Technology?

[haplesshacker]

I went and had a look at some 'tech' at a new huge electrical retailer near us. I don't know if it's just me but I don't get 3D TV. I get what it does, but I felt decidedly ill watching it with the glasses on. I was seeing 'ghost' images, and everything seemed out of focus.

Does anyone else experiance this at all?

Needless to say. I wont be getting one anytime - ever!


The other 'gadge' that I just had to have a play with was the ipad. OMG. I want one. No, no. I need one! The wifi only version will do just fine. Since the visit, the wife has nicked all my cards, and joint cards! She says I can have one after we've turned over our first mill!!

I know that some don't see the point of them, but unlike 3D TV, I do 'get' the ipad.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Not seen the iPad "hands on" yet but they do look impressive. I've got an iPod Touch which is sooooo much more than the old classic iPod. I've got a laptop too so can't really justify the cost so won't be buying the iPad for a good while yet if ever. End of the day it doesn't do much that a laptop won't, just does it better.

As for 3D TV, can't see it catching on and the cinema version (some film critics reckon) will be dead in the water within 5 years.

 

[USER1999]

I was wandering round costco just the other day. Looking at tellys for my new tv room. Have decided that 50" is a minimum, as 42" looks really small. Just need to find the cash now.

Looked at the 3d stuff, and didn't get it either. It might be all well and good watching the golf or footy, but do I want to get home every night and whack on a pair of Joe 90s? No. Until they get it like a hologram, so I don't need the glasses, I'm out.

I think when the time comes to buy a telly, I'm going to need help. What is all this HD ready stuff? What technology do I need to go for, LED, LCD, plasma? Resolution? Flip knows, I don't. It has all got a bit much.

I used to buy 'what hifi' mag to find out what was the best gear to get, but that gets dangerous, as suddnely you need all sorts of other gadgets too.

Have looked at an ipad, and frankly, it isn't for me. Nice looking kit, but I am not that into apple stuff. Not even got an iphone. Wife has one, but I can't see the point.

 

[Smiffy]

50" Panasonic Plasma.
Sorted.

 

[HRC99]

I was wandering round costco just the other day. Looking at tellys for my new tv room. Have decided that 50" is a minimum, as 42" looks really small. Just need to find the cash now.

50" is the way to go. It's amazing how quickly you get used to a big telly. If you can hang it on a wall, then even better.

Looked at the 3d stuff, and didn't get it either. It might be all well and good watching the golf or footy, but do I want to get home every night and whack on a pair of Joe 90s? No. Until they get it like a hologram, so I don't need the glasses, I'm out.

Couldn't agree more. I've yet to see a film in 3D that wouldn't have been as good or better in 2D. A gimmick and won't be around for that long.

I think when the time comes to buy a telly, I'm going to need help. What is all this HD ready stuff? What technology do I need to go for, LED, LCD, plasma? Resolution? Flip knows, I don't. It has all got a bit much.

Just sing out if you need some advice. It's fairly tough to buy a decent size screen that isn't HD Ready these days. You just need an HD source (SkyHD, Freeview HD, Virgin HD, Blu-Ray) and off you go.

I used to buy 'what hifi' mag to find out what was the best gear to get, but that gets dangerous, as suddnely you need all sorts of other gadgets too.

Very true as the expensive pile of gadgets in my lounge will vouch.

Have looked at an ipad, and frankly, it isn't for me. Nice looking kit, but I am not that into apple stuff. Not even got an iphone. Wife has one, but I can't see the point.

[/QUOTE]

Apple do make lovely toys. Not necessarily essential toys but lovely toys nonetheless.

 

[ADB]

Apologies for the hijack, but this is kind of on thread....

I am getting a 22" TV for one of the kids bedrooms - should I be tempted by LED or stick to a reasonably priced LCD? Anyone know what the difference is and whether it matters on a screen that size?

 

[chris661]

Just a quick note on screen sizes. IIRC the optimum is 2.5x the size of the screen away, so for 50" you need to sit at least 125 inches away to get the full benefit from it. I used to install sky and the amount of people that complained that their picture was naff was unreal.

 

[HRC99]

Apologies for the hijack, but this is kind of on thread....

I am getting a 22" TV for one of the kids bedrooms - should I be tempted by LED or stick to a reasonably priced LCD? Anyone know what the difference is and whether it matters on a screen that size?

LCD would be your best option for a reasonably priced set of a decent quality. An LED screen is basically an LCD screen with LED edge lighting.

So unless you particularly want the edge lighting for aesthetic appeal, I would stick with LCD.

 

[HRC99]

Just a quick note on screen sizes. IIRC the optimum is 2.5x the size of the screen away, so for 50" you need to sit at least 125 inches away to get the full benefit from it. I used to install sky and the amount of people that complained that their picture was naff was unreal.

That depends on what source quality you're feeding the panel. With an HD source (whether Sky HD etc or Blu-Ray), you can sit a lot closer. If you wall mount the tv that will add to the viewing distance too.

 

[brendy]

I noticed that 3d glasses needed to be well fitting to work properly, if they are too flat or convex to your face, they blurred.
The iPad is a bag of balls. It is a bling gadget with nothing original away from a laptop or iPhone. If you want to read a book, join a library or buy them. I love my technology but the iPad is an overhyped POS that most folks sell on 4 months later while they can still flog it.

 

[haplesshacker]

You got one going cheap then Brendy!?

 

[brendy]

Aye got two Pffffft
Nah, wouldnt have one about me. Dont get me wrong, the tech that goes into them is pretty good (books syncing with iphone etc so you never lose page regardless of which device you are using etc) but its still just an interactive library.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not convinced by 3D. It has been done before in the 80's and 90's and yes admittedly technology has moved on but it was lauded as the new revolution but went the same way as betamax and those phillips CD players where the film was on a CD the size of an LP

 

[chris661]

those phillips CD players where the film was on a CD the size of an LP

wossa a LP??????

 

[Fyldewhite]

50" Panasonic Plasma.
Sorted.

Originally thought 37 would be fine, got the 42 Plasma, it looked big. Now I wish I'd got the 50.

 

[The_LHC]

phillips CD players where the film was on a CD the size of an LP

Are you talking about Laserdisc by any chance?

 

[brendy]

50" Panasonic Plasma.
Sorted.

Originally thought 37 would be fine, got the 42 Plasma, it looked big. Now I wish I'd got the 50.

We have a 46" Sharp Aquos LCD telly, it went on the blink for a couple of days and while I had it off the wall, had a 32 in its place, it really was tiny in comparison. Its funny when you get used to something, I can remember back when a 24" CRT tv was the bees knees!

 

[USER1999]

I currently have a 26" lcd, so anything is going to be massive in comparison. I just didn't want a bigger tv in the lounge, as it dominates the room, even when turned off. Now I have a dedicated telly room, which is big enough for a 50, I am going big. Probably after Christmas, as a reward for finishing decorating.

 

[viscount17]

I got a 32 to replace a 26 crt, cos I live in a flat and wouldn't need anything bigger. didn't realise I'd have to sit in the middle of the room to see it properly. wish I'd gone supersize.

but what really bugs me is that if you use anything other than original size to view anything it just crops the edges - have they never heard of scaling?

 

[USER1999]

I have similar issues. I have a panasonic, and it has 4 zooms, and a 4x3 setting, and an auto setting. Even in auto, I still have things that disappear off the screen. Why? I have a wide screen telly that isn't wide enough? It doesn't give the option of letter box, which is odd, you would think auto would do this.