Paralyzed by too much information?

[Porsche virgin]

I've been looking at watches. I'd like a weekend knock-around, wear-while-doing anything type watch. I've been looking at the various Casio G-shocks and there are plenty of reviews on each model.

I like one, so I look at the review and generally, they are something like this:
***** 20 reviews
**** 12 reviews
*** 3 reviews
** 1 review
* 7 reviews

The five star people swear up and down it is the greatest thing since indoor plumbing. The one star people swear up and down it is the anti-christ.

OK. Let's see if I can find another watch here with better reviews. Um, nope! They pretty much all follow the above pattern.

I could have written this about washers/dryers, cars, cell phones, restaurants, dry cleaners, building contractors, Corse Fox wheels, etc.

Did you ever feel like we have TOO much information at our fingertips now?

[masraum]

No, because with a break down like that, I figure the one star folks either got a lemon (it happens), or they're idiots (it happens often), or they just like to ***** about stuff (it also happens quite often)

[MRM]

Yes, there is too much information floating around. The lesson is that we are not in the information age - we have moved way beyond that. We are in the communication age. The world no longer belongs to the people with more and better information; it belongs to those who can cut through the clutter and communicate better.

As for the watch and interpreting the reviews, remeber that they are written by people who are moved by their experience to write about the product. That's not a scientific sampling, it's just anecdotal information. Useful, perhaps, but to be taken with a grain of salt. Look at the general trend. A one star watch with one review is probably not very good, but you never know. A 15 review watch with 8 good and seven bad is probably a watch meant only for people looking for a particular feature. A 20 review watch with 16 good reviews is probably a good watch - if it has the features you're looking for.

As for the watch, Casio G Shocks are a pretty fungible product. Look for features you want to narrow down the models and then shop for price. I don't see how one Casio G Shok is going to be much more reliable, stylish, full of features or useful than another.

[onewhippedpuppy]

You can look a little too deep into some products as well. Buying a car? Do your homework, all the research you can. Buying a $50 Casio on the other hand........maybe a bit too much thought going into it.