Re: OT: Blu-Ray vs. HD-DVD, Will the madness never end?!?!

In article <vtg3k1l4h56dfg4h5n3iuvi8r03p0viptc@xxxxxxx>,
Wesley Struebing <strueb@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> You're right (as is Matt) about monitors. However, a monitor is NOT a
> TV; I was referring to a television, watchable by multiple people
> from different angles. I'm not sure where you've seen decent sized
> HT-TV's for less than about 1500-1700 (USD).

in the store where i sell them.

you are confusing your definition of monitor and tv with the industry
terms. "HD Monitor"(or "HDTV Monitor") means, specifically, it can
display high-definition picture, but needs a tuner. HDTV means it has a
digital HD tuner in addition to being able to display the HD picture.
CRT picture tube HD monitors up to 34" are around $1200(name brand). 27"
sets are around $399(off-brand). around $700 name brand.

if you want bigger, then you have 4 options, plasma, LCD, projection, or
microprojection. lcd's go up to about 40" but are by no means
inexpensive, plasma's start around 40" and are also fairly high
priced.(not all plasma or LCD's are HD, many of the cheaper ones are a
cheapskate-cop-out standard called ED, check the label when you buy)
microprojections are larger and cheaper than plasma's and lcd's, but
still start around $2000. they also have a viewing angle that if it's
not wide enough for you, then i think you have the wrong idea of what
"watching tv" means.
CRT projections can also be had in the 40's for under $1500, they do not
have a massive(ie, nearly entirely in front of them) viewing angle, but
any room that's large enough for them also has plenty of space in front
of them to watch them. a 50" projection tv at 10 feet away(too close for
the recommended viewing) gives you a viewing cone that is about 15 feet
wide, assuming the couch is parallel to the front of the screen, that's
easily 5-8 people within the area. and note, the viewing cone is not
where it's "viewable" but where it's clear and plain as day, you still
have a couple more feet beyond that 15 feet where it's viewable but
drops off in brightness. if the couch is cornered, you'll be able to
squeeze 2 or 3 more people in. if you can't get 10 feet away
minimum(from a tv greater than 46" 15 if greater than 57"), then you're
too damn close for your own good, and you need a smaller one anyways.
but for the record, i've sold tv's as big as 56" for under $1500, new,
in box, regular sale prices, not extra special offers.

<rant> of course, i did note your use of the word "decent sized", it's
one of those meaningless qualifiers that people like to use so they can
always redefine the argument later when objections are overcome. i see
that all the time when a couple is shopping together, and one was
dragged to the store and doesn't really want to buy a tv, every time the
one who wants the tv they see is happy, the other finds some random
objection, i've seen people go so far as to stand completely to the side
of a tv to the point of only being able to see the plastic siding to say
"but i can't see it from here!" of course, decent size wasn't in your
original post, merely that HDtv's are too expensive, no size mentioned.
rather than pin down a size, i expect a "good brand" argument to be made
next. of course, you can't get a BMW without spending a lot of money
compared to a kia, but both will get you to the destination. and both
the cheap tv and the expensive tv will get you high definition. i'm not
going to argue a game of redefined benchmarks, that's why i listed
prices and ranges for every tv type, i have no hope of overcoming your
objections to this, merely to let anyone reading this, and considering
buying a tv know that reality is. because concepts like "decent size"
and "expensive" and their ilk are different to everyone, what you find
too small or too expensive, other's may find just right, but because
they see one person complaining about the price/size/viewing angle, they
may come up with their own misconceptions. when i hear people say "i've
heard this tv has too narrow of a viewing angle" i invite them to stand
to the side, compare it to how they would actually watch it at home, and
decide for themselves. most of the time they buy one. if they say "i've
heard they're too small" or "i've heard they're too expensive" i show
them the size, i show them the price, let them decide. most of the time,
they buy one. on the other hand, if they're not saying "i've heard" but
instead just outright stating "too small/expensive/narrow viewing angle"
then they really should not bother talking to the salesman and stop
wasting his time, because he could be out there helping people who
want/need help and making money, instead of standing there providing
free conversation to them. </rant>

so in the end, if you really want to look for a tv, go, and LOOK, and be
realistic, where are you REALLY going to sit and watch the tv from? how
many people are going to watch it at once, realistically? how big of a
room is it? if you need it for entertaining at parties, is the tv the
focus, or the sideshow? if you somehow need a very wide angle, then by
all means, stand at that wide angle, and look at it.

....Chris

.

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