10-16-2007, 11:57 PM
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#221
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Powerplay Quarterback
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Trapped in my own code!!
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Hey guys. I recently bought a new 42 inch LCD TV, primarily for my PS3, movies, and a XBOX360 in the future. These all show really well on the TV, since they are in HD. I will also occasionally watch SD channels, and this is where my question comes in. Right now I have the regular SHAW cable box, not the HD one. Does anyone know if getting a HD cable box will improve the SD output, or is it mainly to convert the HD channels correctly? Right now SD looks like it's running at 480 and motion sometimes looks blurry, and if the HD box improves the SD quality it would better justify the cost of the new box.
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10-17-2007, 08:47 AM
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#222
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The new goggles also do nothing.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Calgary
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The HD box won't improve the SD quality by very much.. SD is 480 and very poor quality to begin with, it's just more evident now that we have higher quality displays.
An expensive video upscaler (Silicon Optix Reon ( http://www.siliconoptix.com/products...X/Features.cfm) for example) might be able to do a better job of it, but I've not seen a comparison in terms of SD television.
The receiver I want to get, the Onkyo 875, actually has that chip built into it.
__________________
Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position.
But certainty is an absurd one.
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10-17-2007, 03:26 PM
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#223
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sunshine Coast
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kerplunk
Hey guys. I recently bought a new 42 inch LCD TV, primarily for my PS3, movies, and a XBOX360 in the future. These all show really well on the TV, since they are in HD. I will also occasionally watch SD channels, and this is where my question comes in. Right now I have the regular SHAW cable box, not the HD one. Does anyone know if getting a HD cable box will improve the SD output, or is it mainly to convert the HD channels correctly? Right now SD looks like it's running at 480 and motion sometimes looks blurry, and if the HD box improves the SD quality it would better justify the cost of the new box.
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Like Photon says it probably won't improve your SD picture but I'd still get the HD box. I find I rarely watch anything in SD anymore except for hockey and news shows and only because I don't have a choice. SD 480i is just not made for big screen TVs and is on it's way out.
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10-17-2007, 08:20 PM
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#224
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: in your blind spot.
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And there go the analog tube TVs (in the US, at least).
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071017/...1SlfuNmt6s0NUE
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MINNEAPOLIS - The nation's largest consumer electronics chain says it has pulled all analog televisions off store shelves. Flat panel and high-definition screens have taken their place.
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__________________
"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
"But the Senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity"
—WKRP in Cincinatti
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10-17-2007, 08:23 PM
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#225
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Playboy Mansion Poolboy
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Close enough to make a beer run during a TV timeout
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Keep in mind- in the US all broadcasts are going digital in 2009. Meaning there's an advantage to not selling a TV that won't work in 18 months.
Digital TVs are not always HDTVs.
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10-18-2007, 10:31 AM
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#226
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It's not easy being green!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the tubes to Vancouver Island
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Question:
What TV service is best?
The condo building I'm in the process of moving to has Bell available to all units (no dish needed) so I'm wondering which is a better service to be with. Bell or Shaw?
I'm also planning on getting an HDTV (1080p) shortly (maybe tomorrow). So HD is a must
__________________
Who is in charge of this product and why haven't they been fired yet?
Last edited by kermitology; 10-18-2007 at 10:37 AM.
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10-18-2007, 12:29 PM
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#227
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Lifetime Suspension
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You'll find supporters and detractors of both services. My personal opinion is that Bell offers a superior product, in terms of channel selection and especially HD selection. I've read recently that Shaw has added more HD channels, so the availability of channels on each service is likely more similar now than in the past, if not the same.
Bell (via Dish Network in the States IIRC) has new MPEG4 HD receivers in the pipeline, which means more HD channels should be a possibility soon. But the old receivers won't work with this compression, so I'd be leery aboout buying a Bell HD receiver now without some serious thought and investigation.
Bottom line - avoid Telus TV! 
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10-18-2007, 01:29 PM
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#228
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The new goggles also do nothing.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Calgary
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Yeah Bell seems to have more channels.
Starchoice has been adding many HD channels as well, plus no contract and no extra fee for HD, and no extra receiver fees if you get a certain level of package.
Starchoice HD receivers are also ready for the new compression without having to swap out receivers or anything.
__________________
Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position.
But certainty is an absurd one.
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10-18-2007, 01:33 PM
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#229
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It's not easy being green!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the tubes to Vancouver Island
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Quote:
Originally Posted by photon
Yeah Bell seems to have more channels.
Starchoice has been adding many HD channels as well, plus no contract and no extra fee for HD, and no extra receiver fees if you get a certain level of package.
Starchoice HD receivers are also ready for the new compression without having to swap out receivers or anything.
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Starchoice isn't an option though. Not allowed to have dishes on the balcony and each unit can receive Bell.
__________________
Who is in charge of this product and why haven't they been fired yet?
