Dumpy's TV Odyssey

I finally did it! After a month of agonozing, I bought a new TV! Sixty-inch Sony rear projection. The large rear projection screens just can't be beat in terms of cost and quality, and Sony seems to be the best. Sony has just come out with a new model, so the older model--which, by all accounts, is exactly the same--has been reduced. And, I discovered that if I open a credit account at Sears, they'll knock $250 off the price. Score!</p>

They're delivering it on Friday. So I need a stand for it by then . . . I just can't find one that I like. I'm going to run it through my stereo, so it needs to have enough shelf space for all my stereo components. Sony also sells a center/rear speaker combo to supplement your existing steroe system to get surround sound, so you don't have to buy a complete new sound system. Sony's surround sound systems are pretty good, so I'm going to give it a try--just $90 on Amazon. </p>

Sears sells a stand for a 60" rear projection TV that I can live with, but they won't deliver it until next week, and it is too big to fit in my car. So my options now are: (1) rent a pickup/large SUV; (2) change the delivery date of the TV to next week; (3) spend a day running around to every store in the area to try to find a stand I like, and that can be delivered by Thursday. I've been checking the web sites of target, wal-mart, amazon, etc., and can't really find anything I'm happy with. There are a couple I like available on Amazon, but they won't be delivered for a week, so it won't help (they aren't eligible for one-day shipping).</p>

opinions?</p>

</p>

 

Even though I think you got some not so great advice, you made an excellent choice with that TV.</p>

And I have an inexpensive Sony surround system and it is just terrific for the price.</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Even though I think you got some not so great advice, you made an excellent choice with that TV.</p>

And I have an inexpensive Sony surround system and it is just terrific for the price.</p></div>

Don't think for a second that I relied on the advice I got on the other board. I rely mostly on consumer reports; everyone else has an agenda--usually it is to convince themselves that they made a good choice themselves. I had focused on the rear projection TVs very early--they are lighter, less expensive, and at the large sizes, produce just as good--if not better--picture than plasma. Since I don't really care if I can hang my TV on the wall, there's no real benefit to spending more and getting a plasma. The other postershelped fill in some of the gaps, though, like whether an HDDVD player was necessary. I did think it was interesting, though, the debate over whether to get a 720 or 1080p. The way I see it, if you want your electronic gear to last longer, you get the best technology at the time, even if you don't think you need it. For instance, with my old computer, I had USB ports installed even though they weren't popular yet, and I installed over 700 meg of RAM. People thought I was crazy; the standard was 64 or 128 I think. Computer lasted over eight years. </p>

I've got a Panasonic digital stereo receiver that I bought a few years ago that has about a billion inputs on it, so I didn't see the need to buy an entire new complete sound system. Sony seems to be one of the few companies that sells the center/rear speaker combo as a package. I found it on Amazon, for about $50 less than the list price. </p>

I'm serious about agonizing about the delivery option for the stand, though. As an INTP, it is hard for me to make a decision to begin with. I think I'm going to just rent a van for the evening--$20 plus milage--and go pick it up myself. I'd really like to have the TV delivered and set up on Friday. It's our tenth anniversary.</p>also, do you have an opinion on cables? the salesman was trying to convince me to get an HDVI cable (I think that's it) because the picture quality is better . . . is that true? That's actually something I haven't researched, so you DO have the opportunity to influence me . . .

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Petey)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'>

I finally did it! After a month of agonozing, I bought a new TV! Sixty-inch Sony rear projection. The large rear projection screens just can't be beat in terms of cost and quality, and Sony seems to be the best. Sony has just come out with a new model, so the older model--which, by all accounts, is exactly the same--has been reduced. And, I discovered that if I open a credit account at Sears, they'll knock $250 off the price. Score!</p>

They're delivering it on Friday. So I need a stand for it by then . . . I just can't find one that I like. I'm going to run it through my stereo, so it needs to have enough shelf space for all my stereo components. Sony also sells a center/rear speaker combo to supplement your existing steroe system to get surround sound, so you don't have to buy a complete new sound system. Sony's surround sound systems are pretty good, so I'm going to give it a try--just $90 on Amazon. </p>

