not tech savvy

[Marla]

My panasonic regular tv lost its sound. I am told it will cost 160 to repair, it is 8 years old and told to get a new one. I am looking at a flat screen but then I was told that I need an HD box from Rogers and a monthly charge for channels from them...Does anyone know if this is true. What is plasma and does that need auxillary charges from Rogers. Is it old fashioned to just get a plain old tv. I already pay for a cable box and movie channels and don't want to be beholden more to rogers. It is too expensive for the little time I watch tv.
Please advise.

 

[adickson]

you dont need to get HD box to use the flat screens. the pictures might look odd though. YOu can use flat tv just like old tubes. spend 30 minutes at futureshop and get a zitty face sales rep explain everything to you since your question is rather common and simple.

 

[steel24]

you can go right from the wall into the TV. you will be limited to the number of channels, but all will work well.

by the way Marlene, the new pics look great!

 

[Iconic One]

I am a Roger's customer too. I think I pay $12.50 for my HD cable box. I'm sure you pay something for your cable box too. You don't have to order HD channels from Rogers, but they do look better. If that's not important to you, just keep what you've got and plug it into your new HD TV. You can always get Rogers to upgrade your cable box and channel package later if you wish.

OK?

 

[blackrock13]

You don't need the HD box,but it helps. If you plasma or LCD flat screen is on the small size, 40" or less, try the regular service first to see if you are good with it. then call up Rogers and negotiate for the upgrade. You should get a good deal for the next 12 months or so.

The salesman was just trying to up sell you and I'd go back to the store and clarify this point with him AND the manager, take their 'sorry there must have been an understanding' and parle it into a deal on the cable box/tele or walk out the store.

 

[curiousmarriedmale]

A lot of the questions you pose have been well answered except for th eone on plasma. There are three types of flat screens plasma, lcd and now led. No you will not need anything extra form Rogers to run the plasma. Historically there was a difference between plasma and lcd though not so much of late. My personal view is lcd is best and would do you fine. Depends on the lighting in the room etc. Talk it over with a couple of sales guys at Futureshop etc.

 

[Marla]

you dont need to get HD box to use the flat screens. the pictures might look odd though. YOu can use flat tv just like old tubes. spend 30 minutes at futureshop and get a zitty face sales rep explain everything to you since your question is rather common and simple.

i have a great guy i get tech stuff from near orfus road at half price. I dont know if it fell of the truck or what. Micro Electonics Direct 3220 Dufferin St. Unit 14 a. 416 850 6730 just south of 401 across from Yorkdale Mall. Kumar is his name. Thank you for all of your feedback...really helpful!

 

[Marla]

You don't need the HD box,but it helps. If you plasma or LCD flat screen is on the small size, 40" or less, try the regular service first to see if you are good with it. then call up Rogers and negotiate for the upgrade. You should get a good deal for the next 12 months or so.

The salesman was just trying to up sell you and I'd go back to the store and clarify this point with him AND the manager, take their 'sorry there must have been an understanding' and parle it into a deal on the cable box/tele or walk out the store.

So it sounds like a 40 "lcd should do the trick. How much would you expect to pay at F.S.?

 

[Rockslinger]

Historically there was a difference between plasma and lcd though not so much of late.

Does plasma still run very hot and is an energy hog?

 

[blackrock13]

So it sounds like a 40 "lcd should do the trick. How much would you expect to pay at F.S.?

That's a whole thread in itself. but I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for. It's been a while since I bought, but most budgets can be fitted from $700-$1700. I'm a Sony tele fan and have never been disappointed.

 

[curiousmarriedmale]

you are right there is still an energy usage difference and as a result a heat difference but again not as bad as it once was. I was more referenceing burning, picture quality, colour, contrast, resolution price etc.

 

[Rockslinger]

Saw a Samsung 40" LCD offered for sale at Sears for under $800. This one is 1080p and contrast is 60,000 (yes 60,000) to 1.

 

[tboy]

i have a great guy i get tech stuff from near orfus road at half price. I dont know if it fell of the truck or what. Micro Electonics Direct 3220 Dufferin St. Unit 14 a. 416 850 6730 just south of 401 across from Yorkdale Mall. Kumar is his name. Thank you for all of your feedback...really helpful!

Does he have a buddy named Harold???

As answered, you don't need an HD box but it makes a big difference for channels that do offer HD.

Depends on whether you are a big TV watcher or not. There are not only 3 types, but two "HD" versions: 720p or 1080p. 1080p is higher definition than 720. For eg: a 720p is about twice as clear as your regular tv at 480, and 1080 is about twice as clear as 720. If you ever plan to watch Blu Ray DVDs you should go for a 1080 set.

Plasma and LCD each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Plasmas do run hot and consume more power than LCD. LCD has become THE type and few stores still carry Plasmas.

Few other things to think about:
Frequency: normally something like 60 hz but 120 and now 240 are much better (that is the number of times per second the image is refreshed).

Contrast ratio: higher the better. This will give you whiter whites and blacker blacks

Inputs: if you are using DVD Blu Ray COmputer and Cable, you'll need more inputs. The standard is 3 HDMI inputs.

Stereo speakers: if you aren't using an external surround sound amp you'll want to pay attention to the sound quality of the speakers.

 

[tboy]

Saw a Samsung 40" LCD offered for sale at Sears for under $800. This one is 1080p and contrast is 60,000 (yes 60,000) to 1.

Yeah, well, I saw one with 800,000:1 yes, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND......

 

[Rockslinger]

Yeah, well, I saw one with 800,000:1 yes, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND......

Is that the one where you can see through her cotton dress and verify that she is a real redhead?

 

[blackrock13]

Yeah, well, I saw one with 800,000:1 yes, EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND......

don't get caught up i n contrast number. Those incredibly unbelievable numbers are potential and not real. Read the small print. I've even seen 1,000,000. it's bogus; available only under perfect conditions, not the home environment.

 

[trod]

Marlene, here is a good deal :

http://www.bestbuy.ca/catalog/prodd...id=0926HDS0010134111&CMP=ILC-BBY_hmpg2_slide2

Thought I saw one on Sears but its website doesn't work me for some reason.

 

[Rockslinger]

don't get caught up i n contrast number. Those incredibly unbelievable numbers are potential and not real. Read the small print. I've even seen 1,000,000. it's bogus; available only under perfect conditions, not the home environment.

Reminds me of those cameras that have 85 million megapixels and an ISO of 29 billion (can see in pitch black). Its all marketing hype.

 

[tboy]

don't get caught up i n contrast number. Those incredibly unbelievable numbers are potential and not real. Read the small print. I've even seen 1,000,000. it's bogus; available only under perfect conditions, not the home environment.

I don't know what "conditions" you're speaking of, the contrast ratio has nothing to do with ambient lighting, time of day, how many people are in the room. Those numbers indicate the panel's ability to produce white whites and black blacks. The higher the number the higher the contrast.

if you've ever watched a low contrast ratio panel (like phillips) then you know what we're talking about. Kuros were supposed to be THE panel for blacks and they were great, but not for double the price.

If you ever watched a night scene in Blu Ray you'll know what I'm talking about.

 

[tboy]

Reminds me of those cameras that have 85 million megapixels and an ISO of 29 billion (can see in pitch black). Its all marketing hype.

No, you're wrong. and it isn't 85 million megapixels, it is 85 million pixels. And since you don't know, a standard 1920 x 1080 screen has over 2 million pixels......how much do you figure a 20 foot screen would have?

Rock? weren't you one asking all kinds of questions about flat panels not too long ago? Now you're an expert on them all of a sudden? lol.....