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BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV...
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Subject: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Bobert Date: 26 Mar 10 - 04:15 PM Well, well, well... As much as I hate it I gotta buy a new TV... I ain't lookin' for nuthin' fancy or real big... I'm not even sure if we have high definition coming down from Sputnik... So what to buy??? First, it can't be one that you have to have a PHD in computer programing... Second, it can't be real expensive... Third, I want it to last at least 10 years like TVs used to do... Forth, I want one that shows my beloved Washington Bullets (ok, Wizzards) winning all the games rather than stinkin' up the joint... (Ignore, forth... I don't have a spare bedroom for Oral Roberts...lol...) Fifth, I don't want it to be real expensive... Advice, por favor??? (On this topic...) B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: bobad Date: 26 Mar 10 - 04:22 PM Some good basic info here: http://gizmodo.com/5099489/how-to-buy-an-hdtv-tomorrow-or-any-day |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Bobert Date: 26 Mar 10 - 04:29 PM The problem with that site, b-bad is that it assumes that I know what DLP, Plasma and LCD mean??? I don't... ...and that site doesn't tell me... But thanks, maybe I'll go back to it when I have the basics... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: PoppaGator Date: 26 Mar 10 - 04:46 PM Thanks to Katrina flooding, we were suddenly in the market for new/replacement TVs a couple of years ago, and got into the new-age flat-screen world a lot sooner than expected. We got a fairly big (42") wide-screen unit for the living room; and for the kitchen, a small flatscreen set that's NOT wide-screen format. The small one cost only about $200, and is simpler to "operate" because there are no alternative screen-format settings: wide-screen transmission are simply "letterboxed." On the big widescreen TV, you have the choice of different formats; different programs require different settings for display at the maximum size without cropping or distortion. The "wrong" format for a given program will either cut off the image at top and bottom, or at the left and right, or will fill the screen while distorting the image. There's an "Automatic" setting that makes any transmission fill the screen completely, whether that involves stretching the image or not. Transmissions from HD channels fit perfectly at the "Auto" setting, but other stuff, including many cable/staellite-only channels, require different settings to avoid distortion. But lots of people seem not to mind that kind of distortion as much as I do, and leave their newfangled TVs on "Auto" format all the time. Both units we bought are Philips brand; we got 'em at Sam's at prices that were the best available hereabouts at the time. I'm sure others will chime in on the relative plusses and minuses of LCD vs Plasma technology; I can't offer an informed opinion. If you have cable or satellite service, getting yourself set up will be simple, just the same as with your old TV. If not, you should be able to pick up over-the-air HD signals with an antenna, with no need for the adapter boxes required for older sets. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Bobert Date: 26 Mar 10 - 05:25 PM Yeah, P-Gator... You kmnow where we live and antenna ain't go good here... We have satallite seein' as cable ain't in the holler yer... But what is a plasma TV... I heard they don't last very long... Like 2 or 3 years and they're wored out??? I donno... That's just what I heard... I really don't need a wide screen... Just a regular shaped TV is fine but it needs to not be bulky becuase where it is going doesn't have room for a bunch of TV buldgin' out the back... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Sorcha Date: 26 Mar 10 - 05:38 PM Why watch TV at all? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: gnu Date: 26 Mar 10 - 05:49 PM Go LCD... much longer EXPECTED life. After that, it does get rather complictaed. But, here is a site that has explanations of most of the stuff you need to know to make an informed decision. You gotta work your way around, but it will pay off. http://www.futureshop.ca |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 26 Mar 10 - 07:09 PM So mnay TVs it just gets confusing, and asking for suggestions about models just tends to add to the confusion, because they keep changing. What might help more would be to get advice on which features etc people have found are really worth putting on the want list, and which aren't in practice too important. For example, what connections are there where it turns out to be a real pain if you haven't got them. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: artbrooks Date: 26 Mar 10 - 07:21 PM IF (big if) you have any interest in looking at the internet on the TV (netflix and that sort of thing), look for one that is "web-ready". Consumers Reports says this about LCD v plasma: LCDs tend to be brighter than plasma screens, and reflections and glare are much less of an issue, so an LCD TV is a good choice for brightly lit rooms. There's no risk of burn-in of static images, which can be a concern with plasma TVs, although it is less of a problem than it was in the past. Advances in technology have also addressed problems that have plagued LCD technology. LCD TVs have had trouble displaying deep blacks, a problem caused partly by backlighting leaking through in dark scenes. But LCD TVs haven't caught up with plasma TVs in terms of viewing angle. With most LCD sets, the picture looks its best only from a fairly narrow sweet spot right in front of the screen. The image can lose contrast, look washed out, or lose color accuracy as you angle away from the center of the screen. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: GUEST, topsie Date: 27 Mar 10 - 09:24 AM As a result of seeing distorted television images in other people's houses, if I were to decide to buy a television now my FIRST requirement would be that it should be easy to set it so that the image is not distorted when watching either widescreen films or repeats of older television programmes - black strips at the sides or top and bottom are not a problem. My second requirement would be that it shouldn't be too big. If the newsreader's head is roughly the size of a real head then it's about right. I don't want to pretend I'm in a cinema. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Dave the Gnome Date: 27 Mar 10 - 10:20 AM As with anything - get the best you can currentkly afford. Dunno about the states but I would go for something like a 37" LCD with 1080P resolution so, in future, you can play BluRay disks. In the UK it's also important to get it with inbuilt digoital freeview tuner. A branded make, Sony, Hitachi etc. Would set you back no more than 500 UK Pounds. An unknown make, which MAY be just as good is down to 300-ish. DeG |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Little Hawk Date: 27 Mar 10 - 10:25 AM What SORCHA said! ;-) Aside from that, if you get a big one, find a way to get it not to stretch the damn picture sideways, because it makes everyone look fatter than they ought to. Horrible. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 27 Mar 10 - 02:07 PM "find a way to get it not to stretch the damn picture sideways" I've always understood that they all have settings that avoid that happening, but shops tend to be do idle to set them right. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Sawzaw Date: 27 Mar 10 - 02:07 PM The best deals I have seen are at newegg.com and tigerdirect.com Make sure to get one with 1080P and not 720P. Get the biggest screen you can afford and that you have room for. I have two Sharp Aquos and one Toshiba Regza. I prefer the Sharp. It has smart stretch. I use the 32" Toshiba for a PC monitor with 1920 x 1080 resolution but the screen blanks out after it has been on for 5 or 6 hours and I have to turn it off and on to get the picture back. These LCD TVs do die and they are usually not worth fixing or unfixable. I saw a Samsung in the monitor pile at the dump which is one of the better brands. You can read customer reviews at newegg.com or amazon.com You can also go to fatwallet.com or slickdeals.net and look for special deals. I wouldn't fool with any of those refurbs. My son bought two refurbs with a guarantee, they both went tits up, he did not get any refund and they couldn't be fixed. One was replaced and that one went bad. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: DougR Date: 27 Mar 10 - 02:21 PM Bobert: invest about 6 bucks in the March, 2010 issue of Consumer Reports. You can't miss it on the magazine stand on the front cover is says, "BEST TVs". DougR |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: bobad Date: 27 Mar 10 - 02:26 PM "Make sure to get one with 1080P and not 720P." 720p vs. 1080p or How to Save Money With a Tape Measure Here's the thing about whether or not you need to blow the bucks on 1080p—it depends on your big your TV is, and how far away you're sitting. Under 40 inches you usually cannot tell the difference unless your nose is pressed up against the glass, and your mama told you never to do that. Bigger than that, it depends on how far away you're sitting. The average viewing distance from a TV in an American home is nine feet. At that distance, it takes at least a 46-inch TV to see all the details of a 720p picture. For a 1080p set, you would need a 70-inch set! If you buy a 42-inch 1080p set, you should place it within six feet to make the most of it, seven feet for a 50-inch 1080p set. If you measure your living room and the distance is much greater, you should seriously consider buying the last of the 720p sets available at serious cheapness. Lest you think we're making all this up,HD Guru's got a PDF chart with distances and the right TV size for each resolution. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 27 Mar 10 - 02:55 PM What about "frame rate" - 50Hz or 100 Hz? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: GUEST,Whovian Date: 27 Mar 10 - 03:04 PM Hold on buying a bit longer and wait to get a big new latest technology 3D Tv. Can only dream how good it will be to experience Daleks poking their telescopic probes and Exterminator Ray-guns right out into my face ! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 27 Mar 10 - 03:07 PM 3D TV I think I can do without. It doesn't really improve the experiance in cinemas, and much of time detracts from it. The only reason it's being hyped so much is because it is seen as a way to defeat illegal copying and downloading. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Sawzaw Date: 27 Mar 10 - 03:23 PM I have a 32" 1020P and a 32" 720P. I prefer the 1080P over the 720P Maybe when you get down to 26" it will not matter but at 32" there is a big difference. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Joe Offer Date: 27 Mar 10 - 08:48 PM McGrath talks of a "frame rate" of 50 or 100 MHz. In the US, it's multiples of 60, probably because electric power is 60 MHz. I've read that movies have a 24 frames per second refresh rate, and television has a different rate. In the US, they've been pushing 120 and even 240 MHz refresh rates, since both are multiples of 24. I dunno. My LCD televisions are 2 and 3 years old with 60 MHz refresh rates, and they're just wonderful. I'm happy with 1080p LCD. It's supposed to use less electricity and have a longer life than plasma. You see fewer and fewer plasma sets in the stores these days. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Sawzaw Date: 28 Mar 10 - 12:24 PM All mine are 60 HZ refresh and I don't see anything wrong. I guess 120 or 240 would be better but not worth a whole lot more $$. Maybe some real fast screen action would be better with a higher refresh rate. I think the 50 and 100 HZ refresh rates are in European TV. Plasma TV use more juice. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: JohnInKansas Date: 28 Mar 10 - 05:56 PM Don't overlook the "convenience" of being able to hang a flat screen TV on the wall, but be aware that even though they're somewhat lighter than the old CRTs you will need a sturdy wall mount if you decide to go that way. In my market, an adequate wall mount runs close to 1/3 to 1/2 the price of a modestly priced TV. While you may have "aesthetics" to consider in the decision about location of the TV, my observation is that some of the flat screen ones are a bit top-heavy. Nearly all of them come with a stand of some sort, but the "footprint" is much smaller than for older kinds, so they are more "tippable." Although we could have made space for our latest one to sit on a table, it seemed safer to attach it to the wall where we could have some confidence that the fuzzy children couldn't knock it over. For larger ones, you may want a floor stand; but don't assume that the stand/mount won't have to be a separate purchase unless you're into the "theater sized" stuff. Check the total cost of ownership - in advance. John |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 28 Mar 10 - 05:59 PM Dunno much about the technical stuff. I have my TV (and music set-up and library) in a small room, so can't use a large flat screen. I have a 32" Sony Bravia (LCD), and the sheet says it is 1080/60 input and 16.9 720p resolution panel. It has an HMDI interface to my all-region DVD player. We are quite happy with it. It's good enough for the two of us and the occasional visitor or two. Besides, our air miles covered the cost. My kids have 50-inch LCDs or plasma in their homes but they have them in large rooms. We have other tvs- an old Toshiba (flat screen but big rump) in the work room, a midget flatscreen in the kitchen, and another tiny flatscreen in my wife's bedroom (both the latter were prizes in hospital lotteries). |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: ranger1 Date: 28 Mar 10 - 06:16 PM Bobert, i got nothing for ya. But when you get it figured out, let me know, because I think we're going to be in the same boat at our house pretty soon. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Gurney Date: 28 Mar 10 - 06:44 PM Plasmas seem to be more sensitive about having things (Video, DVD Player) plugged into them than the old CRT TVs did, if my limited (to one)experience is anything to go by. I went to the trouble of lugging the enormous thing back to the shop, and there was nothing wrong with it..... The LCD I sampled blurred fast motion, so I took that back. Maybe faulty, or maybe what Sawzaw is talking about with smart stretch? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Gurney Date: 28 Mar 10 - 07:00 PM Should have said "plugged into but not actually working at that moment." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Rasener Date: 29 Mar 10 - 05:06 AM 3D is not good for a lot of people http://www.physorg.com/news187384161.html |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Bobert Date: 29 Mar 10 - 07:06 AM Well, thankee all... I think I'll do what Dougie said and get the Consumer Reports magazine for the $6... I kinda like "Toshibi" that Swaz recoomends as all the two bulky TV's I have are Toshibas and work fine... The room it is going into isn't that big so it doesn't have to be all that big... It will be within' a few feet of a woodstove insert which does have me a tad concerned... It puts out a good amount of heat but the TV will be about 4 feet away... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Sawzaw Date: 29 Mar 10 - 03:18 PM Bobert: I prefer the Sharp Aquos. I thought I said so. Sony and Samsung are supposed to be good but I can't vouch for them. I wish the hell there were some made in America. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Keith A of Hertford Date: 30 Mar 10 - 04:41 AM Re mounting, some children have died here because these things fell on them. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Bobert Date: 30 Mar 10 - 08:26 AM I like Sharp and Yoshiba so I'll be looking at them (1090P)... As for mounting??? Nah, I have a full length stone raised hearth on the firplace wall... It's about 17 feet long so I'm going to set it up in one corner or the other as far away from the woodstove insert as possible (about 5 feet)... I will ask the selasperson about this to be sure that 5 feet away from a fireplace woodstove insert is safe before I buy anything... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Sawzaw Date: 30 Mar 10 - 12:44 PM If anybody is thinking of using a LCD TV for monitor, only the real high end models will do 1920 x 1080 using the regular VGA cable from their puter. It is hard to figure out which ones will, but most of the cheaper ones will only do 1366 x 720 using the PC input on the TV. You need a computer or a video card with HDMI or DVI output to get the full 1920 x 1080 resolution with the cheaper LCD TVs. HDMI and DVI are the same except with different connectors, HDMI has the sound coming through the cable as well as the video and DVI has only the video. Cables to convert both ways are available cheap on Ebay. My Toshiba Regza "browns out" after it has been on a long time. I have to turn it off and back on to get the picture back. This is no problem when used as a monitor but as a TV it would be a hassle. They all have their quirks. You can find out about them by reading the customer reviews. Amongst the really cheap off brands and store brands you will hear over and over that it quit and couldn't be repaired or it is junk. Be careful. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Gurney Date: 30 Mar 10 - 03:27 PM A friend of mine bought a Transonic TV. 14 months on, the power unit (transformer) died, and it was nearly as expensive to repair as the unit cost in the first place. Like Sawzaw said. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: PoppaGator Date: 30 Mar 10 - 04:07 PM Somewhere up above, you (Bobert) expressed concern about not wanting a big bulky case behind the screen. I don't think you could buy a set like that anymore, even if you wanted to. Also, while you may feel that you don't "need" a wide screen, you will soon realize that you want one. For one thing, contemporary flatscreen sets are only going to be available that way except in the smallest sizes. It should not be too hard to learn to set and reset the aspect-ratio appropriately; with satellite service, most of your channels will probably be HD and therefore best viewed on the same setting ("auto") all the time. At our house, there's only one channel that regularly requires adjustment of the screen-image size and shape: that would be TMC, the old-movie channel. The oldest films fit the almost-square shape of an "old" TV, and are properly displayed on your widescreen set in a sort of "reverse letterbox" format, with black bars at the sides. Newer films come in a variety of different widescreen formats, and my TV provides two "letterbox" settings; one or the other will always fill the screen from side to side without cropping anything off; there may or may not be black bars top and bottom, depending upon the shape of the original screen format. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Bobert Date: 30 Mar 10 - 05:18 PM The problem with the wide screen, p-gator, is that the bigger the TV tyhe closer the right side of it is going to be to the woodstove... There's only about 5 1/2 feet to either side so if I leave 3 feet between the TV and the woodstove that only leaves me with 30 inches of TV width... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Sawzaw Date: 30 Mar 10 - 09:09 PM All new video is now made in the wide screen mode. I don't think you can buy a LCD TV now that is not wide screen. Maybe a monitor but not a TV. If you had one that was not wide screen, most of your programs will be letter boxed with a big black strip at the top and bottom. Can a shield be put between the two? I have one next to a fire place and the right side is about 10 or 12" away and I think it could go closer. I guess you have a fire place converted to a wood stove. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Dave the Gnome Date: 31 Mar 10 - 05:20 AM Size-wise we replaced a 28" CRT with a 37" LCD in the same space. The screen is obviously much larger but because it is nowehere near as deep and does not need as much space round it you may be surprised at the external dimensions. Best thing is to measure your old one and take a tape to the shop with you:-) Cheers DeG |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Bobert Date: 27 Dec 10 - 09:50 AM Well, well, well... Seein' as we are hopin' to get some positive news on movin' sometime in the next week or two we are back to TV shopping so we won'ty have to move that big clunky TV again... I mean, it has been a good TV but it's about 10 years old and is heavy... We figured we'd just donate it before the move... We've been hearin' on the clunky TV about lots of electronics places puttin' last years inventory on sale to make room for the new models and thinkin' that maybe it's a good time to get one cheap... So, is the 1080P still the thing to buy??? Or has that changed, too??? B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Charley Noble Date: 27 Dec 10 - 10:29 AM I just lugged our clunky heavy TV down the basement stairs where it will marinate until spring. The new flat-screen LED is a 32-inch Panasonic, much much lighter, and the images look quite good, after we figured out the programming. We finally called tech support when the channels numbers refused to register; the person on the other end of the phone was able to reset everything via the cable network and now the TV works fine. It's definitely helpful to have someone with experience with set-up on-hand with these beasties, even if you do read the directions and pride yourself in your technical skills. Good luck with yours. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: bobad Date: 27 Dec 10 - 10:32 AM I've been looking into flat screen TVs lately and the one feature I have decided on is LED backlighting as opposed to the more common fluorescent. The advantages are; it is brighter, uses less energy, lasts longer and is mercury free. I just bought a LCD monitor which is LED backlit and love it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Bobert Date: 27 Dec 10 - 11:05 AM What is LED backlightng??? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: bobad Date: 27 Dec 10 - 11:12 AM From Wikipedia A backlight is a form of illumination used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs). As LCDs do not produce light themselves (unlike for example Cathode ray tube (CRT) displays), they need illumination (ambient light or a special light source) to produce a visible image. Backlights illuminate the LCD from the side or back of the display panel, unlike frontlights, which are placed in front of the LCD. Backlights are used in small displays to increase readability in low light conditions, and in computer displays and LCD televisions to produce light in a manner similar to a CRT display. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Arthur_itus Date: 27 Dec 10 - 11:53 AM We just got this one (we are Uk based) http://electrocentreltd.com/viewproduct.asp?pid=5880 Most people do not realise that at the moment, program makers etc on have 720p cameras, so 1080p doesn't enter the equation at the moment. Shops are plugging the 1080p and consequently, you can pick a 1080 up as cheap as a 720. We wanted full HD and are with Sky. They only have 720p High Density equipment for making programs. We really like ours. The distance you sit from the set is important. e.g. 32" should be between 9 foot to 12 foot away for best viewing. Belwo I have copied som einfo for yoy to read which should be pretty easy to understand. The rest is about waht suits you and how much you want to pay. Which is better Plasma or LCD in 2010? This is a good question, but it's difficult to answer without knowing the specifics of the room and what types of things you're going to be watching on the television. For all we know, you may be setting the HDTV up outdoors, which raises a whole other set of questions. Okay, maybe that's taking it a bit too far. There are, however, some things you should keep in mind when deciding between LCD and Plasma in 2010. Plasma or LCD 2010 Plasma 2010 Burn-in was a problem for early plasma televisions, but the technology has come a long way and this is not an issue on most of the 2010 plasma televisions. You're still going to want to ask around or check it out for yourself if possible, but for the most part, burn-in is no longer a problem on plasma televisions in 2010. LCD 2010 One of the big drawbacks of early LCD televisions was that they peaked at certain sizes. LCDs in 2010, however, are available in a wide variety of sizes. There's something for everyone. LCD vs Plasma 2010 So, some of the drawbacks of both Plasma and LCD HDTVs have been fixed in 2010, but some of the old questions still apply. If your room is filled with a lot of light, you may want an LCD. If your room is usually dark and you're going to be watching action movies, a Plasma might be right for you. Then there's the question of power consumption and heat. The plasma (because of how it's built) is going to put out more heat and use more power – even though they're better in 2010. This is something to consider if you're shopping green. In the last 10 years, TV technology has advanced to a great extent and has brought in state of art technologies in providing the finest flat-screen TVs. The most important aspect of the technology used has mainly focused around the size, resolution and compatibility and with this, in the last 5 to 10 years there has been a gradual change in the choice and viewing expectations of people. The manufacturers have now started to put in unique features in their flat-screen TV models making the product having a distinctive advantage of full film effect viewing along with outstanding sound technology. There are various types of flat-screen TVs in the market today, and in order that you could decide between Plasma, LCD, and a LED TV, you ought to know a bit about the differences. Overview of Plasma TV: The display in a Plasma TV is made up of millions of tiny plasma cells, and to put it simply, these cells emit light to create a complete image on the screen when a precise voltage is applied to them. Plasma TVs available now offer larger screen size than LCDs. The screen sizes of Plasma TVs that are commonly available in the market include, 30 inch, 42 inch, 50 inch and 63 inch models, while the LCD TVs are limited to smaller screen sizes, which range from 10 inch to 40 inch models. Presently larger screen sizes of more than 60 inches are being made available in the market. One favourable