John Sciacca

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The Custom Installer: *Not Included
John Sciacca  |  Dec 02, 2007  |  0 comments

Giving consumer electronics as gifts used to be easy. You picked out what you wanted, wrapped it up, and were off the hook for another year. If you took the time to look at the package, you might have noticed the micro-sized print advising "*Batteries Not Included" and decided whether or not to toss in a pack of AAs for good measure.

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The Custom Installer: A Custom Life
John Sciacca  |  Jan 08, 2004  |  0 comments

People have been making New Year's resolutions since calendars were first invented. "I'm going to alphabetize my CD collection." "I'll use the Soloflex as more than a clothes hanger." And the biggie - "I'm going to get a job that I really enjoy."

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The Custom Installer: And the Winner Is ...
John Sciacca  |  Feb 09, 2007  |  0 comments

Given that this issue features S&V's awards for the finest gear reviewed in 2006, I thought it would be a good time to talk about how reviews are handled and products are selected for awards. I'm sure you think a reviewer's life is all sunshine and rainbows.

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The Custom Installer: Are You Ready to Retrofit?
John Sciacca  |  Apr 04, 2007  |  0 comments

Adding wiring to an existing home can seem as daunting as building the pyramids. How do you run cable from one side of the room to the other, let alone from one side of the house to the other? If it were as simple as draping wires across the floor or stapling them to the wall, you'd do it yourself.

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The Custom Installer: Becoming a Media-Savvy Installer
John Sciacca  |  Jan 03, 2008  |  0 comments

I usually cover topics geared toward consumers, but this month's column is really meant for my fellow installers. (Of course, non-installers are welcome to read what follows; you might gain insight into how we choose to feature certain installs.)

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The Custom Installer: Caught in the Crossfire
John Sciacca  |  Feb 07, 2008  |  0 comments

As a custom installer, I find that education is one of my main jobs. Every day, people come into my shop seeking advice on how best to spend their A/V dollars. And whether their budget is $1,000 or $100,000, they want to be sure they're getting the best bang for their buck.

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The Custom Installer: CEDIA Expo 2007
John Sciacca  |  Nov 02, 2007  |  0 comments

Every September, thousands of the world's best custom installers converge at the CEDIA Expo - the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association's big annual show - to check out the latest and greatest products. This year's event, held in Denver, offered an amazing array of things worth swooning over.

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The Custom Installer: CEDIA Showstoppers
John Sciacca  |  Dec 09, 2004  |  0 comments

People often ask me, "How do you keep up with all the new technologies? The market changes so fast." One of the best ways to stay current is to attend trade shows where the latest gear is on display and you can actually talk with the folks who designed it.

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The Custom Installer: Control Your World
John Sciacca  |  Jun 12, 2005  |  0 comments

Computers have never really been my thing. I like them and have owned one since I was 8, starting with the incredibly unpowerful Atari 400. But I'd always considered them just the next step toward a better videogaming experience. And while I love gaming, plunking down $2,000 for something I'd use almost exclusively as a gaming rig seemed a little excessive.

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The Custom Installer: Custom is Cool
John Sciacca  |  Jan 14, 2006  |  0 comments

Remember back in high school? It seemed like everyone went to the Senior Prom. But as the party started winding down, the cool kids pulled away in rented limos and headed off to hotel rooms around town to continue partying the night away.

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