There is no greater gift for a sports fan than a big screen television. This entertainment item can make your family room into a really exciting place at game time. Investing in a big screen television is a must for any sports fan but movie enthusiasts will enjoy it as well.
My husband and I never really knew the appeal of a big screen television until we moved into our new home. There was a 52 inch TV in the basement. The previous owner said that she didn’t want to move it and that there was a problem with the picture. We were more than happy to take the big screen television under our wings.
Unfortunately, there were more problems than we anticipated. There was not a slight problem with the picture. There was no picture at all. I didn’t even see snow static on the big screen television. Nothing worked.
The sound was also more than a slight problem. There was none of that, either. We have a relative who is handy with technological items and he was even stumped. After spending an afternoon with the big screen television he gave up and suggested that we consult a professional.
The professional wasn’t much help, either. He really doesn’t make house calls and he has to work on the big screen television in his work space. This makes perfect sense but what made us skip the visit is that he charges 150 bucks just to look at the thing. It costs even more to move the big screen television to the site, too.
We were gambling with the possibility to spending a few hundred dollars on an item that couldn’t be fixed. The cumbersome big screen television was beginning to become more of a burden than a lucky break. We were too disappointed for words.
Now there are LCD screens on the market and while they are a bit out of our budget, we may wait until we save up for this option instead. If you are going to invest in a big screen television you might as well save your money for something that you really want. It will be worth the wait.
We decided to go with another used big screen television in the meantime. We found a great deal from an advertisement in the newspaper. A local family was selling their big screen television because they got a new LCD screen. This new addition to our home is quite welcomed but we are still saving our pennies.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
Satellite TV
Satellite TV has been around for quite some time, but is now more accessible than ever. Gone are the days of huge dishes taking up half of the backyard, and having to buy a descrambler so that you could watch anything. Now satellite dishes are very small and mount to your roof or side of the house. There are various providers (Direct TV and Dish Satellite two of the most popular), just like cable television, and you can choose from a variety of packages so you can get the channels you want. Of course, we are so spoiled now with all the channels that we will continue to surf and still find nothing to watch. Just think of when we were kids, and had only three channels, ABC, CBS, NBC, and maybe PBS if we could get it in. Our kids have no idea how good they have it!
Satellite TV has an abundance of programming options available to fit your personal choices and tastes. Latin channels are also available for those that choose to watch in Spanish, and some movie channels broadcast in Spanish also. Satellite TV providers offer local programming, music channels such as Sirius satellite radio, CD music channels, and movie channels, such as Showtime, HBO, Cinemax, the Movie Channel, Encore, Starz, Sundance, Sci-fi and Beyond, Flix, Action, Love, Mystery, Drama, Wam, the Independent Film Channel, and more! Other popular channels such as E!, A&E, the History channel, Discovery, the Travel channel, VH1, MTV, Country Music TV, Fox, the Food channel, Home & Garden TV, Animal Planet, USA, TBS, TNT, FX, the TV Guide channel, TV Land, the Love channel, WE, Comedy Central, Style, the Gameshow channel, Biography, SciFi, Bravo, Oxygen, Black Entertainment TV, American Movie Classics, Turner Classic Movies, ESPN, CNN, MSNBC, the Outdoor channel, Spike TV, Nickelodeon, Disney channels, the Cartoon Network, Boom, Hallmark, TLC, Soap, Court TV, the Weather channel, Home Shopping Network, QVC, and many, many more! You’re just spoiled if you can’t find something to watch!
Satellite TV providers often entice new subscribers with offers of free equipment, free trial period, or free movie packages for a specified length of time. Satellite TV receivers now include DVR technology, or digital video recorder, so that you can record any program at any time without the hassles of tradition video recording. With this technology you can tape over a hundred hours of programming, save what you want, and delete what you don’t want. It’s great! You can even tape on one channel and watch something else on another channel, or a DVD if you’d like. Satellite TV is very inexpensive and subscriptions start under $20 per month. Cable companies usually charge much more, and the selection of channels is usually not as good either. Check out satellite TV today, see what you’re missing!
Satellite TV has an abundance of programming options available to fit your personal choices and tastes. Latin channels are also available for those that choose to watch in Spanish, and some movie channels broadcast in Spanish also. Satellite TV providers offer local programming, music channels such as Sirius satellite radio, CD music channels, and movie channels, such as Showtime, HBO, Cinemax, the Movie Channel, Encore, Starz, Sundance, Sci-fi and Beyond, Flix, Action, Love, Mystery, Drama, Wam, the Independent Film Channel, and more! Other popular channels such as E!, A&E, the History channel, Discovery, the Travel channel, VH1, MTV, Country Music TV, Fox, the Food channel, Home & Garden TV, Animal Planet, USA, TBS, TNT, FX, the TV Guide channel, TV Land, the Love channel, WE, Comedy Central, Style, the Gameshow channel, Biography, SciFi, Bravo, Oxygen, Black Entertainment TV, American Movie Classics, Turner Classic Movies, ESPN, CNN, MSNBC, the Outdoor channel, Spike TV, Nickelodeon, Disney channels, the Cartoon Network, Boom, Hallmark, TLC, Soap, Court TV, the Weather channel, Home Shopping Network, QVC, and many, many more! You’re just spoiled if you can’t find something to watch!
