Bitten by the ‘Gadget Keeda’, Ranjit Kumar turns Pro-Geek !

Ranjit Kumar was a computer programmer till an infinite love for smartphones and the latest thingamajigs saw him make a life-changing decision…

This self-confessed gadget geek now runs the most viewed Tech channel in the country. We delve into his geeky façade to reveal the brilliant tech genius that lies beneath.

Tell us about your journey from ‘gadget freak’ to ‘Geeky Ranjit’.

I was initially a programmer who took up a lot of freelance jobs.

A large amount of my time was spent working with computer software and big data technology such as stream processing. In case you were not already aware, this type of technology allows systems to process data continuously and to detect conditions within seconds. Put simply, stream processing receives and analyses data in a continuous stream without delays.

Moreover, stream processing enables enterprises to gather immediate insights from their data in real-time. Correspondingly, you can learn more about the advantages of stream processing here: ververica.com.

Above all though, as much as I loved computer software, I was always the closet gadget-junkie. So one fine day, I decided to start my own channel and pursue my love for the latest gadgets. Financially, it was quite difficult then, especially during the first 3 years as I was sustaining losses.

Today, I focus on my channel full time because I insist on posting a video each day. This means close to 12 hours of work daily.

What prompted you to switch careers?

Right from the start, I was always passionate about gadgets. We always used to buy a couple of new products each month. Back then, I had to find ways to justify it to myself! Today, I’m an old YouTuber as I started out in 2011 and this is my passion, so it never really feels like work.

On my last family vacation, I was itching to test gadgets long before the four-day break ended. Such is my love for technology!

Do you purchase all the products you review?

Oh yes! I used to purchase each and every product! But things have changed in the past two years as Indian companies are recognising YouTubers making it easier for us. Today, I’m approached indirectly by brands to review their gadgets. However, I still end up purchasing close to 25% of the products I review.

So what goes into each review?

Analysing and testing each gadget takes between 2 and 3 weeks. So, the time I spend reviewing a gadget is the longest part of the process. Creating the final video is a much shorter ordeal. Some videos take over a day, while some I complete in half a day. Right now, I’m trying out a multi-camera setup with four different cameras. It makes my job a little tougher, but hey, the improved quality is worth it!

Your biggest support?

My wife. The YouTube community has been immensely supportive as well with lots of heartening comments on my videos.

Tech enthusiasts you personally follow?

Oh, I especially love two Western YouTubers who do inspire me at times. The first is TechnoBuffalo and the other is Linus Sebastian from LinusTechTips.

The weirdest comments you’ve received on your videos?

2-3% of the comments are always trolls or haters, but you should focus on the positive comments. This is why the first rule is having a thick skin so that a few negative comments do not get to you.

Your advice to gadget lovers who would love to review products for a living?

Gadget enthusiasts today have it much easier. Their path to fame and recognition is a little easier. Earlier we never used to get replies from the brands. Now they do approach us themselves informing us about new launches and asking us to review the products.

So focus on content, stay committed and you shall succeed!