Flat Screen Telly...recommendations?

[misterfish]

it's the same price (£749)

eek! Is watching telly worth that sort of cash ? I spent that on my last tv about 5 years ago but I have to say I doubt I'll be replacing it when it goes to telly heaven.

Cheers Mike

In our case it was not a spur of the minute decision. But, our previous tele was over 18 years old and suffering with both major sound problems and a somewhat fuzzy image. This had been a replacement provided by our insurance company following a burglary and was not our choice and we were never happy with it. So as we needed a new tele we wanted to get something decent that we would be happy to live with. I read a lot of comments from people who had bought 'cheap' flat panel TVs who were full of complaints. We could have gone for a conventional CRT Tv but wanted the slim profile and lower power consumption of an LCD.

Misterfish

 

[gidon]

We paid about £580 for ours and whilst not cheap it's not bad for a decent TV. Rob which TV is 750 the 70 or 700? Because the 70 is under £600 most places on the web and Richer Sounds. I couldn't persuade myself to pay >£150 for better sound on the 700 - I find the 70 fine - plus didn't have another £150 so wasn't really an option! (Actually if I remember correctly the 700 also has an SD slot which is handy for quickly showing off your holiday snaps ...).
Cheers
Gidon

 

[Blister]

Sony

 

[misterfish]

Actually if I remember correctly the 700 also has an SD slot which is handy for quickly showing off your holiday snaps ....
Cheers
Gidon

True - I'd forgotten about that - we've used it a few times and it seems to work well.

Misterfish

 

[woodbloke]

We paid about £580 for ours and whilst not cheap it's not bad for a decent TV. Rob which TV is 750 the 70 or 700? Because the 70 is under £600 most places on the web and Richer Sounds. I couldn't persuade myself to pay >£150 for better sound on the 700 - I find the 70 fine - plus didn't have another £150 so wasn't really an option! (Actually if I remember correctly the 700 also has an SD slot which is handy for quickly showing off your holiday snaps ...).
Cheers
Gidon

From my trawls around the various 'leccy sheds I've found out that the '70' version has a refresh rate of 50hz and the 700 is a 100hz telly, which might also account also for the difference in price - Rob

 

[gidon]

We paid about £580 for ours and whilst not cheap it's not bad for a decent TV. Rob which TV is 750 the 70 or 700? Because the 70 is under £600 most places on the web and Richer Sounds. I couldn't persuade myself to pay >£150 for better sound on the 700 - I find the 70 fine - plus didn't have another £150 so wasn't really an option! (Actually if I remember correctly the 700 also has an SD slot which is handy for quickly showing off your holiday snaps ...).
Cheers
Gidon

From my trawls around the various 'leccy sheds I've found out that the '70' version has a refresh rate of 50hz and the 700 is a 100hz telly, which might also account also for the difference in price - Rob

Rob
They've given you incorrect information - both the 70 and 700 have Panasonic's 100Hz Motion Picture Pro which works very well and doesn't display any of the motion blur old LCD technology can display - the TV even has a demo mode which shows half the screen with it on and half with it off.
Confusingly there is an "LMD70" which doesn't have the 100Hz technology. But I looked into this very carefully and picture quality is the same on the LXD70 and LXD700.
Cheers
Gidon

 

[woodbloke]

Gidon - thanks for the update, in that case I still think your '70' version has 'pole position', saw one the other day in the 'flesh' and it did look rather good.
Any advantages or disadvantages in buying a DVD recorder compared to one with a Hard Drive? - Rob

 

[Argee]

Any advantages or disadvantages in buying a DVD recorder compared to one with a Hard Drive? - Rob

My Panasonic hard drive recorder has the ability to edit out parts of a programme (adverts and unwanted starting and ending bits), then burn to DVD if you want to keep it. There are several makes and models, here's one example. HTH

Ray.

 

[gidon]

Rob - as Argee says handy for editing things out.
For example I have Sky+ - I can easily copy Life in Cold Bloods say all across to the HDD recorder. So it doesn't clog up my Sky+ blox - then if I wanted, archive them onto DVD. Or copy my miniDV footage across to the HDD and then make a DVD for my Mum and Dad say.
If you're wanting the recorder for recording directly off TV you may be better off looking at Freeview HDD recorders or Sky+. Not sure if any of those come with DVD too. I can't get Freeview here so Sky+ and a HDD / DVD recorder works a treat. I did used to use the HDD / DVD recorder to record TV too (off Sky) but it was a faff (no EPG).
Cheers
Gidon

 

[woodbloke]

Gidon, Ray - many thanks for the info on the recorders, looks like it'll be a DVD Recorder with a Hard Drive for editing. Said to SWIMBO in lands far away that it's a bit bewildering trying to sort out what's good and what to avoid like the plague - Rob

 

[RogerM]

Any advantages or disadvantages in buying a DVD recorder compared to one with a Hard Drive? - Rob

Rob - you shouldn't need to compromise. The DVD/HDD recorder we got as part of our package included a writable DVD as well as a HDD all in the same "box". For casual recording there is no contest between HDD recording and DVD.

