Re: Here's my issue with this new fangled crap

In article <kEJyi.4399$LL7.3577@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Peter Stolz
<pstolz@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi guys,

I'm looking at a new tv, but this stuff is so complicated it's making my
brains smoke, and I'm not a complete techno-idiot. I used to sell
computers and computer networks back in the days of freakin' DOS for
cryin' out loud. (For the yungins, that was before Windows 3.1) Maybe
that burned out all my circuits or something. Dunno.

Anyway, I'm looking for a flat panel tv and here's how I watch. I like
to record tv (Speed Channel, History Channel, some network stuff, etc).
I watch some movies, and so do my kids. I don't have digital cable,
or an HD DVD player. I use an LG LRM-519 HDD DVR DVD player most of the
time that I like a lot. I want to mount it on the wall, and I'll
probably be sitting about 8 to 10 feet away from it. I don't plan on
hooking up a home theater to it, but may in the future. It will replace
a old 27" Sony XBR CRT TV.

I'm thinking probably a 32" or 37", but probably not much bigger than
that because of placement restraints. I've been looking at the Sony
KD-L32XBR4 (I appreciate good picture quality even though I'm too cheap
to get digital cable) that I can get at J&R for about $1149. For the
way I watch tv, should I spend this kind of jack on a tv now, or should
I buy a cheaper one now and wait til prices auger themselves into the
earth in a couple years?

I hear your cry. Ah, the good ol days of DOS EMM :-)

I can't give you specific advice. My general feel is that given
your non-demanding needs (I do not mean that in any pejorative
sense), that you may be wasting money going for such a high-end and
small TV. But you can let your eyes decide.

Some other things to take into account:

If you get basic cable, you can still pick off "in the clear" (i.e.
non-scrambled) HD channels off of it if your TV's tuner has QAM
capability. The Sony you mentioned does have this. Channels you
will likely be able to get are the networks that are also broadcast
in HD over-the-air in your local area.

You can also get a cheap UHV antenna ($20) and get free over-the-air
(network) HD.

The two channels you mentioned (Speed, History), are non-HD. So
even if you went for digital cable, no dice.

Anything that is standard def will be 4:3 and will actually be
*smaller* than your current TV on a 32" widescreen (26" vs 27").
Yes, you can stretch it to the full screen. And everyone will
appear 25% wider.

You will benefit from getting a larger screen for widescreen DVD's
(the vast majority). 32" vs 25" (letterboxed on the 27"). If you
are a real movie fan, this would be a nice plus.

This TV has only 2 component inputs, but 3 HDMI. The latter will
not help you for now as none of your connections would be HDMI.
Your cable box would (hopefully) be component, but being non-digital
might be as low as S-video. If you have an XBOX and/or PS2, they
could be hooked up no higher than component. PS3 (and now XBOX360)
do offer HDMI. Future HD connection devices you'd purchase would
likely offer HDMI. So, count up what you want to connect and make
sure this model works for you. As they go, it is pretty generous.
But I have 3 component connection devices to my TV.

So, my very conditional advice would be:
Go 37" at least (from 8 to 10 ft)
Don't pay for top-of-the-line if you aren't a TV/movie nut (though I
admit I'm partial to Sony and Samsung).
Do get a cheap antenna and get a QAM-capable tuner with your TV so
you can access free HD (or at least no extra charge)
Plan to be upset when you record and have to watch in SD when it was
available on HD (once you watch in HD, it can be hard to go back).

Or, just wait a while until you have an undeniable HD craving and
can't wait anymore.

Any which way, good luck!
.

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