gmane.org.user-groups.linux.cplug.general

John | 29 Jun 17:57

OT: Television recommendations


Hi folks,

Although off topic, I know there are many here who are multi-media savvy.

Our family is looking for a new television for our satellite service.
We're looking at 32" LCD HD models, since we don't have any extravagant
needs.  Here's a few questions that I have.

What makers are better?

Are there any specific features that we ought to consider?

Should we choose 720p or 1080p?  What's the difference?

Thanks.

John Storey

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Dennis Little | 29 Jun 18:18

Re: OT: Television recommendations

On Sun, June 29, 2008 11:57 am, John wrote:
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> Hi folks,
>
> Although off topic, I know there are many here who are multi-media savvy.
>
> Our family is looking for a new television for our satellite service.
> We're looking at 32" LCD HD models, since we don't have any extravagant
> needs.  Here's a few questions that I have.

Hi John,

I was kind of in the same boat as you a few months back. I was looking for
an affordable set with a good variation of inputs, built in HDTV tuner (I
can pick up Comcast HD channels that I don't have to pay for and get
over-the-air local HD), a decent picture and on the lower end of price. I
opted for the LG 32" 32LB9D. It gets good reviews and you can get it from
Newegg for $700 with free shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16889005019&Tpk=lg%2blcd%2b32%2522

>
> What makers are better?
>
I am no expert, but I knew that LG makes good LCD panels. Many OEMs use LG
electronics in their laptops and desktop displays, for  instance. I also
looked at Samsung, but thought that the price was too high at the time.

(Continue reading)

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Bob Igo | 29 Jun 20:17

Re: OT: Television recommendations


Dennis Little wrote:
| On Sun, June 29, 2008 11:57 am, John wrote:
|> Are there any specific features that we ought to consider?
|>
| I would look for something with a built-in tuner so that you can get local
| over-the-air if you want to and you can pick up premium channels off cable
| that are not encrypted.

Contrast ratio and lumens are important, too, possibly more than
resolution, depending on your eyes, the viewing environment's ambient
lighting, and your distance to the display.  I wouldn't rule out getting
an LCD monitor, either.  The PRO would be that there's no overscan, and
you don't have to do anything sneaky to use its full resolution with a
PC, but the CON would be that there'd be no built-in tuner.  However, if
you already have a tuner source (such as a DVR or your satellite's STB)
then you don't necessarily need one in your display.  In fact, with
satellite as a source, a built-in tuner would only get you ATSC
programming anyway.

|> Should we choose 720p or 1080p?  What's the difference?
| I may be wrong, but as I understand it, there really is not much available
| in 1080 yet;

You are wrong ;)  Every major network show is broadcast in 1080i, and
there's also plenty of 1080p video podcasts available online.

| some are betting that there may never be much available in
| 1080 because of bandwidth limitations. These people surmise that
| broadcasters will choose to have more channels at a lower resolution than

(Continue reading)

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Dennis Little | 29 Jun 20:32

Re: OT: Television recommendations


On Sun, June 29, 2008 2:17 pm, Bob Igo wrote:
> Contrast ratio and lumens are important, too, possibly more than
> resolution, depending on your eyes, the viewing environment's ambient
> lighting, and your distance to the display.  I wouldn't rule out getting

Excellent point!

> |> Should we choose 720p or 1080p?  What's the difference?
> | I may be wrong, but as I understand it, there really is not much
> available
> | in 1080 yet;
>
> You are wrong ;)  Every major network show is broadcast in 1080i, and
> there's also plenty of 1080p video podcasts available online.

I got nothin' against being wrong and I knew you would be along to correct
me. HEHE :) Thanks for the correction.

> This can go the other way, too; my dad has bad ears, and he can't
> understand much of what comes out of his CRT television's built-in
> speakers, so he needs to use a TV/radio tuner with headphones to listen

I can attest to this too. I have heard a good many muddy speakers on other
sets. The LG has speakers that did not seem as muddy when I sampled in the
store.

> Another thought on speakers: Sometimes, the little speakers that come
> with some widescreen LCD TVs can't be detached.  The consequence is that
> not all 32" widescreen TVs will fit into the same space, because some of

(Continue reading)

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Dennis Little | 29 Jun 20:34

Re: OT: Television recommendations

On Sun, June 29, 2008 2:17 pm, Bob Igo wrote:

> It depends on several factors: eye quality, distance to the display, and
> size of the display.  It'd take eagle eyes to be able to see the
> difference between a 720p display and a 1080p display of the same size,
> viewed at 15 feet.  With correction, I have 20/15 vision, and I watch

Bob,

I meant to ask your opinion on 720 vs 1080 on a smaller screen, like the
32". I assume the difference would be more noticeable the larger the TV?

-Dennis

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Bob Igo | 29 Jun 21:09

Re: OT: Television recommendations


Dennis Little wrote:
| I meant to ask your opinion on 720 vs 1080 on a smaller screen, like the
| 32". I assume the difference would be more noticeable the larger the TV?

It really depends on the viewing distance and your eyesight.  Screen
size being constant, those are the only two variables in terms of
noticing the differences in resolution when given 1080i or 1080p content.

--
Bob Igo
StormLogic

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Mark A-J. Raught | 29 Jun 19:37

Re: OT: Television recommendations

John wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> Although off topic, I know there are many here who are multi-media savvy.
>
> Our family is looking for a new television for our satellite service.
> We're looking at 32" LCD HD models, since we don't have any extravagant
> needs.  Here's a few questions that I have.
>
> What makers are better?
>
> Are there any specific features that we ought to consider?
>
> Should we choose 720p or 1080p?  What's the difference?
>
> Thanks.
>
> John Storey
>
>
John,
I can't really help with current TVs, but I did read in the past month
or so that the major cable companies have agreed (with TV makers) to
start rolling out CableCard2 (although it is now called something else)
in the future which will allow for some sort of card to be put into your
TV so it would use its own tuner instead of a set top box. This was
tried in CableCard(1) but it seems the standards were loose and the
setup was overly complex so it failed. From what I understand CableCard2
fixes most of the problems and will make things much easier on companies
(TV and Cable) as well as consumers. I don't remember if it specifically

(Continue reading)

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Dennis Little | 29 Jun 19:54

Re: OT: Television recommendations

On Sun, June 29, 2008 1:37 pm, Mark A-J. Raught wrote:
> cool functionality (PIP and such). Also in the spring when the whole
> digital change over happens and people panic because they _think_ they
> need a new TV (which most people won't), hopefully the prices will start
> dropping with those increased sales.

I think you offer sage advice. If my old TV had not broken and I did not
"need" a new one, I would have waited to see how the CableCard thing
shakes out and for the lower prices. Time will tell if I am sorry for not
getting a CableCard-capable TV.

-Dennis