Home Theatres

“I thought about that. I wonder if it wouldn't be better to wait until the HD DVD and Blue Ray battle is over with.”

“Heck, I just checked at Amazon and the HD DVD isn't that expensive. $125 or so.

I gotta get a DVR first though. We had 2 locations setup with HD when Dish came and they couldn't also give us the DVR too. Turns out the DVR box with HD is another $200. I ordered it 2 weeks ago, but they were going to have to call back so I could give them the box #. I was at work and didn't know it. They've obviously not logged in to call us and I keep forgetting to call them to get it setup.”

“Here's the CD/DVD I was considering. Any comment from you that are in the know?”

“ummm dayhiker - was there supposed to be a link in that post of yours?”

“

Yall are supposed to figure this stuff out, LOL

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-DVP-NC85H-Progressive-5-Disc-Changer/dp/B000EDK8XC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1201023690&sr=8-2”

“dayhiker - If money is an issue, I'd recommend getting a blu-ray player that upconverts SD disks. Otherwise, you can pick up that one, later get HD, and that's a great SD player feature and quality wise.”

“I wonder if it wouldn't be better to wait until the HD DVD and Blue Ray battle is over with.

For the most part, it is. Blu-ray is victorious. We're just waiting for HD to resign at this point.

I have both formats, btw, so I'm not a Blu-Ray fanboy.”

“Will they play standard DVD's?
last edited: 1/22/08 9:56:44 AM”

“Yes. That's what the "SD" referrs to above.

I didn't review this, but for reference notice the Sony PS3 is a great player. That's what I have.

For a "few bucks more" (often, less), you get a Blu-ray player which does GREAT upconversion of SD disks, AND is a game player.

Even if you don't play games, you can use it as a media player, internet surfing appliance, etc... but you will play games. LOL

http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-6463_7-6509000.html”

“I was thinking about running the 2nd zone to our deck. Figures that we just had a new exterior put on and it would have been the perfect time to run the lines, but I didn't think about it. Oh well, nothing a drill with a long bit won't fix. I might also run the 2nd zone to the kitchen, but I'm torn. We can't see the TV from the kitchen and while I would like to at least listen to the news, family discussion is more important especially as our kids get older. We are one of those (now rare) families that almost always has dinner together.”

“ps - I think that's the more expensive PS3 on there, so you can save even more $ if you want by going with the cheeper model. (I wouldn't recommend that)”

“I plan on using the 2nd zone for the same purpose tech (the deck/pool ...), but will use wireless speakers most likely so I can position them to different locations throughout the yard (and house) if need be.”

“I had thought about the PS3 as an option. That's what a co-worker does. For some reason I felt funny doing that after just buying a Wii. I know one has nothing to do with the other, it just seemed weird. A PS3 would look awesome on the big TV and the surround sound. I think my wife would kill. I guess that leads me to the real reason of being PS3 skeptical 8)

tech - I bounced emails with a crutchfield guy a good bit and there is another thing you can buy, hook up to the receiver, and wind up with 4 zones. I'm going to look into that at a later date, but it would be awesome to fun speakers in that kitchen/hearth room and also into the MBR or Mbath.

I'm probably going to have more bluray questions. That may be something to consider come April. 4/15 I have taxes 07, first qtr 08, and retirement funding due. It's a fun day and I horde cash until it's over. I'm nervous as a cat til then.”

“family discussion is more important especially as our kids get older. We are one of those (now rare) families that almost always has dinner together.”
techntrek
1:02:06 PM

maybe your second zone could be digital pix of your children and when they talk their mouths move

(sidebar, i'm reading shmuley boteach's parenting with fire, you seem to be living the kind of life he talks about in there)”

“dayhiker - I've got a wii, ps3 and Xbox 360. The wii is great for parties. So is the 360. So is the PS3.”

“ps - I love my wife.”

“We just finished a playroom upstairs and she's very excited that the wii and PS2 got moved to the playroom. If I gave a, btw, let's buy a ps3 I think she'd have a stroke. Actually, we joked about it at lunch. After the DVR comes I'm going to start looking more seriously into the different options. The main reason a changer like the one I linked interests me is I can see getting more use out of the CD part of it. She'd could load it up and have it running during the day. We don't rent lots of movies and the ones we do get tend to involve Disney a high percentage of the time.”

“With the PS3, you could load ALL your CDs onto your computer, and stream from there.

:-)

Seriously though I load my music on the computer and stream it. The PS3 now let's you make playlists. No CDs required.
last edited: 1/22/08 11:37:35 AM”

“Disney is blu-ray, btw.

:-)”

“Hmmm, the receiver does have the option of docking an iPod to it. 'course, I don't have one of those yet either.”

