I agree with what's all ready been said. If some of the TV you want to watch is on the local networks, VOOM may not be the best choice. Last I checked they did not offer sattelite local channels and would add an over the air antenna - which might not get you any better reception for those channels than you get now. VOOM is a good option if you plan on viewing HDTV rather than standard TV on an HDTV capable TV as they have the most HDTV programming. Most of us who have an HDTV capable television watch standard definition either over cable or Dish or DirectTv as there is limited HDTV programming available. I am a big fan of Tivo- and time shift everything I watch so I can skip commercials-which essentially makes HDTV pointless as you can't record it in all its glory (well- you can with DirectTV and an HDTV Digital Recorder, but that's another $1000, but not with your Betamax). Local channels were important to us- so we went with Dish as they could get us all the local networks (and were the least expensive option). DVDs will look fantastic and the sound system makes it so much better. Be prepared, regular standard TV (including digital sattelite) will look fuzzier on a large screen then on a smaller direct view TV- everything is bigger, including the flaws in the signal. When you go out to buy your TV everything your looking at in the store will be a DVD or HDTV (and thus look great) have them show you what regular old cable/over the air looks like before you buy. Good luck. Here's a great website to check out in the meantime HometheaterSpot Make sure you check out their forums
Talk me out of Satellite & HDTV???
- Thread starter Bob_Skurka
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AndyM
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Bob,
I have looked up to you in the past on your views regarding television and your position you've taken on your daughter's viewing habits. The fact that you are asking these questions is uncharacteristicly un-Bob-like. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Answer #1: DON'T DO IT BOB! Let your family room be focused on the family and not focused on the television.
Answer #2: Our DVD's look fine on our 19 inch Panasonic that we bought 10 years ago. We wired the house for surround-sound when we built it, and the wires are still hangin through the corners of the walls. We haven't been able to justify spending the money for the small amount of movie viewing. Besides, surround sound just wouldn't be right without buying a larger television, and I don't think television is THAT important.
Answer #3: Sell the Betamax on Ebay, as others have suggested. I'm amazing what people will buy on Ebay. I've sold used CD's for 25 dollars!
As I've mentioned before, television has changed everyone's lives. People rather watch crap than actually turn off the television when there's nothing on. They complain about lousy programming, but they still watch it anyway. Let's rearrange the furniture to face one another instead of the furniture facing the television.
How'd I do, Bob? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I have looked up to you in the past on your views regarding television and your position you've taken on your daughter's viewing habits. The fact that you are asking these questions is uncharacteristicly un-Bob-like. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Answer #1: DON'T DO IT BOB! Let your family room be focused on the family and not focused on the television.
Answer #2: Our DVD's look fine on our 19 inch Panasonic that we bought 10 years ago. We wired the house for surround-sound when we built it, and the wires are still hangin through the corners of the walls. We haven't been able to justify spending the money for the small amount of movie viewing. Besides, surround sound just wouldn't be right without buying a larger television, and I don't think television is THAT important.
Answer #3: Sell the Betamax on Ebay, as others have suggested. I'm amazing what people will buy on Ebay. I've sold used CD's for 25 dollars!
As I've mentioned before, television has changed everyone's lives. People rather watch crap than actually turn off the television when there's nothing on. They complain about lousy programming, but they still watch it anyway. Let's rearrange the furniture to face one another instead of the furniture facing the television.
How'd I do, Bob? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
NY_Yankees_Fan
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Bob,
Consider also buying a digital video recorder (DVR) sold by both cable and satellite companies. The DVR gives you the ability to record up to 35-hours of programming. If you get one with two tuners you can watch one show while recording another at the same time.
The best part is if you have limited time to watch TV and do not like to watch commercials the DVR helps with both. We watch only the programs we want to watch when we want to watch it. You can zip through the commercials in a few seconds and watch a typical 60 minute show in about 38-40 minutes and a 30 minute show in 19-22 minutes with no commercials. If you see a show that interests you, no problem, record it watch it when YOU want to watch it. Like a particular show that comes on every week same time? No problem record every episode, it even knows when they are repeats and will only record the new show IF you program it that way. Best part if you are watching say baseball, guess you know what team I watch /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, phone rings, pause live TV, when you go back to watching the game you do not miss anything! Watching a show and you miss a line of dialog, no problem back it up for a few seconds and hear it again.
We find we watch less TV but when we watch TV it is something we want to watch not something that is on just to watch because the TV is on.
Consider also buying a digital video recorder (DVR) sold by both cable and satellite companies. The DVR gives you the ability to record up to 35-hours of programming. If you get one with two tuners you can watch one show while recording another at the same time.