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10-18-2007, 01:51 PM
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#230
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Playboy Mansion Poolboy
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Close enough to make a beer run during a TV timeout
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Just to qualify there Kermit- be sure they are offering Bell Expressvu satellite TV, and not the "Bell for condos" that is popping up all over Toronto. Easiest way to ask the question "So, if I already own a Bell receiver, then that's all I need- right?"
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10-18-2007, 02:04 PM
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#231
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It's not easy being green!
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the tubes to Vancouver Island
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042
Just to qualify there Kermit- be sure they are offering Bell Expressvu satellite TV, and not the "Bell for condos" that is popping up all over Toronto. Easiest way to ask the question "So, if I already own a Bell receiver, then that's all I need- right?"
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Well there is some deal offered through Satellite City, so I'd hope so!
__________________
Who is in charge of this product and why haven't they been fired yet?
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10-18-2007, 02:19 PM
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#232
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sunshine Coast
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kermitology
Well there is some deal offered through Satellite City, so I'd hope so!
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Check to make sure that the Bell service offers HD. I've also heard that if your balcony is facing the right direction, you can disguise your dish to make it look like a plant or something. 
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10-19-2007, 11:02 PM
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#233
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Calgary
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In preperation for our new HDTV coming in a month, where is the best place to get cheaper, quality HDMI cables, here in town? I never bought into the Monster hype, there has to be other options for HDMI.
Just using component cable on our current HD...
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10-19-2007, 11:42 PM
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#234
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The new goggles also do nothing.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Calgary
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In town, not many cheap options unfortunately 
Monoprice.com is your best bet. It takes a bit for them to come in but it's worth the wait.
Otherwise, check out PS3 HDMI cables actually, I think I saw them for pretty cheap at EB Games. Also maybe Home Depot, Wal Mart, or Radio Shack.
__________________
Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position.
But certainty is an absurd one.
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10-22-2007, 01:31 PM
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#236
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Franchise Player
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Calgary, Alberta
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I'm finally looking at buying a flat screen TV, as prices have come down to a pretty affordable level.
We're going for a 42" TV because the room is a little smaller and I really don't know whether to go with Plasma or LCD. It looks I can get a 1080p LCD for the same price as a regular plasma without the 1080p.
The one that has kind of peaked my interest is the LG 42LB5D 42" 1080p LCD HDTV. It has a refresh rate of 5ms and a 7000:1 contrast ratio, both of which seem quite good. The price is also reasonable at $1699.
I guess these are my questions:
1) Should I go with 1080p LCD if I can, or a plasma that doesn't have 1080p? Plasma's with that technology are getting out of my price range. (Looking to spend around $1700).
2) Does anybody have the LG TV I'm talking about? All the reviews I've read sounded good, except for the CNET one which has me worried.
3) Can anyone recommend something better than what I've found, or at least send me on the right direction? I'm going to be watching movies and sports, that's about it.
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10-22-2007, 02:06 PM
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#237
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The new goggles also do nothing.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Calgary
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I had an LG for a short amount of time (returned it for a Sony).
The quality was decent to me, though it did have some back light consistency issues (when the TV is showing all black or a dark scene the screen brightness is uneven). The Sony is much better, though it should be for the extra $$ it was.
LG isn't a top of my list brand, but I still think their stuff is good.
Interestingly enough there was a recent report put out by J.D. Power and Assc. about customer satisfaction, and the results were kind of surprising to me:
Quote:
Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking
37- to 49-inch HDTV Segment
(Based on a 1,000-point scale)
Sony BRAVIA LCD................815
LG LCD.........................799
LG Plasma......................794
Samsung Plasma.................793
Samsung LC.....................791
Average........................789
Panasonic Vieta Plasma.........788
Sharp AQUOS LCD................783
Philips Plasma.................775
Hitachi Plasma.................769
Vizio LCD......................765
Philips LCD....................765
Westinghouse LCD...............763
Sony BRAVIA Plasma.............761
Toshiba LCD....................760
Olevia LCD.....................722
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http://boston.stockgroup.com/sn_news...newsid=9307969
Not the be-all of LCD quality, but interesting.
__________________
Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position.
But certainty is an absurd one.
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10-22-2007, 02:08 PM
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#238
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Lifetime Suspension
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I'm surprised to see Toshiba and Sharp so low on that list. LG's placement surprises me too, personally.
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10-22-2007, 02:17 PM
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#239
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The new goggles also do nothing.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Calgary
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Me too!
On their site you can see the different criteria:
http://www.jdpower.com/electronics/r.../hdtv/37-to-49
Even by display quality, LG is still higher than I would have thought.
__________________
Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position.
But certainty is an absurd one.
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10-22-2007, 03:20 PM
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#240
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Farm Team Player
Join Date: Mar 2007
Exp: 
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You should look at the replacement warranty. Does it take 1 or 5 dead pixels before you get a replacement. I went with a sony over LG for that reason.
__________________
When MonkeyHouse rocks, he rocks a fat ass!
When MonkeyHouse rocks, he rocks a fat ass!
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