[OT] HDTV recommendations?

[Lennart Sorensen]

On Sat, Jun 11, 2011 at 06:27:26PM -0400, Walter Dnes wrote:
> On Sat, Jun 11, 2011 at 12:12:22PM -0400, Thomas Milne wrote
> > Anyone have some recommendations for a mid-sized HDTV? I'm looking
> > for about a 32" at the smallest, preferably 1080p and also built
> > in media/web browsing would be nice. Looking at Red Flag Deals,
> > but if anyone has any cautions or otherwise, glad to hear it :)
> 
> * Get the biggest set you can afford, up to approx 50".  If you get a
>   small one, you will regret it later.
> 
> * Check for *NETFLIX CANADA* compatability.  
> 
> * Plasma still has better picture than LCD, but the gap is narrowing

I think plasma looks rather bad actually.

> * Plasma uses a bit more power than LCD, but the gap is narrowing.

That and plasma still has the potential burn in issue.  Plasma is NEVER
going on my list of TVs to buy.

> * Check for overscan.  I don't understand what the idiots are doing.
>   This is so 20th century.  Back then, TV's used CRT (Cathode Ray Tubes)
>   and the picture would shrink over time.  An older TV would have small
>   black borders around the edge of the picture due to shrinkage.  The
>   picture does not shrink on a flat planel TV.  Overscan makes the TV
>   almost useless as a computer display by cropping the edges, plus it
>   crops the picture on a TV signal.
> 
> * Are you situated such that you can receive free OTA (Over The Air)
>   broadcasts?  If so, make sure that the TV allows you to enter the
>   physical channel number of TV station to add it to the list.  A few
>   older brain-dead models will only use the channels from the most
>   recent scan.  Also, beware of "clearance deals" on "HD ready" TV sets
>   that only have old-fashioned NTSC tuners.  Insist on a set with ATSC
>   tuner.

Both good ideas that I didn't imagine were still an issue.
Some companies.

-- 
Len Sorensen
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