post your awesome game day pic on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram with @AbtElectronics and #AbtGameTime to enter.  Click here or “Learn More” for terms and conditions.  Good luck!

Need equipment for the game?  Click here to check our Game Day Guide and celebrate the big game with a win!

When shopping for a new TV, you can easily be overwhelmed by both the size and selection.  Keeping in mind a few specifics will help you narrow down the style and size that’s perfect for you and your TV room.

First, know what technology you plan on getting.  Right now you can choose from the three main types: LCD, LED and Plasma.  There are good and bad factors with each.  They are also liked and disliked by a wide range of individuals based solely, on their own tastes.  As they say, it’s in the eye of the beholder.  Below are just a few examples of what each can offer.  Be sure to visit a retail store and see as many to compare and contrast in person.

LCD

Size 19 inches and larger
Pros Consumes a lot less power than plasma; lighter panels than Plasma; models with matte screens work well in bright rooms.
Cons Viewing angle not as wide as LED and Plasma.

LED

Size 32 inches and larger
Pros Uses less power than LCD and Plasma; thinner, lighter panels than LCD and Plasma; improved picture quality.
Cons Thin design comes at a price.

Plasma

Size 42 inches and larger
Pros Black-level performance in dark rooms; uniformity and viewing angle.
Cons High power consumption; glass screen can reflect light in bright rooms.

Determine the Right Size

When looking at the TVs, you may be enamored by the big, vivid displays.  Sometimes, bigger isn’t always better.  There is a reason you wouldn’t want to sit in the front row at a movie theater, and that’s because you don’t want to look up, or move your head left to right while watching a movie.  The same goes for sitting too far from your TV; you won’t be able to enjoy the clarity of an image if you can’t see what’s going on.  Knowing how far you will sit and where you will be placing the TV, will help you get an idea of what size TV you will need.  Below is a chart that will help  answer those questions.

Screen height is also important. Most entertainment units are low to the ground, but you should have the center of the television screen aligned with your line of vision when you’re in your favorite spot. You can do this by buying a larger screen, or by simply getting a taller stand.

Know your price range

Prices can be all over the board when it comes to buying a flat-screen TV. Some deals offer the best of both worlds when it comes to quality and price. Once you know what you want from the tips above, make sure to evaluate the pricing and warranty options from the retail, or online store you want to commit to.  A TV should be a long term investment, so make sure you get the best for your budget.  As always, any questions, comments or concerns, call an Abt representative at 888-228-5800.

With the internet widely available on almost all sorts of electronics, you don’t have to be on your computer to surf the web.  More often now, computers take a seat next to phones and tablets when consumers want to check their e-mail, shop online, navigate etc.  Shipments of internet-enabled consumer electronics devices will soar to exceed those of the computer for the first time in 2013, according to a new IHS iSuppli consumer platforms report.

According to a marketing firm, ISH iSuppli, shipments of connected consumer electronics devices, a category including a wide range of products — from televisions to video game consoles, to Blu-ray players- will surge to 503.6 million units in 2013, up from 161 million in 2010. In comparison, computer shipments during the same period will amount to 253.3 million, up from 222.3 million.

A helpful little website entitled TV Size Matters gives you an idea of what your living room, basement, room, etc. would look like with whatever size TV you are thinking of purchasing.  The website has a stock image of a livingroom with a couch and you can adjust the size of the TV hanging on the wall, giving you an idea of what it would look like.

One of the more unique things about this site is that it allows you to upload an image of your own room you plan on purchasing a TV for.  This helps you get a great idea of where to put and what size TV to buy for your entertainment.

If you are still shopping for the perfect TV for the upcoming Super Bowl, Abt Electronics made a stop at WGN TV yesterday morning. Take a look at our news and reviews for the best TVs to watch all the Big Sunday Action!

Microsoft is planning on importing its Kinect technology to their Windows programming.  In an interview with BBC at CES 2011 last weekend, Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer stated that Microsoft “will support that in a formal way in the right time.”  No word on specifically what time, but the technology will be used for easier web and menu navigation.  Full details can be found in Information Week’s article, “Kinect Technology Heading to PCs, TVs.”

It seems as if we are just years away from using the same technology as Tom Cruise did in the movie, “Minority Report.”

Image Courtesy of djtechtools.com

According to the Consumer Electronics Association, that while all around holiday-gift shopping sales might drop this year approximately 2% per person, the purchasing of consumer electronics is expected to rise by 5% per person.

Could this prediction come from the new releases of exciting items such as iPads and 3D TVs?  Perhaps. What do you think?

Abt Electronics is pleased to announce that we now offer our online customers digital services.  Through our website you can find out what cable TV, internet, digital phone and HD programming is in your area and price out packages that best suit your needs and finances.  This has been a service provided, in our store, to our Chicago-land customers for years, but we can now bring it to you, all across America.

Enjoy thousands of programming options, record your favorite shows, surf and download with incredibly fast internet speeds, and take advantage of nationwide calling all on one easy bill.

Kids having fun at last year’s Kids Day Chicago Bears theme.

On Sunday, September 19^th, da Bears will be playing the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium at 12 noon.  That’s the same day that we are hosting another Kids Day from 11:30am to 3pm with a Bears theme.  Kids (young and old at heart) can participate in making helmets, pennants, and fingers.  Also available are football bracelets, water bottles and squishy footballs to take home.  For those that want to burn off some energy, we will have games, football ring toss, football toss and bags.  And it wouldn’t be a complete football theme without food, so Sweet Baby Rays will be on hand for a tailgating party with free Pulled Pork sandwiches and chips.  So if you’re not cheering on da Bears in the comfort of your own home, stop by Abt for Kids Day and catch the game on one of our large screen TVs, while sitting in a massage chair.

–Jennifer A.