Satellite TV providers often entice new subscribers with offers of free equipment, free trial period, or free movie packages for a specified length of time. Satellite TV receivers now include DVR technology, or digital video recorder, so that you can record any program at any time without the hassles of tradition video recording. With this technology you can tape over a hundred hours of programming, save what you want, and delete what you don’t want. It’s great! You can even tape on one channel and watch something else on another channel, or a DVD if you’d like. Satellite TV is very inexpensive and subscriptions start under $20 per month. Cable companies usually charge much more, and the selection of channels is usually not as good either. Check out satellite TV today, see what you’re missing!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Direct TV Dish
Sure, out here on the West Coast we have these great, cheeky commercials that poke fun at competing technologies, those ads that point to the techno-wars between satellite dish and cable companies, including ComCast cable and the Direct TV dish, for example. One commercial, for instance, features a husband and wife: the wife is coming home from work, sees a huge hole in the tree, big enough for the satellite dish to send signals through, while the husband sits in the living room watching his TV and drinking from a container he rests n the tree cut-out table he has fashioned. Another commercial features a couple who are implicitly husband and wife or live-in boyfriend and girlfriend. In tandem they speak, as if to an interviewer (the television-viewing audience), and say things such as, “When it rained…the cable went out.” “When the wind blew…the cable went out.” [Or maybe it was the dish; I can’t recall exactly.]
While I didn’t do so intentionally or all that consciously, I found the opportunity to test both technologies. First, when I was living in an in-law, cottage type of unit, since the whole house was already wired for it, I subscribed to cable. I ended up spending a lot of money, as the way the company is set up—ahem—you have to buy the basic/standard package. Then, if you want to get any paid movie channels, you have to buy the superstar whatever package. But in order to get the superstar package you have to have the basic, first. I had fallen in love with a fantastic HBO show called “Six Feet Under”—for its writing, casting, acting, and ongoing unique and intriguing drama. So I had to get the enhanced package.
I don’t know if I was paranoid or overreacting, but the cable would go out on Sundays, the one night the show was on. Or it would go out late Monday night and take terrifying hours to come back. This happened a lot and it happened when there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
I moved in with a family, next, waiting for my ideal living situation to come up. They had a Direct TV dish—in a town where the wires are all above ground and the trees are still more in population than the wires or the Direct TV dishes, and where the weather is typically violent…windy, rainy, etc.. In other words, when it rained, the Direct TV dish went out, then would adjust itself by reloading, if you will, by reconnecting…in a matter of minutes. When the wind blew, the Direct TV dish went out. And when nothing was inclement or disastrous, sometimes, yes, the dish went out.
My point, I guess, is that we have super services that make themselves accessible and available, that spoil us with possibilities—hundreds of channels, friendly (usually) troubleshooters, and high definition and other appealing features. But we also have an overpopulation of humans and gadgets, unpredictable flora and fauna (that falls in predictable but harsh weather conditions), and a margin for error or failure that is inevitable enough to fallible humans creating, offering, running, and maintaining the technology we crave/depend on…enough, that is, to drive us nuts when we settle in to watch a 50-dollar-a-week show that is “sorry…temporarily unavailable.”
While I didn’t do so intentionally or all that consciously, I found the opportunity to test both technologies. First, when I was living in an in-law, cottage type of unit, since the whole house was already wired for it, I subscribed to cable. I ended up spending a lot of money, as the way the company is set up—ahem—you have to buy the basic/standard package. Then, if you want to get any paid movie channels, you have to buy the superstar whatever package. But in order to get the superstar package you have to have the basic, first. I had fallen in love with a fantastic HBO show called “Six Feet Under”—for its writing, casting, acting, and ongoing unique and intriguing drama. So I had to get the enhanced package.
I don’t know if I was paranoid or overreacting, but the cable would go out on Sundays, the one night the show was on. Or it would go out late Monday night and take terrifying hours to come back. This happened a lot and it happened when there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
I moved in with a family, next, waiting for my ideal living situation to come up. They had a Direct TV dish—in a town where the wires are all above ground and the trees are still more in population than the wires or the Direct TV dishes, and where the weather is typically violent…windy, rainy, etc.. In other words, when it rained, the Direct TV dish went out, then would adjust itself by reloading, if you will, by reconnecting…in a matter of minutes. When the wind blew, the Direct TV dish went out. And when nothing was inclement or disastrous, sometimes, yes, the dish went out.
My point, I guess, is that we have super services that make themselves accessible and available, that spoil us with possibilities—hundreds of channels, friendly (usually) troubleshooters, and high definition and other appealing features. But we also have an overpopulation of humans and gadgets, unpredictable flora and fauna (that falls in predictable but harsh weather conditions), and a margin for error or failure that is inevitable enough to fallible humans creating, offering, running, and maintaining the technology we crave/depend on…enough, that is, to drive us nuts when we settle in to watch a 50-dollar-a-week show that is “sorry…temporarily unavailable.”
Sunday, November 19, 2006
32 Inch Television
There is nothing sillier than walking into a tiny living room and seeing a 32 inch television. For some people, their television set is the center of their lives. It sits there, regardless of whether there's room for it or not, with huge, surround sound speakers. In times gone by, families used to gather around the radio. Now, it's the TV that dominates, sitting in splendor like an altar.
I would like to have a big, flat screen set with the latest state of the art HD quality and all the digital recording gizmos, but only if I had room for it. It would be great to watch sporting events on it and movies. The way things are going, everyone will have a mini cinema in their home. 32 inch television is just the tip of the iceberg. There are even bigger screens and they'll get bigger still. The big sets of a few years ago were really not worth buying, because the screen resolution was so poor, but that problem seems to have been solved now.
My family is usually about five years behind the times, in terms of technological development, so we haven't even got a widescreen yet. When we watch DVDs on our set, not only is it a mere 22 inch TV but there is an annoying gap at the top and the bottom of the picture. All the DVDs sold these days, are in the widescreen format. Even more than a 32 inch television, I'd like a screen that fits into the wall. The futuristic films of the 1960s and 1970s predicted a future where we would all own big, wall screens.