“HD DVD is the Betamax of today.
Still kickin' but losing ground to Blu-ray.”

“I just wish my damn HDMI cables would show up. I was going to buy a fiber cable to connect the satelite box to the TV until I realized I could grab an HDMI online cheaper. I went ahead and got 3 anticipating needing one for a future DVD player regardless of final variety.”

“What ticks me off is the standards for Blu-ray DVD players IS STILL UNFINISHED!!!”

“Stove stove stove ... it's being "upgraded" ...

LOL”

“Blu-ray goes from 60% to 93% of market share one week after Warner jumped ship. I'd say the writing is on the wall for HD-DVD.




Article:
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/22/blu-ray-players-grab-93-percent-of-market-after-warner-went-blu/”

“To follow up on the post just above this one, it appears Toshiba is betting the bank on a Super Bowl ad pushing HD-DVD.

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20080129/194812119.shtml





I'm sure that will fix things.”

“LOL! Riiiiight!”

“Got Dish service hooked up this weekend, HD service including the new DVR. DirecTV would not give me extra boxes to hook up 2 additional TV's and also added that the installation would be up to $200 extra.

The dish guy asked where my HD TV was, staring at an old Sony 36" tube. I admitted that I had lost touch with the current industry standards and asked for a reccomendation. He said to look at the Vizio's adding that his last install was hooking up a new 52".

http://www.vizio.com/products/detail.aspx?pid=44

I have a smaller living room so I feel this will be perfect. I don't want people parking in front of my house checking out the porn on a monster set.”

“I have a Vizio 37 and a Samsung 46. The Samsung is far superior to the Vizio. The Vizio is a good buy for the money though. From what I've read, Vizio's don't do well above 37", but their new plasma may have some kinks worked out.

I read cnet.com a good bit when making my decision. On the Samsung, I got it from Amazon right when a new model came out. They discounted the one I got almost $800. Amazon doesn't charge extra for shipping either which is usually another $150-$250 with other retailers.

All that said, the 37" Vizio is quite nice too.”

“He said the Samsung is a good bet as well. I get fantastic discounts on Sharp products through work, yet he said to stay away from them. The 42" Vizio is on sale now through costco for just over $900. That is a hell of a deal.”

“http://www.hdtvsolutions.com/
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=166
http://reviews.cnet.com/televisions/?tag=glnav”

“Cool sites, thanks sarge!

I will probably get the 42" for now which will be good. After we move in 3 years to a larger home, I will be looking at spending a bit more.”

“I had a very hard time finding reviews on 42's of any brand. It seems like that's sort of the tweener size. That said, when I bought the 37, I wish I could have afforded to get the 42. That TV is actually too small for the built in over the fireplace where is sits.”

“There are so many different sizes out there, it seems too many. The 42 will be perfect in our bedroom in the new house, however we have not determined where to put another large TV. With her large family, she wants to turn one of the bigger rooms into a room just for family meals. This is the same room I want to make into the main living area with a 60" or larger TV.”

“Wounded Knee ... bring your wife over here a sec...

--------------









You need a very large t.v. screen in your living room.

”

“If I had a 60", would I be able to see the joint between fingers?

I actually don't want to buy anything. She brought it up.”

“If you had a 60", you'd be able to see the sand in his nails. If you had a 120" you'd be able to see which desert it came from.


I actually don't want to buy anything. She brought it up. - WK

Wounded Knee, come over here a sec.

-------------------








You will turn in your man card.


last edited: 2/11/08 1:15:36 PM”

“Ha Ha! She wears the pants, there, I admit it. She is smarter than I am, plus she cooks for me.”

“Dont buy too large. There are several 'formulas' on the net that tell you the range of sizes you should get based on how far you will sit from it.”

“That is exactly why we are going with a 40"”

“formulas shmormulas

”

“theate your own theate”

“That is exactly why we are going with a 40”
Wounded Knee
3:46:13 PM
2/11/08

What does your beer choice have to do with a TV?”

“http://blog.audiovideointeriors.com/208great/

Speakers or STFU!!!!!”

“Blu-ray is the format.
Toshiba threw in the towel today. HD DVD is dead.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/19/technology/toshiba.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008021904”

““I wonder if it wouldn't be better to wait until the HD DVD and Blue Ray battle is over with.

For the most part, it is. Blu-ray is victorious. We're just waiting for HD to resign at this point.

I have both formats, btw, so I'm not a Blu-Ray fanboy.”

Sarge
12:55:22 PM
1/22/08”

“Yep, been waiting on it to be made official.”

“Sarge, the king of I Told You So”

“thriftyhiker, the queen of criticism”

“StoveStomper - How is the new t.v.?

Ki0eh - Did you get yours yet?”