point is that, the LCD technology is more flexible, which allows wide variety of screen sizes to be developed. Advantages on Plasma TVs: - Plasma TVs are available in larger display screen sizes. - Plasma has better black levels, and also the contrast ratio. - Plasma TVs can be viewed from any angle, as long as the viewing angle is between 160 to 180 degrees. - Plasma TVs have top refreshing rate which captures every detail in a fast action scene. - Plasma screen can display billions of colors, producing smooth gradations of shades, enhancing the picture quality to a great extent, making the images life-like and realistic, responding sharply to fast moving images. Disadvantages of Plasma TVs: - Plasma TVS do not perform as well at higher altitudes. - Plasma TVs are more susceptible to burn-in of static images. - Plasma TVS are thicker than LCD TVs and hence much heavier. - Plasma TVs produce glare in brightly lit rooms though some advancement in technology has been made to correct this. Overview of LCD TVs: LCD TVs have Liquid Crystal Displays, a technology which is seen being used in computer monitors, cell phones, and at times are found in camera screens. LCD screen was first created for computer monitors, and now with the application of the technology in LCD TVs, they seem to be a bit better when you are playing games on your TV. However, the choice entirely depends on the user, since some like the vivid colors in Plasma TV, which comes from its deep black levels. LCD panels work with liquid crystal solution being sandwiched between two polarized glasses. When an electrical voltage is applied to the liquid crystal, the crystals rotate, and this changes the polarization of the light passing through them. A LCD panel does not generate light by itself. It just filters or subtracts its back light source to create an image on the screen. Advantages of LCD TVs: - LCD TVs have better longevity than the Plasma. The average life-span has been predicted as more than 30 years. - The display of LCD TVs uses lower power compared to Plasma TVs, but has more consumption than LED. - The screen sizes of LCD TVs are available in various sizes starting from computer monitor screens to over 60 inches. Disadvantages of LCD TVs: - The TV has a very poor contrast level and responds slower to fast moving images, creating a blur. - The prices of LCD TVs are higher than the Plasma, and because of the demand and increased production the prices are gradually falling. Overview of LED TVs: The term 'LED' stands for Light Emitting Diode. It is an electronic component which emits light when a certain voltage potential is applied to its terminals. Though the TV using this technology is call LED TV, but the LED light source is used as the TV's backlight, while the TV screen is actually LCD. Though some current TV models use CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps), LED form of backlighting remains a far more efficient TV backlight system. The Advantages of LED TVs are as follows: - With LEDs as the backlighting source, the TVs have a far better dynamic contrast level than LCD TVs, since it uses a direct backlighting technology. - LED TVS are ultra thin as much as about an inch in thickness. - The power consumption of LED TVs are less than the LCD TVs currently available. - Out of the flat screen TVs available in the market today, LED TVs are considered to be most reliable. The disadvantage is that LED TVS are higher priced than LCD TVs, but prices are expected to come down with increased production. The above is an attempt to provide a basic conception about the differences between the three technologies available presently in flat-screen TVs which would help a buyer to decide which TV to buy. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Arthur_itus Date: 27 Dec 10 - 11:57 AM Bit more info The Mercury Issue Also, one argument that Plasma TV manufacturers have made about LCD TV is that those sets that use traditional florescent backlight technology illuminate the screen surface employ mercury as part of the chemical makeup of the florescent backlight system. However, this is a "red herring" with regards to choosing a Plasma Television over an LCD Television. In LCD sets, the amount of Mercury used is not only small, it never comes in contact with the user. Also, keep in mind that most common high-efficiency florescent lamps, such as many used in video projectors, also use Mercury. Mercury is one of the Earth's elements; its existence in nature is a part of natural processes and has both beneficial and non-beneficial uses, just as most other elements and chemical compounds. You are probably in more danger eating fish, that may contain traces of Mercury, a couple of times a week, than watching, touching, or using an LCD TV. Also, with the development and increased use of LED lighting sources in LCD televisions, which is a Mercury-free light source, this is quickly becoming a non-issue. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: gnu Date: 27 Dec 10 - 12:39 PM Dunno if this was posted... toooo much tech for me to digest quickly. Energy efficiency... LED sidelight best, LCD, LED backlight (I forget where I read that.) Specific data for TVs sold in US. Click under "televisions". |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: artbrooks Date: 27 Dec 10 - 01:11 PM IF you are interested in direct access to internet programming on the TV (eg, Netflix), you can get flat-screen TVs from various higher-end makers that are "internet-ready"...that is, no additional box needed other than a Wi-Fi router somewhere within range. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Arthur_itus Date: 27 Dec 10 - 01:31 PM Get ready for the revolution: internet TVs |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Richard Bridge Date: 27 Dec 10 - 01:44 PM I notice no-one mentions sound. The modern thin TVs have no space for decent speakers, and they will rely on a "home theatre" amp and speakers - usually 4 satellite speakers and a subwoofer with associated wires. I don't know about the P-Vine but most women start screaming and saying "You can't have it then" if whatever it is needs wires run round the room. When my 39inch CRT gave up (a hand-me down from a client who used it for print evaluation in his film evaluation business, and it had a magnificent depth brightness and truth of colour, but I found I needed external hifi speakers or an amp and speakers) I got a monstrous rear-projection 48" dirt cheap off ebay and it suits me well - although the narrow viewing angle could be a problem if I didn't live alone. But what I love about it is the sound. People look at it and say "Have you got an external amp on it" and I say "Nope" and they express incredulity. I sit about 10 feet from it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Stilly River Sage Date: 27 Dec 10 - 06:34 PM I shopped around, did some research, then watched for a sale and bought a Visio 42" flat screen TV. Sam's Club has them, but for $50 more I found a sale on at Dell that included free shipping and I don't have interest if I pay it off in the first year. I can only use my debit account at Sam's and I didn't want to pay for it all at once like that. I also bought a Samsung BluRay player that is internet ready. This one I did buy at Sam's, and because I wired the house with data ports all over the place, I didn't have to fool with buying a separate wireless kit. It streams various things, but I use it for my NetFlix account. And the whole thing is plugged into my receiver and plays on the big speakers so it is pretty much a home theater effect. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 27 Dec 10 - 06:40 PM You cannot come into contact with the mercury in normal use, but when the item is trashed, if care is not taken, and the item is broken, then the mercury vapour may escape. I remember handling mercury as a kid - running a pool around on the palm of my had and it had no long term effec effec effec effec effec |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Bobert Date: 27 Dec 10 - 07:23 PM Well, we had to go the Harrisonburg fir some other things so we stopped in at Best Buy and checked things out... The 37 inch ones just seemed a little small for where it will be going so we looked at 42 inch ones... And for one with HD and LED they ain't cheap... The one we liked was a Panasonic, 1080P, 120Hz, LED, HD 42 incher and it's $699... Throw in a 4 year warranty, a cable that the guy says you have to have for the HD to work and a mountin' kit and yer talkin' close to a grand.... Well, looks as if we'll drag our heavy old clunkers with us to NC and revisit this when our financial situation improves... B~ |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 28 Dec 10 - 08:36 AM Actually, many people are junking perfectly good 'large screen' CRT TVs when most of what they watch will be SD not HD (so few HD channels with naught but crap!) anyway! :-) - And since those CRTS (with set top boxes) are still usable for a good many years, it is just an enormous waste of money and used resources. Forget '3D' too - it just gives me a headache, and makes me think of watching an old multilayer 2D (flat pictures drawn on cards) puppet theatre... Of course, the Capitalists WANT us to junk stuff that works so they can make more money with new stuff - just like cars too... First, get that antenna and lead in upgraded... then think about a new set a while later - spreads the load out ... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: Arthur_itus Date: 28 Dec 10 - 08:42 AM We only bought ours because our other one packed up. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Advice sought on Flat-screen TV... From: gnu Date: 28 Dec 10 - 01:31 PM Yeah... I am hanging on to my old clunker. The prices on the new ones will continue to come down. After I got it fixed, the guy said the fix was with a far better part than came with the TV and it would last a LONG time... since the post below, prices have dropped by around 70%. ******************************************************************** Subject: BS: LCD TV info From: gnu - PM Date: 14 May 09 - 02:38 PM Well, I bought two 27" Philips TVs at Walmart a year ago last September fer a couple a hundred bucks each. One fer me, one fer Mum. Not long ago, within a few weeks, they both messed up in the exact same way. Warranty?. Hahahahahaaa! Shoulda said right on the sale sign, sommat like "After 30 days, good luck". So, I am gonna get Mum one a them there LCD TVs. I can still watch mine until football season and then just swear at the TV a lot. I do have a back up, when it works. Soooo... tell me what I should know as I shop around. ********************************************************************* |
