LCD monitors - do not walk, run.

[RPetry]

Purchased a new high definition LCD TV as a Christmas present for my wife this year. Well, kind of for me too. You can't beat watching the NFL games in HD! The picture was so good, bought a NEC LCD monitor for my computer system.

In a secular sense, "once I was blind, now I can see". The difference from an analog monitor is astounding. There is no comparison in clarity and resolution of text, graphics, games, and video.

This is by far the most worthwhile computer upgrade I have ever done and I've been into computers since the first day the IBM AT was sold.

If you spend any serious time on your computer, get one.

[RyanH]

Wait until you hook a blueray dvd player up to that thing. Wow!

[RPetry]

Ryan,

I'm going to be stopping by the local video store sometime soon to see how many DVD titles are available in Blueray. Do not want to spend a bunch on a new DVD player without much content. And man, those HDMI cables are expensive!

What really has me fired up is the LCD computer display. Thought my eyesight was going south using a large, high quality, but old CRT. Text was fuzzy with shadowing, Doom 3 was very dark, and that old boat anchor took up a bunch of space on the desk.

Built a custom PC about this time last year and put in a good nVidia card. Thought the old CRT was a fine display, so kept it in use. Big mistake. Never realized it but I've been suffering with poor video quality for years. The new NEC LCD monitor is the best $350.00 I have ever spent on computer hardware.

[Keth]

Originally Posted by RPetry

Ryan,

And man, those HDMI cables are expensive!

The high priced HDMI cables are nothing but a rip off. Read this article and then go to Wal-Mart and get the HDMI cables they sell for $25.

HDGURU.Com » Blog Archive » What Retailers Don’t Want You To Know About HDMI Cables Hdguru.com tells you everything you need to know about HDTV displays, high definition content, high def disc players, high definition reception and reviews on high

[RPetry]

Keth,

Thanks. I just bookmarked the home page of that site, seems to be full of good information.

Went to a local Radio Shack to buy an optical cable to connect a new cable box to my sound system. Noticed that their branded cables were much less money and appeared to be of similar quality to the Monster products.

I'll probably buy there. Went into a Wal-Mart once, years ago, and swore I'd never set foot inside one of those stores again. That oath still holds.

[newlook]

Yes HD is the bomb. Have 2 42" flats (living and master bedroom) and 24" in the office....can't get any work done!

[RPetry]

Carlos,

I have discovered one downside to HDTV. You tend to focus on watching only High Definition channels, and thereby miss out on some normal TV with superior programming.

[HotShot]

isn't that the truth. I find myself watching stupid things that I would never even consider watching on any other channel. I was totally enraptured in this fish underwater that was laying eggs on the Discovery HD channel the other day...

But like you said first, there is nothing like watching a football game in HD. Wait til baseball season, you can see the sweat drops on the pitchers faces and the blades of grass..dude, it's cool

[RPetry]

Anthony,

The visual quality is just so great when you first get HDTV, you just cannot help yourself. I wasted a bunch of time watching college football over the past few days. I don't even care about college football. But it's almost better than being there at the game. Mesmerizing...

Hope this wears off soon. Too many better things to do.

[RyanH]

Blueray DVD player: $699 - $799
Sony PS3 *with* a blueray built in: $599

I told my wife we could buy a PS3 and get an instand $100 rebate on the BR player, and get a FREE video game console to boot! Do they film Lost in HD? I stopped HD service when I moved because it was just too expensive in my area (an additional $60 per month for digital cable + HD and we're not TV junkies anymore).

Rick,

Netflix has a pretty hefty BR collection (about equal with HD too, if you want to go that way). Instead of buying you could just rent from them. Good value.

[RPetry]

Ryan,

Wow, that is a good deal. Don't think my wife would be pleased with a PS3 next to the TV. I do like some PC gaming but I 'll keep the fragging isolated here in the 3rd fl. office.

I'm not getting a new DVD player anytime soon. The prices are just unreasonable and it looks like the old Betamax wars. Once that shakes out and a year or two passes, maybe.

Waiting for the new cable bill, but was told the additional channels including HBO & Showtime including the set top box would add ~ $15 to the previous monthly charge. I'll see, Comcast is not the most trustworthy co. in the U.S. Our regular basic service here is all digital.

Want to get a shock? Add up cell, business, home phone monthly charges. To that, add broadband service charges. Don't forget the TV cable bill. The cost for modern communications/entertainment is huge.

[RyanH]

Originally Posted by RPetry

Want to get a shock? Add up cell, business, home phone monthly charges. To that, add broadband service charges. Don't forget the TV cable bill. The cost for modern communications/entertainment is huge.

$70 for basic cable + high speed internet
$150 for 2 cell phones + data service for wireless internet
$18 for Netflix

No home phones, just cell phones. I use cell mostly for business so I write it off on my taxes anyway, and now that I'm tutoring online from home each night I write the internet off too! But I know people with $200 / month cell, $100 cable plus the $50 for internet, in addition to the home phone with all the added features for $60 per month, extra money for the TiVo plus, etc. Crazy.

[Deck Guy]

Hmmmm.....I'm not writing off my internet service, but I do have a business website (and soon another) which I must administer through this connection! I smell another write-off!

Thanks Ryan!