Q. A friend in Centralia, Illinois area (southern) just told me she got her first converter box and received 4 clear PBS stations and some fuzzy local ones--prior to that she had no reception beyond 2 very fuzzy channels w/rabbit ears. A friend of her's suggested she put up an external antenna to get even better reception.
A. The Consumer Reports article referenced by theone78 is a good reference, but it doesn't really seem to address tuner sensitivity, and instead concentrates on picture quality. That's an OK criteria for use in strong reception areas, but if you're in a remote area, having the best tuner is critical. From articles and testimonials I've seen, the Zenith and Insignia converter boxes seem to have exceptionally good tuners.
But you also need a good antenna, preferably a roof-mounted on, or at least an attic one. Rabbit ears just won't cut it for distant reception with digital TV.
But you also need a good antenna, preferably a roof-mounted on, or at least an attic one. Rabbit ears just won't cut it for distant reception with digital TV.
How will the prices for LCD HDTVs change in 2008?
Q. I've noticed some major stores selling 42-inch widescreen LCD HDTVs for under a thousand bucks... it's a lot of money to drop for something that will contribute only to my sitting around and being unproductive, but still, at that price, it's tempting.
I'm wondering, will the prices for such TVs continue to drop (especially around / after holiday season) or is at at a plateau for the time being?
I'm wondering, will the prices for such TVs continue to drop (especially around / after holiday season) or is at at a plateau for the time being?
A. The new 12/07 Consumer Reports magazine projects a price drop of 25-30% over the next year for popular size plasmas and LCDs. Generally speaking, the best times of the year to buy a TV on sale is in April, July, and November.
I've got a bonus check coming to me next week and want to buy a good HDTV, any suggestions?
Q. I'm looking to spend no more than $1300, and no bigger than 42inches. I definitely want an LCD. This tv would be used for normal television shows, sporting events, and Playstation 3 games and movies. I've never boughten a HDTV before, so I'm needing some advice before I walk into the store and get taken advantage of. Should I buy the extended warranty on it? What about getting the HDMI cables versus the regular cables? Any advice would be appreciated.
A. First, get the March edition of Consumer Reports from your library. They review a large number of sets. If you don't want to go through a lot of research, get a Sony. You can't go wrong if you do.If you shop around, you should be able to find a 40" in your price range.
1080P-at 40", you don't need a 1080P set. At that size, unless you're going to sit three feet away from the set, 720P is fine.
Get a set that will accept a full range of input signals up to and including 1080P.
SD performance of HDTVs varies from poor to terrible. A lot of what you will be viewing will be SD-there's still not a lot of HD around-that's why it's important to get a professional review of sets, including SD performance.
With these sets, you generally get what you pay for.
The lower tier sets like Vizio, Olevia, Insignia, Polaroid Etc. generally have poorer performance, but worse still, they have poor warranties, and no after warranty repair services. Polaroid is known as the disposable TV, because if it fails after the warranty is over, you toss it.
The salesman will try to sell you a pile of stuff to "improve your HDTV experience":
HDMI cables-he'll want you to buy a $100 cable. See link below for reasonably priced cables. If you have cable service, your cable company will probably supply you with an HDMI or component cable set. So, you may nor even need any cable at all! As far as HDMI vs component cables is concerned, if you're talking about a six foot cable, it doesn't matter which one you use. If someday you buy an upconverting DVD player, or a Bly-ray High Def DVD player, then you'll want an HDMI cable, not for performance reasons, but because those players want to see HDMI for anti-copying protection reasons.
Extended warranty-Consumer Reports recommends against buying one. Their assessment of the reliability of these sets is that it's unlikely you will have a problem during your coverage. If, for peace of mind, you still want one, shop around. For example, sony offers a good extended warranty on their sets-just go to their website.
Cleaning kit-they'll try to sell you an overpriced one. These screens are very easily damaged. Until you read your manual, you won't know what your manufacturer recommends you use.
Surge protector-don't buy the eighty dollar one they'll try to sell you. You can buy a decent one for thirty dollars or less. Don't buy the crap that the eighty dollar one will improve your picture by "cleaning up your voltage".
It's best to walk in and refuse to buy anything except the set.
PC input-if you have any intention to hook-up to your PC, make sure your TV has a PC (VGA) input.
If you want details on a set you're considering, download the manual from the manufacturer's site-that's how to find out the details of what the set can, and can't do.
Good luck!
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6810011-1.html?tag=nl.e501
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/resource-center/buying-a-tv-206/tv-types/index.htm
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/122868.html
1080P-at 40", you don't need a 1080P set. At that size, unless you're going to sit three feet away from the set, 720P is fine.
Get a set that will accept a full range of input signals up to and including 1080P.
SD performance of HDTVs varies from poor to terrible. A lot of what you will be viewing will be SD-there's still not a lot of HD around-that's why it's important to get a professional review of sets, including SD performance.
With these sets, you generally get what you pay for.
The lower tier sets like Vizio, Olevia, Insignia, Polaroid Etc. generally have poorer performance, but worse still, they have poor warranties, and no after warranty repair services. Polaroid is known as the disposable TV, because if it fails after the warranty is over, you toss it.
The salesman will try to sell you a pile of stuff to "improve your HDTV experience":
HDMI cables-he'll want you to buy a $100 cable. See link below for reasonably priced cables. If you have cable service, your cable company will probably supply you with an HDMI or component cable set. So, you may nor even need any cable at all! As far as HDMI vs component cables is concerned, if you're talking about a six foot cable, it doesn't matter which one you use. If someday you buy an upconverting DVD player, or a Bly-ray High Def DVD player, then you'll want an HDMI cable, not for performance reasons, but because those players want to see HDMI for anti-copying protection reasons.
Extended warranty-Consumer Reports recommends against buying one. Their assessment of the reliability of these sets is that it's unlikely you will have a problem during your coverage. If, for peace of mind, you still want one, shop around. For example, sony offers a good extended warranty on their sets-just go to their website.
Cleaning kit-they'll try to sell you an overpriced one. These screens are very easily damaged. Until you read your manual, you won't know what your manufacturer recommends you use.
Surge protector-don't buy the eighty dollar one they'll try to sell you. You can buy a decent one for thirty dollars or less. Don't buy the crap that the eighty dollar one will improve your picture by "cleaning up your voltage".
It's best to walk in and refuse to buy anything except the set.
PC input-if you have any intention to hook-up to your PC, make sure your TV has a PC (VGA) input.
If you want details on a set you're considering, download the manual from the manufacturer's site-that's how to find out the details of what the set can, and can't do.
Good luck!
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6449_7-6810011-1.html?tag=nl.e501
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/resource-center/buying-a-tv-206/tv-types/index.htm
http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/122868.html
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