Sears sells a stand for a 60" rear projection TV that I can live with, but they won't deliver it until next week, and it is too big to fit in my car. So my options now are: (1) rent a pickup/large SUV; (2) change the delivery date of the TV to next week; (3) spend a day running around to every store in the area to try to find a stand I like, and that can be delivered by Thursday. I've been checking the web sites of target, wal-mart, amazon, etc., and can't really find anything I'm happy with. There are a couple I like available on Amazon, but they won't be delivered for a week, so it won't help (they aren't eligible for one-day shipping).</p>

opinions?</div></p>

Ask a salesperson to drop it off. They make rather bulky commissions on the pieces anyway. I've done it before. Ladies have turned down my request, but 2 dudes who really needed to make sales at Office Max (where they need to reach sales goals) dropped off my chair on what they claimed was their lunch break.</p>

-Petey</p>

</p></div>

Now THERE"S an interesting idea.</p>

 

can't wait to watch Nets games on it!</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Nets? I figured you bought the thing to see Oprah really big.</p>

</p></div>

</p>

OK, I confess. I've been dreaming of watching 60 inches worth of Viggo Mortensen and Orlando Bloom, so I can see every strand of their gorgeous hair. Seriously, the battle on the bridge against the balrog should be pretty intense at that size and with surround sound.</p>

 

I soon need to invest in a new TV too.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'>I'd really like to have the TV delivered and set up on Friday. It's our tenth anniversary.</div>

Congrats Dumpy (and Mrs. Dumpy too, of course).</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Charles)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'> I'd really like to have the TV delivered and set up on Friday. It's our tenth anniversary.</div>

Congrats Dumpy (and Mrs. Dumpy too, of course).</p></div>

thanks. it was the day princess di died.</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Petey)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Denny Crane)</div><div class='quotemain'>

Nets? I figured you bought the thing to see Oprah really big.</p>

</p></div>

</p>

OK, I confess. I've been dreaming of watching 60 inches worth of Viggo Mortensen and Orlando Bloom, so I can see every strand of their gorgeous hair. Seriously, the battle on the bridge against the balrog should be pretty intense at that size and with surround sound.</p>

</div></p>

When I bought my tv, first DVD I popped in was Bad Boys.</p>

Btw, if you are not getting a HDDVD or Blue Ray player, consider getting a DVD with HDMI, as they will slightly improve image quality of DVDs as a minimal cost.</p>

-Petey</p>

</p></div>

what's a dvd with hdmi? are those the dvd players that converts the image to 1080 resolution? Are they really worth it?</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'>

It's our tenth anniversary.</p>

</div></p>

</p>

You got married at age 55??? wow.</p>

</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrpy)</div><div class='quotemain'>I soon need to invest in a new TV too.</div>

In 2009 all TVs must be digital-capable, so if you have an analog TV, you need to get a conversion box or buy a new TV. I THINK that all cable companies are required to provide one signal conversion box to each household, but I'm not completely sure about it. </p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'>

It's our tenth anniversary.</p>

</div></p>

</p>

You got married at age 55??? wow.</p>

</p>

</div> </p>

I can still whup your ass, you young whippersnapper.</p>

</p>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dumpy)</div><div class='quotemain'>

I'd really like to have the TV delivered and set up on Friday. It's our tenth anniversary.</div></p>

I didn't realize you had been married less time than me. Congrats on #10</p>

</p>

 

Congrats on the TV, and going through the "joys" of marriage for 10 years.

 

You should buy non-brand name HDMI cable online. The prices in the stores are outrageous and the quality of the picture is not affected by the price.</p>

I have an upconverting DVD player. It's a Toshiba that cost 100 bucks and for that price it's well worth having.</p>

Some of the better DVDs look almost HD.</p>