I find all the techno babble very confusing. I'm not technologically minded and I need these things explained to me as if I'm seven years old. As for setting the time recorder on the DVD player, I usually manage it after a period of trial and error and recording lots of programs I didn't want to watch. By the time we get our dream 32 inch television, it will be old fashioned and a dozen other innovations will have overtaken it.
I'm looking forward to the day when we can have one unit in the living room that serves all our entertainment and information needs. There will be one big box, built around the central 32 inch television. It will contain the computer, DVD player, internet access and games consoles. It will also answer the telephone, send faxes and make the coffee.
I would like to have a big, flat screen set with the latest state of the art HD quality and all the digital recording gizmos, but only if I had room for it. It would be great to watch sporting events on it and movies. The way things are going, everyone will have a mini cinema in their home. 32 inch television is just the tip of the iceberg. There are even bigger screens and they'll get bigger still. The big sets of a few years ago were really not worth buying, because the screen resolution was so poor, but that problem seems to have been solved now.
My family is usually about five years behind the times, in terms of technological development, so we haven't even got a widescreen yet. When we watch DVDs on our set, not only is it a mere 22 inch TV but there is an annoying gap at the top and the bottom of the picture. All the DVDs sold these days, are in the widescreen format. Even more than a 32 inch television, I'd like a screen that fits into the wall. The futuristic films of the 1960s and 1970s predicted a future where we would all own big, wall screens.
I find all the techno babble very confusing. I'm not technologically minded and I need these things explained to me as if I'm seven years old. As for setting the time recorder on the DVD player, I usually manage it after a period of trial and error and recording lots of programs I didn't want to watch. By the time we get our dream 32 inch television, it will be old fashioned and a dozen other innovations will have overtaken it.
I'm looking forward to the day when we can have one unit in the living room that serves all our entertainment and information needs. There will be one big box, built around the central 32 inch television. It will contain the computer, DVD player, internet access and games consoles. It will also answer the telephone, send faxes and make the coffee.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Cable Television
Cable television is a great source for entertainment, offering a large number of channels and special features like On Demand that put nearly any program on the tips of your fingers whenever it is convenient. The service is ideal for just about every family who enjoys movies and family programs. Cable television offers something for everyone, even teachers.
I discovered the value of cable television in the classroom when I worked as a long-term substitute teacher for a local high school. I was recruited to replace a teacher who was sent overseas during the beginning of the conflict in Iraq. His sudden departure left the school desperately looking for an adequate replacement. I was the adequate replacement.
Since I was an English teacher, I was not the ideal candidate for the job. The teacher who was called away taught Political Science and Economics. Although I am a history buff and I keep pretty current on events, I am no professional when it comes to either Political Science or Economics. Fortunately, the staff and administration worked closely with me to help make the transition from English teacher to Poly Sci and Economics teacher.
One of the most valuable resources was cable television. There were a number of great programs available through the History Channel and The Learning Channel that helped me create interesting and relevant lesson plans. The programs were available through the Cable in the Classroom resource available to our schools. The students looked forward to seeing the engaging programs and I was able to effectively use the programs as a valuable learning tool.
When we think about education, cable television does not immediately pop into mind, but the quality programming available really helped the school, the students and my self through the difficult time. Cable television offers web resources that are presented at the touch of a button. These resources became an extremely valuable tool for our class. Students were able to use the search engine to find programs specific to the lessons.
Allowing student to become actively involved in selecting programs demonstrated that they recognized key concepts and it was a powerful motivator. As each unit came to a close, students who earned enough credits were allowed to help me choose programs and organize them into the lesson review. This process was very effective and students worked very hard to have the honor of choosing programs.
After a few months, the school district found a Social Studies teacher who could work with the class. I will never forget the collaborative effort among my peers and among the students to make the class run smoothly. From what I hear, the new teacher continued to use cable television as a learning tool in his class.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Digital TV In The UK
Starting in 2008 and ending in 2012, UK TV services will go completely digital region by region. This process is being referred to as the digital switchover.
Basically the current analogue tv signal will be switched off and replaced by a new digital signal. When the signal is switched from analogue to digital tv, any television or vcr that is not compatible with the new digital tv signal will no longer receive programmes.
There are currently several ways of getting digital tv broadcasts. Satellite from Sky is the most well known. This is a subscription service.
With a one off purchase of a set top box, tv viewers can enjoy 30 free channels but these set top boxes do not work in some regions of the UK.
Freesat offer 30 free channels and 30 free digital radio channels after a one off payment for the minidish and set top box. There is no subscription or contract.
As the big digital switchover approaches, many people in the UK are confused by what the change to digital TV in the UK actually means to them. Hopefully, you are a little wiser now, but don't forget to check here often for information and updates about digital tv.
Basically the current analogue tv signal will be switched off and replaced by a new digital signal. When the signal is switched from analogue to digital tv, any television or vcr that is not compatible with the new digital tv signal will no longer receive programmes.
There are currently several ways of getting digital tv broadcasts. Satellite from Sky is the most well known. This is a subscription service.
With a one off purchase of a set top box, tv viewers can enjoy 30 free channels but these set top boxes do not work in some regions of the UK.
Freesat offer 30 free channels and 30 free digital radio channels after a one off payment for the minidish and set top box. There is no subscription or contract.
As the big digital switchover approaches, many people in the UK are confused by what the change to digital TV in the UK actually means to them. Hopefully, you are a little wiser now, but don't forget to check here often for information and updates about digital tv.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Ready To Upgrade To High Definition Television?
An article about high definition television.
Regardless of what you enjoy watching these days, you would probably prefer to do it on a high definition television. I mean come on, who wouldn't? We all want that pristine picture when we're viewing our favorite shows, sports or films. The good news is that these days you can acquire a high definition tv for a rather affordable price. They are not just for the rich people any longer.
