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  • Author Author: Alanta Lee
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[NEW] Product Reviews Poll

Alanta Lee

I’m curious about how much product reviews actually matter.

When you're picking out parts—whether it's dev boards, sensors, power supplies, or even hand tools—do you check reviews first? Or do you just go straight to datasheets and manufacturer specs?

I’ve noticed that some reviewers go really in-depth, testing things beyond what’s in the spec sheet, while others are more surface-level. Do you find these reviews helpful, or do you prefer to just rely on your own experience and forums like this?



Comment below! 

  • Personally I always read reviews before I order parts or anything related to tech/engineering/projects etc.

  • Reviews help a lot when actually working with a product or developing something using it. For example consider Raspberry Pi. There are so many reviews available on the internet for it and those reviews help when actually working with it. Similarly for every other product. It is indeed a question how good a review is and who is doing it.

  • Product reviews are typically useful if they are written by more or equally skilled than me. Interest in reviews also depends on product. For resistors, I am typicaly not interested in reviews at all. For oscilloscope, I am interested very much. In history I have seen that element14 linked some RoadTest reviews to Farnell product page, which was fine. I am not sure why don't they do that more frequently.

  • Reviews are just one of the many sources of information I use when selecting a product.

  • For components I generally go to the datasheet, although I will also often look for examples of it being used or reference designs.

    For complex instrumentation, I look at specs and reviews. When looking at reviews I am often looking for comparisons with similar instrumentation and sometimes looking at learning curves and ease of use.

    When looking at low cost instrumentation, I am looking to see if it is well designed and well made, and if it performs as advertised.