Whacka Mole

[susandennis]

The bed problem is fixed with the new mattress.

The cell phone problem is fixed with a new phone and new service.

Now we're on to the TV problem. 

My current set is not old but was cheap and is a Phillips which, I found out today, is aka POS.  The top 10% of the screen has horizontal lines and distortion.  I can no longer tell what the score is or how many outs/strikes/balls or what inning we are in.  I bought the set exactly 2 years ago.  I called two repair places today and visited a 3rd.  No one will touch it. 

The one I visited (because I thought they had TV's for sale) said that they would come get it and look at it but it would be a couple of months before they could get to it and they weren't hopeful for a fix. 

So... it's time to buy a new one. The guys at the place I visited all suggested Video Only (a west coast chain-ette).  And they all recommended against Best Buy.  Video Only has one shop about 20 minutes south of here, one shop about 30 minutes west of here and one shop about 40 minutes north of here.  All are fairly easy to get to when there is no traffic which is basically 10 a.m.  I might go tomorrow.  Or Friday.  Or Saturday.   And, I'll probably go to the one east of here. I think.  Maybe.  Or I might see which way the car wants to go.

I did stop by Costco on the way home.  Just to see.  I don't think I know enough to buy from them.  Best I could see, all of their models had only 2 component slots and I need 3 at least and maybe 4.   I could order one online but, mostly I just need someone who knows to tell me what I need and want.  I'm willing to pay extra for the help.

--

The gym had CNN on one of the TVs this morning and they had a big long piece that basically looked like Austin, Tx floated away last night.  So I sent my brother a 'how wet are you?' note to learn that he's pretty much high and dry and grateful for it.  Plus he said that the electrical storms were pretty good for his business.

In the early 70's I was a sales rep for IBM out in the most rural part of western South Carolina.  I used to tell my boss that only 2 of the 3 counties he gave me for a territory eve had electricity!  But Summer thunderstorms were prevalent.  And so lucrative.  At least once a week and sometimes more often, I'd sell a typewriter or copier or dictation machine to replace the one that got fried in a power surge.  I still love a good electrical storm!

--

Back to work, both mine and the Mariners afternoon game.  The Red Sox could well be at the end of their largess and they might want to win one game before they leave town.  I hope not but...

Comments

[davmoo.livejournal.com]

Unless there's another Philips, my opinion has always been they produce Damned Good Products. My home theater system is Philips, as are two of my small TVs. And quite a few of my computer CD and DVD drives are Philips. I've always regarded Philips as being top tier, along with Sony and Toshiba.

My suggestions on a new TV would be these. First, make sure its digital, since all analog TV over-the-air signals will cease on February 18th, 2009. So you might as well buy something that won't become a brick or require a converter box in another year. Then go for HD and a 16:9 screen (actually I don't think you can even get a digital set with only a 4:3 screen). And as many inputs as possible, in RCA, component, s-video, and SVGA...there is no such number as "too many inputs", and using your new TV as a giant computer monitor is a blast. An HDMI input wouldn't hurt either...you may need it in the future. And don't go with a on-the-wall projection system unless you like to watch TV only in a dark room...even a small amount of light, in my experience, makes the picture go muddy.

I have both a rear projection HDTV, and an lcd HDTV. I like the bigger picture (51 inch) of the rear projection (its a Sony...um...2 grand about 2 years ago), but the lcd (32 inch, and a cheap Chinese brand, $550 as I recall 6 months ago) has a sharper picture, and looks better in bright room light. They both have 3 sets of RCA inputs, 3 sets of component inputs, 3 sets of s-video inputs, an HDMI input, and a SVGA input...and there are times I wish they had one more input here or there.

And while features like these aren't a necessity, things like split screen (watch two inputs side by side), PIP (a second input on a small box within the first input), and zoom can be quite useful. I find myself using all of them on the Sony, and wishing I had them on the Chinese. But they will also add to the price of the set.

[susandennis]

Oh EXCELLENT info! Thank you. I'm particularly jazzed to hear that my input requirements are not a foreign animal. I think I finally have enough USB ports on my various computers and so I can concentrate on component inputs!!

You keep mentioning about the FCC deadline. And I keep dismissing everything you say about it as 'does not pertain to me'. But, maybe I should make sure... All of the TV's in this house (both of them) are fed via cable. They always have been and they always will be. So, best I can understand, the FCC ruling won't matter to me no matter what. If I have an analog tv - as long as it has a plug for the cable, I'll be fine.

