LCD Television

[Bird]

I think DLP is out of the question both because of cost and because of that bulb life. My wife turns the TV on when she gets up in the morning and it isn't turned off until she goes to bed at night even if she's not going to be in the room watching it; may have the "mute" kill the sound a good part of the day, but she never turns the TV completely off until bedtime.

 

[bmac]

<font color="blue"> My wife turns the TV on when she gets up in the morning and it isn't turned off until she goes to bed at night even if she's not going to be in the room watching it; </font>

Is there a 12-Step program for this? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[ejtaylor822]

Mike, you gave me a thought here - My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives....

Instead of rating the bulbs by hour they can be rated by units of "blazing saddle" - 2500 hour bulb would now be a "208 Blazing Saddle bulb". Anyone that does not like our new standard we will work up a number 6 on em'

Not sure of the impact going to a Dr. Strangelove or Young Frankenstein unit of measure since these are B & W.

Probably should just stick with hours.
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TresCrows]

Bird, it is probably to late but I bought a Syntax Olevia 32 inch flat panel LCD. It was 1299 (or was it 1199) with rebates and store credits back in the Summer from Comp USA. It works perfect, watching it now, 16:9 screen, super bright, love it. I am waiting on a Sharp 50 inch LCD (yeah and a ticket ot the moon) for my main movie screen but this little 32 is super nice and LCD panels have excellent life. They have a 37 inch out now that is just over 2000 dollars. That seems like a lot but I recall paying 950 dollars for a Mitsu in 1988 and it was only 26 inches. This 32 is a huge improvement until I can afford what I really want which is a very large flat panel LCD.
I imagine you have already gotten something, these flat panel LCDs from 26ish inches on up really are neat televisions.
Merry Christams, happy New year to all.
J

 

[turbo36]

Bird, the cost of the bulb is usually $150 or so and restores the TV to like new performance, not a bad deal. A similar technology to DLP is DiLA we have a JVC 52" and love it.

 

[Bird]

TresCrows and Turbo36, I still haven't bought one; the old Magnavox is still working and I'm still waiting and wondering how much the technology will change and how much the prices will come down in the future. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[TresCrows]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( TresCrows and Turbo36, I still haven't bought one; the old Magnavox is still working and I'm still waiting and wondering how much the technology will change and how much the prices will come down in the future. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif )</font>

The LCD flt panels are the coming on thing I believe. Prices have dropped in the 20 to 32 inch screen sizes quite a bit, nearly a thousand dollars over the last year or so. With careful shopping you should be able to get an Olevia flat panel 32 for under 1200 dollars and certainly their 26 inch. In fact, their 37 inch was under 2,000 with rebates. It is a fantastic TV with excellent color and brightness. The latency effects are not really noticeable on this TV. The pixels are much improved and much faster vs even last year. This company was also actually reachable by telephone for technical advice. They told me their chip sets and screens are top quality and equal to the Sharp sets. I believe them. I feel confident I can recommend the Syntac Olevia. This is a true flat panel LCD with a life span equal to cathode tube TV. Ours has been going night and day since we got it last summer with zip problems. HD resolution too. We got a upscaling DVD player to go with it, Sea Hunt episodes in HD are wonderful!!!
I don't think these LCD or plasma for that matter are as rugged as a CRT--if you plan on dropping them. I suspect if you punch the screen or hit it sharply the pixels might be damaged. In any case it has no dead pixels and the quality of the build is equal to the Sharp--which is superb--good speakers built in and of course tons of connections including the ability to connect to a computer for gaming (which I don't do) but other PC sourced digital media of course. J

 

[Bird]

JR, I'll have to admit you're talking about a brand I never even heard of. However, we do have a Comp USA store nearby. A young salesman at Circuit City tells me this Samsung is the best quality in this size range. If the old Magnavox dies, I'll be buying a flat panel LCD quite promptly, but as long as it's working, I'm kind of taking my time. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[TresCrows]