Do you have a high definition television? I mean one of the flat panel, wide screens that hang beautifully on the wall. Those babies are the bomb! If you haven't experienced one yet, then you had better get with it. This can truly change the way you view television. You've probably already noticed that some TV shows are presented in high definition and widescreen. This is where home entertainment is headed folks. You need that high definition television to keep up with the times.
Read more on high definition television for the latest news and facts on HDTV.
Regardless of what you enjoy watching these days, you would probably prefer to do it on a high definition television. I mean come on, who wouldn't? We all want that pristine picture when we're viewing our favorite shows, sports or films. The good news is that these days you can acquire a high definition tv for a rather affordable price. They are not just for the rich people any longer.
Do you have a high definition television? I mean one of the flat panel, wide screens that hang beautifully on the wall. Those babies are the bomb! If you haven't experienced one yet, then you had better get with it. This can truly change the way you view television. You've probably already noticed that some TV shows are presented in high definition and widescreen. This is where home entertainment is headed folks. You need that high definition television to keep up with the times.
Read more on high definition television for the latest news and facts on HDTV.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Plasma Screen Television
I have wanted a new plasma television for years now, but up to this point, I did not know what it even was. All I knew is that plasma televisions are the newest in high tech, and that they have a picture that is out of this world. I do not know what it was that inspired this craze for a plasma screen television, but it is certainly not the first time that I have had a serious high tech jones in my life. I have always been a sucker for the latest electronic gizmo, be it plasma screen television or personal computer, and I guess that this is just simply one more case of the same.
I will not bore you with all of the technical details, but it turns out that plasma screen televisions are really quite as good as I had always thought. Although it is true that a plasma screen television is not the end all and be all of high tech, it is also true that it is one of the best ways to go. But lately, I have been questioning my priorities. I have known for some time that my old color television has to go. It could scarcely even be called a color tv anymore, because the quality of the picture has degraded so far. But what should I use to replace it with? Do I really have to spend the thousand bucks or so that it will take to get a nice, big plasma screen television? A couple years ago, I would have said yes without even a second thought. I would be watching that plasma screen television instead of writing this, but then a couple years ago, all I did was to sit on my fat behind and watch movies. I think that I can do better than that now, but I do not think that a plasma screen television will really encourage me in the right direction with my life.
Then again, a new plasma screen television has its advantages. No one ever comes over to my house to watch the big game because my old tv is so lousy, but with a brand new plasma screen television, I would be the hit of the party. Everyone would be dying to watch all of the plays in sharp detail on the new plasma screen tv. I guess that, in that way, the plasma screen television would really improve my life. Maybe I should buy a plasma screen television after all.
I will not bore you with all of the technical details, but it turns out that plasma screen televisions are really quite as good as I had always thought. Although it is true that a plasma screen television is not the end all and be all of high tech, it is also true that it is one of the best ways to go. But lately, I have been questioning my priorities. I have known for some time that my old color television has to go. It could scarcely even be called a color tv anymore, because the quality of the picture has degraded so far. But what should I use to replace it with? Do I really have to spend the thousand bucks or so that it will take to get a nice, big plasma screen television? A couple years ago, I would have said yes without even a second thought. I would be watching that plasma screen television instead of writing this, but then a couple years ago, all I did was to sit on my fat behind and watch movies. I think that I can do better than that now, but I do not think that a plasma screen television will really encourage me in the right direction with my life.
Then again, a new plasma screen television has its advantages. No one ever comes over to my house to watch the big game because my old tv is so lousy, but with a brand new plasma screen television, I would be the hit of the party. Everyone would be dying to watch all of the plays in sharp detail on the new plasma screen tv. I guess that, in that way, the plasma screen television would really improve my life. Maybe I should buy a plasma screen television after all.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Finding The Right Tv Wall Mount
There are a few options to consider when choosing which tv wall mount will suit your needs.
The first option is not for the faint at heart. Nor is it for anyone who doesn’t like to do home improvement tasks in general. However, you can make a beautiful tv wall mount that is specific to your tastes and is specific to your needs with very few materials and relatively little time.
The second option is visiting a store like Best Buy or Wal-Mart in the flesh. Many people who aren’t crazy about getting out the measuring tape and table saw may find that they prefer entering a store and viewing the tv wall mounts that are offered right off of the shelves.
The third option is surfing the net for your ideal tv wall mount. This option is very appealing to the generally lazy individual like my self. I love the idea of making virtual visits to any number of stores at the click of a mouse. Sites like Biz Rate will offer price comparisons for many different stores, so you can save even more time by going straight to the price-comparison site. You can have a brand new tv wall mount sent directly to your home in no time at all.
The first option is not for the faint at heart. Nor is it for anyone who doesn’t like to do home improvement tasks in general. However, you can make a beautiful tv wall mount that is specific to your tastes and is specific to your needs with very few materials and relatively little time.
The second option is visiting a store like Best Buy or Wal-Mart in the flesh. Many people who aren’t crazy about getting out the measuring tape and table saw may find that they prefer entering a store and viewing the tv wall mounts that are offered right off of the shelves.
The third option is surfing the net for your ideal tv wall mount. This option is very appealing to the generally lazy individual like my self. I love the idea of making virtual visits to any number of stores at the click of a mouse. Sites like Biz Rate will offer price comparisons for many different stores, so you can save even more time by going straight to the price-comparison site. You can have a brand new tv wall mount sent directly to your home in no time at all.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Big Screen TV Entertainment Centers
When I first moved into my own home, my wife and I were in search of the perfect big screen TV entertainment center. We searched all of the electronic superstores. After getting all of the up-close and personal info, we then turned to the Internet for options. The World-Wide-Web has big screen TV entertainment centers galore. If you're beginning your search for a big screen TV entertainment center, this is the first place to look. While I'm glad we did some browsing in stores, I much preferred the Internet prices and deals.