Right? Or am I way off base?

[dizzdvl.livejournal.com]

I had a decent Philips, but the last one I bought would randomly turn on. Then when you turned it off it would randomly turn on again but after a shorter period of time and so on and so forth until it was turning on a minute after I turned it off. I finally had to unplug it.

[davmoo.livejournal.com]

As it stands right now, you are correct. The "end of Analog TV" thing really doesn't apply to you (or me, since I use satellite receivers).

However, just because it holds true today, doesn't mean it will be true 2 years from now. A lot of cable systems are looking at doing away with their analog feeds, and you would again be required to use a set top converter box, etc.

So my personal opinion is that unless money is really tight (because you can get fantastic deals on analog TVs now), its a wiser purchase to buy for the future. All digital TVs that I've seen also still have an analog input, but obviously the reverse is not true. You may be more interested in a sweet deal, where as I consider a good TV to be an investment, just like a car, laptop computer, or other high-dollar purchase...just because I can buy a new TV every year doesn't mean I want to :-)

Its too bad you don't live closer. I'm always seeing good deals on lightly used rear projection HDTVs at the auction. 51 inchers for $300 is not uncommon. And you can pick up a good 32 inch CRT analog for $25 or $30 some nights. I bought my mom a nice analog 26 inch Toshiba a few weeks ago for $12 and change.

[susandennis]

Ok, gotcha and I totally agree about buying for the future. And I think my little one in the bedroom is digital anyway.

Can you stand another TV q?

I am not really interested in HGTV right now. Is it totally unreasonably and/or silly to buy a TV that is capable of HGTV but use it for regular (digital cable box plus non-hgtv tivos) right now and maybe upgrade (cable box and/or TiVo) later?

And... when you have two of those hdmi(?) inputs does that mean you could have two hgtv things going on like a digital cable box AND an HGTV Tivo (with the digital cable card) at the same time? Or am I confused about what those hdmi things are for?

[davmoo.livejournal.com]

First off, this doesn't make any difference to me, because I know what you mean. But so you don't like like a total noob when you ask questions at the store, thus inviting them to take advantage of you, I do offer one suggestion...

H*G*TV is a TV channel (Home and Garden Television). The acronym you mean to be using is H*D*TV...High Definition Television.

As for your actual question, no, that isn't a problem. I don't subscribe to any Dish Network HD packages, only have standard def receivers, and live too far away from Indianapolis to get HD over the air. So I'm doing the same thing you would be...using an analog TiVo with a digital TV. It works fine. I use the RCA audio and video outputs from my Dish Network box to feed the TiVo, then the TiVo feeds the digital set using the RCA audio output and s-video output.

And yes, having two HDMI inputs would allow you to use two devices, each with an HDMI output.

[susandennis]

Oh hilarious. When I talk, I usually call HGTV like my neighbor (gay) does - Highly Gay TV. BUT my typing fingers don't know this and I so appreciate your looking out for me.

And thanks for the answers. This really helps!

[cinenaut.livejournal.com]

I second Video Only in Bellevue. I bought my 34" Panasonic HDTV (tube) there two years ago, and the sales staff are nice, knowledgeable, NOT pushy about making a sale, AND they deliver and set up your new TV for you.

As for brands (I'm always looking at TVs), I will say nice things about Sony and Sharp LCDs.

If you want some shopping help, let me know, I'm local :)

[susandennis]

How lovely of you to offer!!! I may well take you up on that offer. I think my current plan is to go to the Bellevue store tomorrow and do some research. Once I know more questions, I might just see if somehow we can hook up for shopping. Thank you!

[photoholic62.livejournal.com]

Your brother is in Georgetown, right? Does "high and dry" mean they've had no rain, or just that they aren't flooded? We've had a ton, and our driveway is a lake, but the house is safe and dry. Soon we'll park on the road and float the canoe up to the house. (slight exaggeration)

[susandennis]

No no they had rain. Bill said their back yard was flooded but that it drained before it got to the house. They also had such thunder that it took him four hours to calm down their 13 year old deaf and cancer ridden dog who was totally freaked. He did say that the store was on the other side of town from the major water.

[photoholic62.livejournal.com]

Ah, I wondered....

There is more rain on the way, lots of flooding conditions coming up. I hope he and his family stay OK.

[susandennis]

Thanks. He promised me they would. You'd better do the same!