$1400 HDTV Leon's Special

[Garrett]

Bulbs are still expensive to replace, e.g. $400, however they are rated on most models for 2000-3000 hours of use. I have read the operating costs are $0.20 to ~$0.50/ hour. If you want cheap, stick to old tube technology or if you want wow, go LCD projection...amazing for gaming if you have a big enough room...

I run a front projector, and have a 120" screen. If you can control the light, I think it is hands down the best approach.

As for "old CRT technology", in my opinion, CRT still rules in a lot of ways. However it is bulkier. I think people are buying lcd and dlp as they think it is better, but they have some serious compromises. I think manufacturers prefer these technologies though (cheaper to produce, less warehouse space, etc). There is a reason why animation is used to demo a lot of the digital display formats...

 

[bishop]

Yup projectors rock. I picked up a cheapo BENQ 6100 projector for my room and it is hands down the best value around.

 

[Cobster]

projection tv's are based on the big bulky tv's known as crt's
3 projection guns (red green blue)
samsung is okay for pro-jo (projection televisions)
but i'd choose a toshiba, hitachi over them any day.
i used to sell the stuff 7months ago at Shit Buy.

my aunt purchased a toshiba 51" got a great deal (discount 4 employees) and never looked back.
if you're lookin for plasma, id stick with panasonic.
their claim is their plasmas will last 3X's longer than your old school bulky tv.
since they're both phosphur based and other gases as well.

go with what you can afford and what will be best for your room setup.
dark room, chairs, sofa, etc...mainly in middle...projection is fine.
if you're sitting off beyond 45degree, even 55 degrees from centre, probably better with plasma, lcd, or regular tv for viewing angles.
ps - dont buy extended warranties = rip off
buy them (products) on your visa/mastercard/american express
they give you an extra year warranty on any purchases made through your card(s).

 

[canucklehead]

I know this is an old post but i was doing some research on EDTV and HDTV and was reading that true HDTV is not and will not be ready for about 15 years.
Many people recommend saving your money and buying EDTV as in 10 to 15 years you will buying a new TV anyways.... anyone with EDTV and a chance to compare it to HDTV?
I have a Samsung Plasma and the colours are starting to look washed out and not as vibrant. I bought HDTV but i was researching a bit before buying a new TV.
I have had the other only 3 years.

 

[tboy]

What do you consider TRUE HDTV? There are many stations now, including the movie network, who are airing HDTV movies, programs etc......

 

[littleboyblue]

The hype around plasma televisions is ridiculous. The technology never panned out and this technology will be gone and forgotten in 10 years. Sure the resolution is very sharp, but they have trouble with black and tend to leave trails (like acid) with fast motion.

Most people when they think of rear protection remember what they looked like ten years ago. The present rear protection sets have really good color saturation, viewing angles can be much more severe (65 to 75 degrees), brightness has improved greatly, and they can produce true black.

The only advantage plasma and LCD have is that they're flat. Plasma has the additional misfortune that they're priced incredibly high for less picture quality.

The best current technology is rear protection or front protection. If you're too lazy to close the curtains then buy an overpriced plasma set.

 

[BROWNi]

I know this is an old post but i was doing some research on EDTV and HDTV and was reading that true HDTV is not and will not be ready for about 15 years.
Many people recommend saving your money and buying EDTV as in 10 to 15 years you will buying a new TV anyways.... anyone with EDTV and a chance to compare it to HDTV?
I have a Samsung Plasma and the colours are starting to look washed out and not as vibrant. I bought HDTV but i was researching a bit before buying a new TV.
I have had the other only 3 years.

The latest plasmas are rated at 60,000 hours half life vs. 30,000 hours from 2004 models. That's over 20 years at 8 hour a day. Are you running your plasma in "torch mode", picture/contrast maxed out? A high contrast setting will burn out the phosphors more rapidly.
As far as ED vs. HD, an EDTV with a resolution of 480x840 can display an HD program extremely well. So much so that at a certain distance (+10') most people can't tell the difference from an HD set with a resolution of 1024x768 (the HD signal is actually a higher resolution). Where ED becomes a problem is when you sit too close you can see the larger pixel structure causing a screen door effect.
I had the Panasonic 42" EDTV and traded it for the HDTV. To my eyes there is a difference. No SDE and a slightly crisper image. Panasonic is the leader in plasmas and their EDTV actually looks better than most other brands HDTV's.
AVS Forums has some good info but is very Panasonic biased, for very good reasons. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=40

 

[canucklehead]

One of my clients has an LED TV with many many small LEDs and it looks amazing .... but it cost 10s of thousands as it is 30 ft by 12 or so. I was reading a white paper on LED vs LCD vs Plasma......i had the TV on what i believe was a regular setting and not high contrast.....I will either get a LCD Plasma but i was more interested in the EDTV vs HDTV.
The HDTV u get now is not "real" HDTV it is almost there but not quite from everything i have been reading.

 

[A-ROD]

I recently bought a 48" LCD Projection TV by LG. It is great. Viewing angles are great and colour is fantastic.
Combined with Expressu HDTV (PVR) it makes watching TV a whole new experience..IMO

 

[Cobster]

technology is always gonna change.
if you want a tv now, get it.
if you NEED a tv now, get it.
if you're buying into the hype, DON'T.
it's a waste of money if you're just buying 'cause it's "cheap".
HDTV is on less than 30 channels, and even then, you gotta think, is it worth the extra coin right now?
You've lived without it for so long, why the rush?
There's a new high def they're working on, i believe i read the article as "super high def" apparently it's so real, the people look 3D.
Plasmas are good in dark environments (basements, minimal windows)
LCDs are good in bright environments, condos, lot of ambient light. (condo living)
Depends when you watch your TV/monitor most.
My aunt got a rear projection for dirt cheap (staff discount hehe) and my aunt absolutely loves it.
You decide what you need and how much you wanna spend.
If you keep waiting for things to get cheaper, you'll never get one.
Keeping up with the Jones'.