The best part is if you have limited time to watch TV and do not like to watch commercials the DVR helps with both. We watch only the programs we want to watch when we want to watch it. You can zip through the commercials in a few seconds and watch a typical 60 minute show in about 38-40 minutes and a 30 minute show in 19-22 minutes with no commercials. If you see a show that interests you, no problem, record it watch it when YOU want to watch it. Like a particular show that comes on every week same time? No problem record every episode, it even knows when they are repeats and will only record the new show IF you program it that way. Best part if you are watching say baseball, guess you know what team I watch /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, phone rings, pause live TV, when you go back to watching the game you do not miss anything! Watching a show and you miss a line of dialog, no problem back it up for a few seconds and hear it again.
We find we watch less TV but when we watch TV it is something we want to watch not something that is on just to watch because the TV is on.
BillG_in_TX
Veteran Member
Bob,
Don't do it.
I was at a friend's house last weekend for dinner. He has a Samsung DLP set, surround sound, and VOOM. If you had such a system, your tractors would be in danger of rusting and falling apart from neglect. There is a real danger that it will suck you in and not let you return to your pre-VOOM life.
We barely escaped their house without calling VOOM and Best Buy and spending all of our Christmas money.
Don't do it.
I was at a friend's house last weekend for dinner. He has a Samsung DLP set, surround sound, and VOOM. If you had such a system, your tractors would be in danger of rusting and falling apart from neglect. There is a real danger that it will suck you in and not let you return to your pre-VOOM life.
We barely escaped their house without calling VOOM and Best Buy and spending all of our Christmas money.
OP
Bob_Skurka
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WOW, I can't believe the number of responses.
First, AndyM . . . I still don't think we'd live our lives around the TV set, I just think the picture would be clear when we watch. My daughter would still be limited. My wife would still turn the set off if the noise was bothering her. So I doubt it would change our lives.
As for the rest . . . the basic VOOM package offers something like 26 HDTV channels plus additonal HDTV broadcasts. VOOM is the only choice if you really want HDTV, and as the HDTV prices seem to have come down considerably, and as the VOOM service is basically the same price as DirectTV, it seems like logical choice. C|Net seems to really like the Samsung HL P5685W (it is the 4th generation DLP) and rates it very high. We already have surround sound in 3 rooms, we use it when we watch movies. The bedroom TV is an EDTV and great with DVDs and progressive scan player. My thought is the living room would get upgraded to HDTV and get a new matching surround sound unit to replace the old stuff that is on its last leg. That room would be the only room that would be HDTV capable. The master bedroom & the guest bedroom would each get the benefit of clear pictures without all the fuzzy snow and crummy reception. But again, I doubt we'd watch more TV, I think we'd just see it clearly.
My biggest issue is actually paying for TV. I know in this age of cable and satellite people like me are unusual. But can't get over the fact that I might begin to pay for something that I've always thought of as a free service.
First, AndyM . . . I still don't think we'd live our lives around the TV set, I just think the picture would be clear when we watch. My daughter would still be limited. My wife would still turn the set off if the noise was bothering her. So I doubt it would change our lives.
As for the rest . . . the basic VOOM package offers something like 26 HDTV channels plus additonal HDTV broadcasts. VOOM is the only choice if you really want HDTV, and as the HDTV prices seem to have come down considerably, and as the VOOM service is basically the same price as DirectTV, it seems like logical choice. C|Net seems to really like the Samsung HL P5685W (it is the 4th generation DLP) and rates it very high. We already have surround sound in 3 rooms, we use it when we watch movies. The bedroom TV is an EDTV and great with DVDs and progressive scan player. My thought is the living room would get upgraded to HDTV and get a new matching surround sound unit to replace the old stuff that is on its last leg. That room would be the only room that would be HDTV capable. The master bedroom & the guest bedroom would each get the benefit of clear pictures without all the fuzzy snow and crummy reception. But again, I doubt we'd watch more TV, I think we'd just see it clearly.
My biggest issue is actually paying for TV. I know in this age of cable and satellite people like me are unusual. But can't get over the fact that I might begin to pay for something that I've always thought of as a free service.
v8dave
Platinum Member
Pretty big TV for a non-tv watcher. Have you marked out how and where you'd place it in your living room? Be sure to look at one in person. Check the waste heat the thing gives off and how deep it really is. Unless you have an overly large living room you may be too close to the screen for comfortable viewing. Ms Bob will have to approve the significant furniture realignment to get this stuff in.
If you don't already have a surround sound system be prepared for a major house wiring project. There are at least six (L,R front, L,R back, center, woofer) speaker's worth of wiring to set up with a surround sound system. But, if you do it's great. It is a major viewing experience enhancement. Don't skimp on the low frequency speaker, if it won't vibrate the china in the dining room it isn't big enough. You'll have to break your rules about lots of TV watching and get a bunch of action packed DVDs--Top Gun is still my favorite, the introduction carrier deck operations is the best part. My wife rolls her eyes and leaves the room when my youngest daughter and husband come over and we fire it up.