I don't have anything against the Samsung but do a search on Syntax Olevia. It is an upcoming brand. They had been making components and now they are marketing complete units. The pricing is very competive especially when there are rebates or store credits as I suspect we will soon see after the usual post Christmas slump hits. They are sold several places other than Comp USA. Just another option to look at, the Samsung, Sharp and Olevia seem to be very nice. That Sharp is still over 2,000 dollars last I looked. Personally, I think 1400 dollars for the 26 inch is high. I think that should sit around 1,000 dollars. I have kinda been watching this stuff lately because I want a bigger flat panel downstairs for movies--and--SeaHunt episodes--lol. J

 

[PineRidge]

We visited HHGreg just before Christmas in search of a new TV for the home. We did look at a DLP but they told us the projection bulb would only last 2 years and it cost 200 bucks to replace. I'm thinking if the guy said every 2 years that it was most likely needed every 18 months or so. That can add up to a lot of jack over the lifespan of the TV in my opinion.

We ended up with an old fashioned Toshiba 57" high definition projection monitor (not a TV no tuner), it needs a cable box or with the tuner in a VCR you can do a split screen and watch a couple of programs at once if your so inclined.

 

[Bird]

JR, the problem some of us old folks have is too many choices, technology changing faster than we can keep up with, and a lack of understanding of just how important certain features are. I think I can understand how more pixels means better resolution, but that Samsung shows a 3000:1 contrast ratio while the Syntax shows 1200:1. Is that important? I don't know. I know when we were looking at Circuit City, that Samsung did "appear" to have a better picture than the Sharps, Magnavox, Panasonic, etc. that they had on display. But of course, CompUSA's website shows that Syntax to be a lot cheaper (ah, we finally get to a feature even I understand /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif).

 

[DocHeb]

Good background information at Plasma TV Buying Guide.

... I didn't read all the posts ... hope I'm not repeating information.

 

[MikePA]

Morning, Bird. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif We upgraded our TVs over the past 2 weeks. We use to have a 19" Phillips (den) and a 27" Sony (living room). Each TV also had an attached VCR and a ReplayTV DVR (Digital Video Recorder)

Since each of these TVs were in cabinets, we were limited (width) in how large a TV we could buy.

We now have two Toshiba, LCD TVs. 27" with builtin DVD in the den and a 32" LCD TV and a separate DVD/RW in the living room. I could have gone with a 37" in the living room, but it would have been a tight fit and it was a third more expensive. Plus, 37" was a little too large for the room size. I went with LCD for two primary reasons; (1) Weight (LCDs are the lightest) and (2) Heat (plasmas produce more heat).

I also upgraded to digital cable with all the HD channels plus HD DVRs on each set.

I figure I am set for TV technology for 10 years. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

While the LCD TVs produce a great picture, particularly when compared to the tube TVs, the biggest change is High Def.

 

[Bird]

Chris, I don't think I would want a plasma TV; want an LCD instead. Now of course that opinion might change before I actually buy one. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Of course, we started considering buying a new TV for three reasons: (1) the Magnavox is getting old and a bit slower warming up; sometimes not quite as sharp a picture along the lower part of the screen for awhile, (2) it's a bit large and heavy for me to lift to move it around, and (3) at first we couldn't decide on a good location in the living room for it and thought a light weight LCD would be OK on the mantle over the fireplace.

However, we finally worked out a furniture arrangement that's satisfactory and even when we buy a new TV, we don't plan to put it over the fireplace. So now I don't plan on having to lift it again until we're ready to dispose of it, so that only leaves the one reason: If it doesn't work anymore. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

But I do appreciate everyone's information in this thread. Hopefully, when the time comes to actually buy one, I won't do too bad. I've bought lots of things, such as VCRs, computers, and cameras in the past, only to find a short time later better quality and more features at lower prices. Call me a pessimist, but I figure if I pay $1,000 for a TV, you will be able to buy a better one for $500 next week. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[HGM]

These things seem to be like computers anymore, as soon as you buy it its outdated and the newer one is the "only way to go".. I tend to like closeouts in most everything. They are better than what I have(so, I dont know any better) and I dont need to impress anyone whith the latest and greatest. My recomendation would be to frequent sports bars for lunch or dinner to see what they are using. They are most likely on 15+hrs per day and shoud give you a good idea of reliability and picture quality. I went to TacoMac yesterday and they have a bunch of LG's, great picture, but they are all brand new.. Ask their opinions as well, sometimes you'll find an AV buff, he may not be the brightest bulb, but can usually give a decent opinion from a laymans veiw not a salesman..