With the HDD you never need to worry about whether there is enough room on the disk.

Sort and search thru your recorded programmes just like on a pc.

You can "time shift" live TV - so if you have a phone call half way thru your favourite programme you can just pause live TV and then start it again. Or if the film starts at 9pm and you want to start watching at 9.30 you can start to watch at 9.30 - and you can fast forward thru the ads whilst it's still recording up until the point where you have caught up with live TV.

Watch one recorded programme while you record another.

Set up recording to record the same programme each week - great for ensuring that you never miss a series.

Record onto the HDD and then if you want to keep it, dump it onto a DVD without the ads.

Get the idea? HDD recording is the absolute DBs and I'd never go back to recordable DVD or VCR.

 

[woodbloke]

Roger - sounds good, just the sort of thing I'm looking for, many thanks - Rob

 

[andycorleone]

I use to buy Sony until I understand they are overpriced for what they are, last year when I bought my last LCD the numers says that Samsung was the best selling but because I was after a 1080p and in that moment Shard had the most modern and afordable factory I decided to go for a Sharp which I'm very glad . but you never now what is good these days :shock: now I'm spendending all my money in tools

 

[seaco]

We have both LCD and plasma tv's and to be honest the plasma is a better picture all round I find skin tones a little false on the LCD and you also get some motion blur it's a Toshiba so not a cheap make but still my Panasonic Plasma beats it hands down...

As others have said here you really need to look around and go to actual makers stores ie Panasonic or Sony centres as these tend to set up there sets alot better than the big stores which are usually crap.

Also have a look here it's a great source of information on most things electric, go down the list and look at the LCD and Plasma sections you'll learn alot there...

http://www.avforums.com/forums/index.php

 

[devonwoody]

Argos are doing 3 year guarantee on Sony LCD televisions (they have extended the closing date on the deal)

If you dont like paying they will also give it to you free.

For 6 months that is. :wink:

 

[misterfish]

With our Panasonic '700' we bought the Panasonic DMR-EX77EB hard disk/DVD recorder and are as pleased with that as we are with the TV.

The only niggle we have with it is that it takes a while to be ready to use after switching on. But it gives excellent results. As said before by Gidon you can record on to hard disk, edit out the adverts and then copy to DVD if you want to keep a program in perpetuity. The copy from hard disk to DVD is very quick.

By using an HDMI cable to connect to the TV we have got some pretty stunning pictures as the system upscales to 'Hi Def' type quality.

We had a previous Philips DVD recorder which was pretty good, but the new Panasonic is way better.

As with the TV, we would have no qualms in replacing the Panasonic recorder with another identical machine should the need arise.

Misterfish

 

[devonwoody]

Misterfish , I have the Sony set up that does the same but using an aerial my reception is very poor except channels 1 & 2.

Have also the virginmedia cable set up in another room with something called VBox,, bloody good, over 100 channels all perfect reception, HD as well and recording 3 programs to harddrive and transferable to vcr/dvd at a one off cost of £75 plus broadband/telephone 200minutes free @£28 month, best service and deal I have had out of communications for years.

 

[Argee]

Panasonic DMR-EX77EB hard disk/DVD recorder.... The only niggle we have with it is that it takes a while to be ready to use after switching on.

That's because it's a computer and has to boot up in the same way as any other computer does. If you listen, it even sounds the same as a desktop PC firing up.

Ray.

 

[misterfish]

Misterfish , I have the Sony set up that does the same but using an aerial my reception is very poor except channels 1 & 2.

Have also the virginmedia cable set up in another room with something called VBox,, bloody good, over 100 channels all perfect reception, HD as well and recording 3 programs to harddrive and transferable to vcr/dvd at a one off cost of £75 plus broadband/telephone 200minutes free @£28 month, best service and deal I have had out of communications for years.

No cable available here in Chichester so we 'make do' with Sky. We also tried to find out about the 'cheap' Sky broadband access but our exchange (Bosham) does not have the Sky LLU equipment installed and they were unable to give me any idea if and when it would be available - they just told me to keep checking back. Their 'standard' broadband offering was not cost effective for me.

Panasonic DMR-EX77EB hard disk/DVD recorder.... The only niggle we have with it is that it takes a while to be ready to use after switching on.

That's because it's a computer and has to boot up in the same way as any other computer does. If you listen, it even sounds the same as a desktop PC firing up.

Ray.

Yes - also the Sky box (that regularly crashes) and the TV itself that has needed rebooting once, and my printer/scanner/copier - not to mention the dishwasher, oven, microwave - the machines are taking over

Misterfish

 

[devonwoody]

Take care tonight Misterfish, I recall Bosham days in my youth and boating activities.