Finding those ideal big screen TV entertainment centers for your home can be tricky. However, the Internet offers many reviews from previous customers. This is a key source in finding out how things truly perform. That 50 inch flat screen might not work as well as you hoped. Check out some feedback online, and get a good understanding of what prices are reasonable and who's trying to rip you off. That big screen TV entertainment center purchase can cost you some bucks, so spend them wisely.
Finding those ideal big screen TV entertainment centers for your home can be tricky. However, the Internet offers many reviews from previous customers. This is a key source in finding out how things truly perform. That 50 inch flat screen might not work as well as you hoped. Check out some feedback online, and get a good understanding of what prices are reasonable and who's trying to rip you off. That big screen TV entertainment center purchase can cost you some bucks, so spend them wisely.
Plasma Television
Plasma televisions have come along way since they hit the stores several years back. We certainly don't have to spend seven grand to get one anymore. This always seems to be the case with new innovations. They are released onto the shelves with prices suited for a King's wallet, which only makes people want them more. I remember when the Playstation 2 came out and very few were available. My brother paid 500 for one. It's bizarre how some people are affected by toys. Regardless of the beginning of plasma televisions, they have certainly become more attainable. For less than a third of the price, we can have a quality, big screen gracing our living room wall. It is hard not to fall in love with the incomparable picture quality and crisp sound. Plasma televisions offer us a movie theater effect in the privacy of our own home.
One of the great new features with the flat panel and plasma television is the wall mount option. While many may still prefer their TV standing in the corner or on an armoire, some of us like it out of the way. Not just our way, but harms way as well. If you have kids or pets, you can appreciate this concept. The plasma television can be mounted like a picture in any room you wish. This also gives you that movie theater effect. It's great to have the additional space, because depending on the size of plasma television you're interested in, size can be an issue in your placing of it. Whereas putting it on the wall eliminates this concern. No matter your preference, you don't have to be concerned with installing your 50 inch plasma television, since most suppliers will do it for you.
One of the great new features with the flat panel and plasma television is the wall mount option. While many may still prefer their TV standing in the corner or on an armoire, some of us like it out of the way. Not just our way, but harms way as well. If you have kids or pets, you can appreciate this concept. The plasma television can be mounted like a picture in any room you wish. This also gives you that movie theater effect. It's great to have the additional space, because depending on the size of plasma television you're interested in, size can be an issue in your placing of it. Whereas putting it on the wall eliminates this concern. No matter your preference, you don't have to be concerned with installing your 50 inch plasma television, since most suppliers will do it for you.
Digital TV versus HDTV
Just when the difference between HDTV and DTV started to make sense, consumers started hearing about the many different kinds of digital TV. In fact, there are 18 different forms of broadcasting for DTV. The definitions applied to each usually describe the amount of scan lines and scan formats. For example, 480i means that the digital image is transmitting 240 lines of the picture in tenths of a second and the other 240 lines in the next tenth of a second. The small letter I that follows the number means that the picture 'interlaces' both sets of lines to create the whole image. One can think of one set of lines as even and the other as odd. 480i is just one of the ways by which digital TV is transmitted to our TV sets.
Read more about Digital TV versus HDTV
Read more about Digital TV versus HDTV
Cable TV
These days, if you don't have cable TV, you probably have a sattelite dish or something to suffice. We love the options we get with home entertainment. The channels seem to go on forever. Cable TV took us from the standard CBS, NBC, and ABC to a plethora of choices. No longer would television be PG rated at all times. We suddenly had options of music and movies. With a couple hundred channels, you'd surely find something to watch.
While many of us love the benefits of cable TV, some still complain that they are suffocated with channels, but yet nothing is on worth watching. Well, this has been somewhat fixed in recent times. We now have Tivo. If there is something you like coming on, record it! This is one of the coolest inventions ever. Pause the show you're watching. What a great concept. You make the schedule now. No more waiting around for your favorite shows. You can go out and do as you please without missing your favorites. Once I tried this option through Time Warner, I could not live without it. Forget the movie channels. I just want Tivo.
While many of us love the benefits of cable TV, some still complain that they are suffocated with channels, but yet nothing is on worth watching. Well, this has been somewhat fixed in recent times. We now have Tivo. If there is something you like coming on, record it! This is one of the coolest inventions ever. Pause the show you're watching. What a great concept. You make the schedule now. No more waiting around for your favorite shows. You can go out and do as you please without missing your favorites. Once I tried this option through Time Warner, I could not live without it. Forget the movie channels. I just want Tivo.
Who Needs A Home Theater System
First, those who are avid moviegoers should definitely think about investing in a home theater. The ability to bring the movies into the home allows us to avoid all of the hassles and annoyances that seem to plague us every time we wander in to the local mega-plex.
Second, you should take a serious look at how often you are home and how much of that time would be spent watching television programs or movies. In today's society, it seems as though many of us are constantly on the go. Consider not only how often you are home but also how often you would be home if a home theater system was added to the mix.
Read the full article Who Needs A Home Theater System
Second, you should take a serious look at how often you are home and how much of that time would be spent watching television programs or movies. In today's society, it seems as though many of us are constantly on the go. Consider not only how often you are home but also how often you would be home if a home theater system was added to the mix.
