瞎逛電器展 / Wandering around an electronics expo

前陣子，家中的電視突然無法開機，爸媽的生活，頓時失去了重心，因為看不到他們最愛的政論節目，看不到喜愛的狗血鄉土劇，看不到讓人放鬆的綜藝節目，我打了客服電話，尋求協助，得知家中的電視已經過了保固，上門檢修還需要六百元台幣的檢測費用，本來考慮買一台新的電視，但是，最終還是請電視原廠處理，算是花錢消災。

最近，展覽中心有個電器展，我正好順便去查看一下電視的行情價錢，做個商品調查，萬一我們家又需要買新電視時，才比較有底，展場內的家電用品五花八門，各個品牌廠商，紛紛展出它們的智慧家電、冷暖空調、廚房家電、冰箱和電視等商品，我覺得韓國品牌很捨得花錢，行銷它們的品牌，SAMSUNG 及 LG 的攤位占地都很大，尤其是 SAMSUNG，除了展出家電商品外，也順便推廣它們的電競商品。

我走了一圈下來，卻發現原來家電的進步，早已悄悄改變我們的生活方式，從傳統印象中的冰箱、洗衣機，到如今結合AI技術、環保節能與美學設計的新世代家電，例如，新型的冰箱，不只是外型時尚，冰箱門上還有一塊透明觸控螢幕，可以顯示食材保存期限、推薦料理食譜，甚至能直接下單補貨，洗衣機可以根據衣物重量調整用水量與洗滌時間，省水又省電。

這次，我對展場中展出的伴唱機，覺得有些心動，以前我總覺得伴唱機只是家庭聚會或KTV裡的主角，但隨著近年來露營風潮興起，行動式伴唱機不僅外型輕巧可攜、設計時尚，且方便攜帶，而且內建電池續航力超強，一次充電可以連唱好幾小時，非常適合戶外使用，此外，伴唱機還結合最新的AI功能，只要對著麥克風說出歌名或歌手，系統就會自動搜尋並播放相對應的歌曲，不再需要一首首翻找或手動輸入，對於有選擇困難的人來說非常友善。

我猜，可能不少人都聽過「早買早享受，晚買享折扣。」，所以在這種場合，業務員們都會卯足全力，盡量洗腦來往的潛在消費者，我承認，展場內的很多商品，都很有賣點，可能是商品的功能或價錢，不過，我還是較推崇理性消費的態度，在「了解自己真正需要什麼」的基礎上，做出有意識的選擇，消費，是經過思考後所做的決定，而不是衝動消費或是盲目跟風。

Not long ago, our home TV suddenly stopped working. It completely threw off my parents’ daily routine. They couldn’t watch their favorite political talk shows, their beloved over-the-top local dramas, or the variety shows they usually relax with. I called customer service for help, and they told me the TV was out of warranty. On top of that, just getting someone to come over and check it would cost NT$600. We did consider buying a new one, but in the end, we let the original brand handle the repair. Honestly, it felt like paying to get rid of a headache.

Coincidentally, there was an electronics expo at the convention center recently, so I dropped by to check out TV prices. I am just doing a bit of market research in case we really do need to replace our current one. The place was packed with all kinds of home appliances. Every brand had their booths showing off smart home tech, air conditioners, kitchen gadgets, fridges, TVs, and more. I noticed that the Korean brands were going all out on marketing. Both SAMSUNG and LG had massive booths. SAMSUNG, in particular, wasn’t just showing appliances. They were also pushing their gaming products.

As I walked around, I realized how much home appliances have evolved and quietly changed our lifestyles. We’ve moved way beyond the traditional image of a fridge or washing machine. Now, everything’s infused with AI, eco-friendly features, and sleek design. For example, modern fridges aren’t just stylish. Some have transparent touchscreen panels right on the door. They can show expiration dates of stored food, suggest recipes, and even let you order groceries directly. Washing machines can now adjust water usage and wash time based on the weight of the laundry, which helps save both water and electricity.

One product that really caught my attention this time was a karaoke machine. I used to think they were just for home parties or KTV lounges, but with the recent camping craze, portable karaoke machines have totally become a thing. They’re compact, stylish, and easy to carry. Plus, the built-in battery life is amazing — a single charge can last for hours of singing. Perfect for outdoor settings. On top of that, these machines now come with AI features. You can just say the name of a song or artist into the mic, and it’ll find and play the song for you. No more scrolling through endless song lists or typing things in. It is super helpful for people who have trouble choosing.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Buy early to enjoy it longer; buy late for a discount”. That’s why at events like this, the salespeople go all out, trying hard to persuade potential buyers. And I’ll admit, a lot of the products were pretty tempting — whether for their features or prices. But personally, I still believe in rational spending. I think it’s important to really understand what you need and make informed decisions. Spending money should be something thoughtful — not impulsive or just because everyone else is doing it.

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