I plan to replace my HUGE 60" projection Mitsubishi, when it finally dies, with an LCD. Right now, it works and I dont NEED to spend the money on a new one, but they are nice..

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( HUGE 60" projection Mitsubishi )</font>

I try to not buy anything that I can't move around or in and out of the house by myself. Of course as I get older the things I can move around by myself tend to get smaller. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[HGM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I try to not buy anything that I can't move around or in and out of the house by myself. Of course as I get older the things I can move around by myself tend to get smaller. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif )</font>

It does have wheels, so movement isnt bad... The livingroom is just too small, I like the "over the fireplace" idea for an LCD. In my case, it may be a little high though.But anything would be better than the BIG BOX of a TV I have now. I just wonder if I can get used to a smaller picture when I get a new one /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif...

 

[TresCrows]

Bird, I would not get into those numbers to much, once they are in your house you will forget all that. As to be out of date when you buy it--well--maybe--LCD flat panel is really the cutting edge and prices reflect that. I would buy an LCD flat panel and not worry about being out of date for several years. Most all LCD are High Def, have bright pictures and good color. LCD TVs still have some improvement to be gained in the "black" region. That Samsung may do a bit better in that area than the Olevia. Thing is this TV is like a starship compared to the old clunker we had before. It is such a huge jump you will forget all those numbers.
The biggest thing to get used to is the stretch effect on widescreen TV when you fill the screen with a standard TV broadcast.
Movies, most movies are filmed in two aspect ratios (mostly), these are 1.85:1 which equals the 16:9 ratio screen of most wide screen HD televisions, The other ratio is 2.35:1. Films in the 1.85:1 will fill the screen almost exactly on a widescreen TV. New TV broadcast standards of the future will be the 16:9 ratio. Movies filmed at 2.35:1 or 2.4:1 or wider will still have letter box stripes at the top and bottom. Just not as big. You can "fill" the screen by stretching but it drops data on the sides.
Setting up a widescreen TV will probably require a new DVD player that has the option to set for widescreen. If it is more than a year or so old it probably does not. On the Tv you have to select the widescreen mode and on the DVD/surround player you must also match the TV set up. Sounds complicated---if you cannot do it--there is the Geek Squad. Simple really.
Really, VHS is dead with all the channel 3 and 4 stuff--throw it away. All you need know is a good DVD player and a small surround system. VHS is dead. If your a time shifter then TiVo. I don't watch network TV so I don't need that. J

 

[Bird]

JR, we still have an old VCR hooked up to the little 20" TV in the bedroom. I think that TV has been turned on twice in the last year for a short time and after we moved in September, I checked to see that both TV and VCR still work; they do. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif In the living room, we have a combination VCR/DVD; cheapest thing Walmart had. I think I've recorded two Bill Gaither TV programs on it and we've played a movie on it 3 or 4 times in the past two years. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Those things don't get much use in our house. And unfortunately, a number of movies that I recorded on the old VCR work just fine on it, but won't play on the new one. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Volfandt]

I got the Mrs a 20" Sylvania LCD TV w/built in DVD for Christmas. It's not HD nor one of those high pixel resolution models but it has a as good if not better picture than the 19" CRT (tube) TV it's replaceing and takes up alot less space on the dresser. It was $480 I believe.
Only negative I've seen is the remote, it has far too many buttons and they are small, but she's already figured it out and memorized most of the keys /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Volfandt