Read the full article Who Needs A Home Theater System
Big Screen Television
Big screen televisions are altars to 21st century middle class life in a post industrial culture. While it may seem strange or extreme to some people, I find myself performing religious rituals in front of my big screen television on a regular basis. While my girlfriend never seems to understand, my neighbors sometimes do, and they will occasionally join me in one of these religious ceremonies. These big screen television religious ceremonies are sometimes referred to as ‘game days’, and are also sometimes more specifically known as The World Series and the Super Bowl.
Any sports fan will know the kind of ceremonies I’m referring to. Big screen televisions also make being a movie fan a sheer joy as well. With a 5.1 surround sound set up or better, a big screen television can make watching movies at home almost as good as the theatre. In some ways a lot better, because you don’t have to wait in line, pay $10.50, and then watch a half an hour of loud and obnoxious ads and previews.
All of your favorite television shows seem somehow a lot better when you’re watching them on a big screen television.
Any sports fan will know the kind of ceremonies I’m referring to. Big screen televisions also make being a movie fan a sheer joy as well. With a 5.1 surround sound set up or better, a big screen television can make watching movies at home almost as good as the theatre. In some ways a lot better, because you don’t have to wait in line, pay $10.50, and then watch a half an hour of loud and obnoxious ads and previews.
All of your favorite television shows seem somehow a lot better when you’re watching them on a big screen television.
Portable TV
If you are like most regular youngsters in the US of A, you probably have a big axe to grind with your family. Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean to suggest that you are a misfit or socially challenged. All I mean to say is that you probably have running feuds with your parents, siblings, friends and even other relatives when it comes to watching and enjoying television programs. You’ve tried to resolve these through discussions, have had frequent fights and shouting matches on who gets to control the remote control and have even threatened to break the set just to get your way. But have you ever seriously considered getting yourself, and all others who need it, a portable TV? Maybe you should.
A portable TV is also a godsend for families filled with remote control huggers or people with widely different TV watching habits and preferences. Consider my family. Dad loves to numb his brain by watching news channels and business reports. Mom loves her Oprah and soaps. My elder sister loves MTV and assorted music channels. I myself am a fan of the National geographic network. If you brought all of us in front of the television, there would in all probability be bloody wars. It was after one such war (which I lost miserably) that I decided to get myself a portable TV.
A portable TV is also a godsend for families filled with remote control huggers or people with widely different TV watching habits and preferences. Consider my family. Dad loves to numb his brain by watching news channels and business reports. Mom loves her Oprah and soaps. My elder sister loves MTV and assorted music channels. I myself am a fan of the National geographic network. If you brought all of us in front of the television, there would in all probability be bloody wars. It was after one such war (which I lost miserably) that I decided to get myself a portable TV.
Cable Television
The cable television industry is not new. It is reputed to have begun in the year 1948, when it made an appearance as an alternative to the state owned and operated television stations. Initially though, cable television was little more than local channels operated by individuals to provide their community and the surrounding regions with news, views and activities that the national television channels would either not cover or skip altogether. In order to make the business viable, most cable television operators also screened movies. This is the humble service that has grown to become the Home Box Office or HBO that we know and enjoy today. Most of these early cable operators also operated a shopping channel where locally produced goods and services could be offered to local communities. This too has grown unimaginably to become the Tele Shopping Network of today.
The cable television world of today is a multi billion dollar industry. With hundreds of channels offering a variety of programs and entertainment to cater to differing and diverse needs, it has become a mammoth service that is a far cry from the video based programming of yester years. In fact, the innovations in technology have enabled cable television to become the medium of choice for the delivery of modern day content such as video on demand, interactive telephony, and even high speed cable broadband internet services! Cable television is therefore no longer synonymous with video. It is a hub for entertainment, education and communication.
The cable television world of today is a multi billion dollar industry. With hundreds of channels offering a variety of programs and entertainment to cater to differing and diverse needs, it has become a mammoth service that is a far cry from the video based programming of yester years. In fact, the innovations in technology have enabled cable television to become the medium of choice for the delivery of modern day content such as video on demand, interactive telephony, and even high speed cable broadband internet services! Cable television is therefore no longer synonymous with video. It is a hub for entertainment, education and communication.
How Much Does An HDTV Set Cost
Previously a HDTV home theater could only be found in millionaire movie stars and producer's homes. Now with all the new equipment on the market, it's possible to set up your home theater without spending millions, so how much does an hdtv set cost?
Before you think you will never be able to afford your own HDTV and be able to take advantage of the many quality features, there is another way you can enjoy digital broadcasts. You can purchase a set top digital decoder that will convert digital signals to something you can see on your TV. It won't be as detailed or as sharp as a true HDTV set, but even on a regular analog TV these pictures will still look better than your current television picture. They will look like the pictures you get from a DVD player, digital cable, or satellite service.
Read the full article How Much Does An HDTV Set Cost
Before you think you will never be able to afford your own HDTV and be able to take advantage of the many quality features, there is another way you can enjoy digital broadcasts. You can purchase a set top digital decoder that will convert digital signals to something you can see on your TV. It won't be as detailed or as sharp as a true HDTV set, but even on a regular analog TV these pictures will still look better than your current television picture. They will look like the pictures you get from a DVD player, digital cable, or satellite service.
Read the full article How Much Does An HDTV Set Cost
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Home Theater Seating
Your basic home theater chair has woven fabric and a frame made of wood covered with black laminate. These woven chairs come in several colors, including black, maroon, purple, navy, hunter green and classic cardinal. The chairs are available individually for around $400, with a small discount per chair if ordered in rows. The chairs can be upgraded to velour, Nusuede (a synthetic suede) or leather for an additional cost. For the velour or Nusuede upgrade, the estimated cost is an additional $150 per chair. For leather, the cost increase is up to $600 per chair. Most basic chairs come with cup holders, as this is a popular feature for home theater enthusiasts. Basic chairs come with all the parts necessary to mount directly the floor or to risers. If you are not planning on mounting these chairs to the floor, it is recommended that you order a floor plate to help stabilize the bottom of the chairs. Floor plates retail for around $70 depending on the manufacturer.