Satellite TV is pretty good. We've got Dish network. I've seen Voom advertized but haven't been tempted so far. If possible be sure to add the local channels to your package. Once in a while it's important to get the local news--weather in our case. As somebody else suggested, get a recording decoder box. It makes movie viewing convenient. Record the movie when you are making other use of the system and view it at your convenience.
If you don't already have a surround sound system be prepared for a major house wiring project. There are at least six (L,R front, L,R back, center, woofer) speaker's worth of wiring to set up with a surround sound system. But, if you do it's great. It is a major viewing experience enhancement. Don't skimp on the low frequency speaker, if it won't vibrate the china in the dining room it isn't big enough. You'll have to break your rules about lots of TV watching and get a bunch of action packed DVDs--Top Gun is still my favorite, the introduction carrier deck operations is the best part. My wife rolls her eyes and leaves the room when my youngest daughter and husband come over and we fire it up.
Satellite TV is pretty good. We've got Dish network. I've seen Voom advertized but haven't been tempted so far. If possible be sure to add the local channels to your package. Once in a while it's important to get the local news--weather in our case. As somebody else suggested, get a recording decoder box. It makes movie viewing convenient. Record the movie when you are making other use of the system and view it at your convenience.
dbelisle
Gold Member
Hey Bob , Go for the hole thing, you only go this way once. My wife and I got a 55 inch HDTV last year for Christmas.
I have had direct TV for about eight years and got a HD receiver this spring. I only have 6 HD channels and a few pay per view but WOW !!!
If you rent a pay per view movie in HD it looks a good as in the movie theater.
Once you get HD you will not want to watch anything else.
After a few weeks of watching HDTV , we started to watch a DVD. We used to watch a lot of DVDs because we thought the quality was so good. It looked like crap !!!
We ended up buying a HD DVD player and what a differance!!
I have a surround sound system but not the 5.1
That will be this years Xmas present.
HD is worth it ...
Dave in NH
I have had direct TV for about eight years and got a HD receiver this spring. I only have 6 HD channels and a few pay per view but WOW !!!
If you rent a pay per view movie in HD it looks a good as in the movie theater.
Once you get HD you will not want to watch anything else.
After a few weeks of watching HDTV , we started to watch a DVD. We used to watch a lot of DVDs because we thought the quality was so good. It looked like crap !!!
We ended up buying a HD DVD player and what a differance!!
I have a surround sound system but not the 5.1
That will be this years Xmas present.
HD is worth it ...
Dave in NH
OP
Bob_Skurka
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<font color="green"> Pretty big TV for a non-tv watcher. Have you marked out how and where you'd place it in your living room? Be sure to look at one in person. Check the waste heat the thing gives off and how deep it really is. Unless you have an overly large living room you may be too close to the screen for comfortable viewing. Ms Bob will have to approve the significant furniture realignment to get this stuff in.
</font>
OK seriously, do you think a 56" TV is too big, our living room is 20'x26'? As I sit here typing now, I've turned the TV on to catch the weather (the new TV would go in the same corner). The TV set is about 16' away diagonally across the rooom, it is an OLD 27" set and actually looks small sitting in a cabinet.
The model I picked out is one of those "thin" projection TVs. It will be wider than the existing TV cabinet but about the same size when the doors are open, and it will be shallower. I actually think we will end up saving space.
We already have the room wired for surround sound (I was thinking ahead when we built the house 10 years ago). We have a 9 year old surround sound system that would also be replaced.
</font>
OK seriously, do you think a 56" TV is too big, our living room is 20'x26'? As I sit here typing now, I've turned the TV on to catch the weather (the new TV would go in the same corner). The TV set is about 16' away diagonally across the rooom, it is an OLD 27" set and actually looks small sitting in a cabinet.
The model I picked out is one of those "thin" projection TVs. It will be wider than the existing TV cabinet but about the same size when the doors are open, and it will be shallower. I actually think we will end up saving space.
We already have the room wired for surround sound (I was thinking ahead when we built the house 10 years ago). We have a 9 year old surround sound system that would also be replaced.
AndyM
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<font color="blue"> First, AndyM . . . I still don't think we'd live our lives around the TV set, I just think the picture would be clear when we watch. My daughter would still be limited. My wife would still turn the set off if the noise was bothering her. So I doubt it would change our lives. </font>
It could work for your family... Personally, for us the temptation would be too great. If we had all of those channels, we would probably be sitting infront of it all the time. I find it's easier to resist if we don't have it.
It could work for your family... Personally, for us the temptation would be too great. If we had all of those channels, we would probably be sitting infront of it all the time. I find it's easier to resist if we don't have it.
