But last night as I turned on the set in our master bedroom to watch an episode of "The Daily Show" we had TiVo'ed, instead of the little whirr sound indicating the picture tube is beginning to warm up, I heard a snap, crackle, and pop. Strange, I thought. I waited but no picture, no sound, I pulled out the TV plug to defeat the "always on" property of the TV.An hour later, I plugged the TV back in and it actually came up with a picture but it lasted less than a minute. I certainly can't complain as we got the TV for nothing.
I think the time has come to buy a new flat screen TV to replace the dead monster. Any experience anyone would like to share with me about what to look for, how to avoid lemons, where to get the best deal? Any information will be appreciated.
Thanks.
I really like my Vizio from costco, very cheap for the size (46"), features are good enough for most home users and the image quality is pretty darn good!
ReplyDeleteWe also bought from Costco but they had a special on a Panasonic 50" that was less expensive than the Visio. Picture is great and we can/have hooked Nancy's computer up to the screen via the hdmi/dvi cable and that gives her a 50" monitor. Old people like big monitors or she can really spread her geneology worksheets around like on a big table.
ReplyDeleteLike you we don't spend much time in front of the tube but it's almost like going to the movies etc.
I could go on for a long time about TV's and their attributes.
ReplyDeleteSo I will.
Here are you choices:
LCD
Plasma
Rear-projection (DLP or LCD)
I don't include CRT because they are all but extinct. Many companies have stopped production (ie Sony).
I don’t actually plan on going into too much detail, for those that desire you can follow the links to read more information.
Rear-projection vs. flat-panel http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/learningcenter/home/flatvsrearproj.html
And
LCD vs Plasma
http://www.crutchfieldadvisor.com/learningcenter/home/tv_flatpanel.html
What I will do is give the highlights. Both LCD and plasma are thin enough to mount on the wall (less than 6”) making them more popular. Rear-projection TVs offer similar specs for a lower price however. Rear-projections also use a lamp (the projection part) this lamp will burn out, but is usually user replaceable (for a couple hundred dollars).
Rear-projection DLP uses a small chip from Texas Instruments to reflect light. It’s pretty much a postage stamp sized array of mirrors. They turn (physically) on or off, acting as a pixel. This light then goes through a spinning color wheel, this color wheel can cause a rainbow affect to some eyes. The LCD version uses a small LCD screen that it reflected around and magnified.
The big battle is between LCD and plasma. I started out as a supporter of LCD, but I’m leaning more towards plasma for my purposes. There is still a little bit of a size gap (you can get a larger plasma for the same price) but that is decreasing. LCDs are supposed to be less reflective, weigh less and use less energy, but their viewing angle is narrower and contrast ratios are lower. Plasmas have more vivid colors (sometimes too vivid), better blacks and are the closest to CRT picture. Side note: HD CRT TVs actually produce a better picture then any of the newer flatter alternatives, sadly like I said early they are almost gone. But plasmas can have burn-in (like tube TVs) and will dim over time. This half-life (not radioactive but the time the TV would be half as bright) used to be 2-3K hours, modern plasmas are rated up to 10,000 hours and higher.
In conclusion: If you don’t want the option of wall mounting consider rear-projection. If a four inch deep TV is interesting consider the flat panels. If your in a room with a lot of natural light sources consider LCD. If your TV viewing is from a wide angle or you want the most vibrant experience consider plasma. I said I was leaning towards plasma, this is because I hope to be able to dedicate a room for media purposes. This way viewing parameters and lighting can be controlled. Everyday living rooms need to be versatile, so think what will be the most convenient for you. You don’t want to have to move all the seats just so you can see the TV or cover the windows with black-out curtains just to watch some soaps.
I apologize that this did end up being a little long winded, but I did do some time at Circuit City, so I felt the need to opine. And I promise there is even more information and discussion online.
I would also like to note that Lisa says I am not allowed to donate our TV so I can buy a new one.
ReplyDeleteAh, gee, and I was so hoping we could put off buying one. I appreciate the testimonials and the tutorial. Steven, would it be almost as much fun to come and help us buy the right TV as it would to buy your own?
ReplyDeleteI suppose a son can live vicariously through his parents.
ReplyDeleteRandy wants a flat screen, but he's waiting for the price to go down a bit more. Here's an article I saved about what to expect from LCD or plasma. Sounds like 42" is the no-man's land--if you want smaller, go for LCD, if you want bigger, go for plasma. www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/LCD_versus_Plasma.asp
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for a transflective LCD screen. (That is my new word for the day! I learned it at a Job Fair / Tech Fair I was at today.) Transflective is a an LCD screen that runs off of the ambient light. So you can watch it in the daytime. The person I learned it from was actually showing non-reflective films that make backlit LCD screens (the norm) like transflective, i.e. lets you see them in bright light.
ReplyDelete