Get more information on Home Theater Seating
Get more information on Home Theater Seating
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Rear Projection TV
If you are really into television, that the bigger the screen the better, right? If you feel that way about your television viewing, then no doubt you are considering moving up to the big, big televisions that are now available in the market.
While most of the recent interest is on flat screens and LCD screens, improvements in rear projection TV makes this a wise purchase to consider. Advances in the quality of the picture using rear projection TV make this a reasonable and less expensive alternative to the big flat screen televisions.
What is rear projection television? The term comes from the fact that the rear projection TV sends the image onto the viewing screen from behind the screen. When you are in a movie theater, the image in projected onto the front of the screen. That is why the projector is behind the audience in a movie theater.
Advances in the technology of rear projection TV provide a variety of models that have never been available before. Your normal television set probably uses a CRT or cathode ray tube to project the image. Many rear projection TV use the same technology. These units are quite large though when you increase the screen size very much. There are offsetting picture quality benefits. You may get better blacks and colors, but if the image is not properly aligned, this type and rear projection TV can produce improper color blending.
Another type of rear projection TV is based on a Liquid Crystal Display. However, this is not the same as the LCD used in a flat panel screen. This type of rear projection TV offers many advantages including that the size of the unit is quite small in comparison to the CRT models. There is high contrast and brightness in the LCD based rear projection TV picture. Some disadvantages also exist. I will not go into the 'technical' but sometimes the image looks a little fuzzy, described as trying to watch TV while looking through a screen door.
Perhaps the newest rear projection TV technology is called Digital Light Processing. As the name implies, your television image is digitized and computerized and whatever else high technology does, but you get a great picture quality without some of the disadvantages of the other types. Problems with this type of rear projection TV is that include what is called the 'rainbow' effect if you move you eyes quickly from the TV to the surrounding room.
Find a reputable dealer, explain your viewing needs, and look at the different types of rear projection TV yourself. There is no reason not to have the best and biggest viewing experience with all this new technology in the rear projection TV.
While most of the recent interest is on flat screens and LCD screens, improvements in rear projection TV makes this a wise purchase to consider. Advances in the quality of the picture using rear projection TV make this a reasonable and less expensive alternative to the big flat screen televisions.
What is rear projection television? The term comes from the fact that the rear projection TV sends the image onto the viewing screen from behind the screen. When you are in a movie theater, the image in projected onto the front of the screen. That is why the projector is behind the audience in a movie theater.
Advances in the technology of rear projection TV provide a variety of models that have never been available before. Your normal television set probably uses a CRT or cathode ray tube to project the image. Many rear projection TV use the same technology. These units are quite large though when you increase the screen size very much. There are offsetting picture quality benefits. You may get better blacks and colors, but if the image is not properly aligned, this type and rear projection TV can produce improper color blending.
Another type of rear projection TV is based on a Liquid Crystal Display. However, this is not the same as the LCD used in a flat panel screen. This type of rear projection TV offers many advantages including that the size of the unit is quite small in comparison to the CRT models. There is high contrast and brightness in the LCD based rear projection TV picture. Some disadvantages also exist. I will not go into the 'technical' but sometimes the image looks a little fuzzy, described as trying to watch TV while looking through a screen door.
Perhaps the newest rear projection TV technology is called Digital Light Processing. As the name implies, your television image is digitized and computerized and whatever else high technology does, but you get a great picture quality without some of the disadvantages of the other types. Problems with this type of rear projection TV is that include what is called the 'rainbow' effect if you move you eyes quickly from the TV to the surrounding room.
Find a reputable dealer, explain your viewing needs, and look at the different types of rear projection TV yourself. There is no reason not to have the best and biggest viewing experience with all this new technology in the rear projection TV.
Web TV
Recent news reports indicating that popular Internet monoliths like Google and Yahoo are getting into the Web TV sphere has indicated a lot of interest. After all, these are two of the most popular search engines that rule the Internet. And they, above all others, realize the value of content in this search crazy world. So if they are entering what has for long been considered a technology enabled dream, there must be something to I right? Several mainstream and trade publications have been reporting this as a trend, and as a fore runner of things to come. Other Web TV specialists have been touting these developments or rather, announcements of Web TV developments as the one thing that will change the way we view the Internet. But it is and will remain a natural progression.
For when the web initially came on the seen these same specialists predicted the death of traditional print and television. We have all lived through that phase and have only seen both print and television survive and thrive. But Web TV has always existed in the realm of the possible. The technology available earlier was insufficient to create and sustain Web TV content. But more people have broadband connection today than five years ago. More people are streaming and receiving interactive web content than ever before. Most regular TV broadcasters have web exclusive websites. And all of this comes together to make Web TV much more than mere fantasy. Web TV today is a realization of a dream that the today’s interactive technology has made possible.
One of the biggest players in the newly emerging Web TV market is the media conglomerate Microsoft. SMNTV is the Web TV arm of this large corporate and have been inventing several innovative concepts to bring Web TV and Web TV content to your home. MSN Web TV is capable of integrating video, audio, e-mail and even text messages, and bringing them onto your regular television set. You can surf for the latest and the best entertainment. You can use the large screen display of your television monitor to access, read and send e-mail. You can surf online, shop and even search the Internet and its vast content from your regular television. You can also view and share photos, indulge in instant messaging, and use your television as a networking tool. What’s more! You can also enjoy music and video downloads that are Windows Media player compatible on your regular television set. Your good old television, which has been getting better and better in any case, can now be a super-charged, turbo television that does a whole lot more. All it takes is a set top box, a regular internet connectivity plan and you are set to blast on to the Web TV world! This interactivity is what makes Web TV the most hyped invention around.
Several Americans are already enjoying the benefits of Web TV. Websites like www.wwitv.com, www.webtv.com and several others already offer a wealth of information on Web TV and on-demand TV in the USA and other parts of the world. Music, news, sports and several other ‘channels’ of choice are already available as Web TV content and it is only time before other channels crop up. So, why stay out of the loop. Discover how you too can be a part of the Web TV sphere today!
For when the web initially came on the seen these same specialists predicted the death of traditional print and television. We have all lived through that phase and have only seen both print and television survive and thrive. But Web TV has always existed in the realm of the possible. The technology available earlier was insufficient to create and sustain Web TV content. But more people have broadband connection today than five years ago. More people are streaming and receiving interactive web content than ever before. Most regular TV broadcasters have web exclusive websites. And all of this comes together to make Web TV much more than mere fantasy. Web TV today is a realization of a dream that the today’s interactive technology has made possible.
One of the biggest players in the newly emerging Web TV market is the media conglomerate Microsoft. SMNTV is the Web TV arm of this large corporate and have been inventing several innovative concepts to bring Web TV and Web TV content to your home. MSN Web TV is capable of integrating video, audio, e-mail and even text messages, and bringing them onto your regular television set. You can surf for the latest and the best entertainment. You can use the large screen display of your television monitor to access, read and send e-mail. You can surf online, shop and even search the Internet and its vast content from your regular television. You can also view and share photos, indulge in instant messaging, and use your television as a networking tool. What’s more! You can also enjoy music and video downloads that are Windows Media player compatible on your regular television set. Your good old television, which has been getting better and better in any case, can now be a super-charged, turbo television that does a whole lot more. All it takes is a set top box, a regular internet connectivity plan and you are set to blast on to the Web TV world! This interactivity is what makes Web TV the most hyped invention around.
Several Americans are already enjoying the benefits of Web TV. Websites like www.wwitv.com, www.webtv.com and several others already offer a wealth of information on Web TV and on-demand TV in the USA and other parts of the world. Music, news, sports and several other ‘channels’ of choice are already available as Web TV content and it is only time before other channels crop up. So, why stay out of the loop. Discover how you too can be a part of the Web TV sphere today!
Monday, October 02, 2006
Cheap Big Screens
It’s getting easier and easier to find cheap big screens today, both for televisions and computer monitors. With all the new technologies available for display devices, the old technologies are cheaper than ever. If you can stand the size and bulkiness, you can get really cheap big screens for much less than just a handful of years ago. The really expensive screens today are all LCD or plasma technology, which has made less demand for the older CRT stuff.
I don’t really mind the bulkiness so much. Personally, I think I’d much rather have a cheap big screen CRT TV or monitor than a more expensive, smaller LCD or plasma display. Furthermore, LCD and plasma screens are still suffering from a lot of technical issues, whereas the older CRT technology is very reliable.
There’s a lot of good places to find cheap big screens these days, giving you plenty options. I usually do my initial shopping online to get a quick feel for prices and availabilities. You can get pretty good prices ordering cheap big screens directly from their manufacturers. Looking on Sharps home page, for instance, I see a lot of great deals there. Of course the down side is you have to pay for shipping, which can be a lot for such a big item. For this reason I don’t usually buy things like cheap big screens via the internet, but use it mostly just to get a feel for current pricing trends.
One of my favorite places to check out cheap big screens is at Costco, or other warehouse style wholesalers. Costco doesn’t really ever have a great selection, but they’ve always got at least a couple models of just about anything you’d ever want in. I don’t normally go to Costco just to get something like a cheap big screen TV but whenever I’m there I certainly check out what they have.
Fry’s electronics is another good store to check out if you have one near you. Unfortunately, I don’t, so I have to drive for nearly an hour to get to one. Whenever I find myself near one, however, I always make a quick stop inside to see what kind of deals they have. I always see a pretty big selection of cheap big screen TVs and monitors whenever I’m in there, and their prices are always in line with everything I see online, so I think they’re a pretty good store to start with if you can.
I don’t really mind the bulkiness so much. Personally, I think I’d much rather have a cheap big screen CRT TV or monitor than a more expensive, smaller LCD or plasma display. Furthermore, LCD and plasma screens are still suffering from a lot of technical issues, whereas the older CRT technology is very reliable.
There’s a lot of good places to find cheap big screens these days, giving you plenty options. I usually do my initial shopping online to get a quick feel for prices and availabilities. You can get pretty good prices ordering cheap big screens directly from their manufacturers. Looking on Sharps home page, for instance, I see a lot of great deals there. Of course the down side is you have to pay for shipping, which can be a lot for such a big item. For this reason I don’t usually buy things like cheap big screens via the internet, but use it mostly just to get a feel for current pricing trends.
One of my favorite places to check out cheap big screens is at Costco, or other warehouse style wholesalers. Costco doesn’t really ever have a great selection, but they’ve always got at least a couple models of just about anything you’d ever want in. I don’t normally go to Costco just to get something like a cheap big screen TV but whenever I’m there I certainly check out what they have.
Fry’s electronics is another good store to check out if you have one near you. Unfortunately, I don’t, so I have to drive for nearly an hour to get to one. Whenever I find myself near one, however, I always make a quick stop inside to see what kind of deals they have. I always see a pretty big selection of cheap big screen TVs and monitors whenever I’m in there, and their prices are always in line with everything I see online, so I think they’re a pretty good store to start with if you can.
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