LCD televisions more reliable than CRT based ones?

getting

The thing is 8mm cameras are MUCH more hassle to make and watch movies, camcorders caught on quickly because of the convenience factor, you can record something and watch it moments later, make copies at home to send to relatives, etc. CED never really caught on, I only ever ran into one person who owned one even in their heyday if you can even call it that. Beta is another format that never attained widespread use, sure they sold a decent number of them, but compared to VHS machines it was about zilch. VHS is a good example of why I think CRT's will stick around for a while, it's been effectively obsolete for what, close to 10 years now? DVD players are cheaper and offer far superior performance and have been for at least a few years now yet VHS clings to life. It's well on it's way to obsolesence but even so it'll be around for a few more years.

few

I hope. I hear many retailers are getting out of VCRs for HD/DVD recorders. No margin in VCRs anyway.

N

The lamp and ballast replacement in the LCD set is a lot cheaper than a CRT replacement in a CRT type set!

The amount of training and ease of lamp replacement is dependent on the design of the screen. Many of the newer LCD screen lamps are starting to not be replaceable. They are becoming an intigral part of the screen construction. This is to have a greater efficiency, less optical losses, and less shading problems. This is part of the process for getting higher amounts of brightness, with more even shading in the low levels of lumination.

Jerry G. ======

Actually, over time, LCD prices will drop and the panels will be truly disposable. Places that repair LCD panels will vanish just like the local TV repair shop. But not in the next two years... more like ten.

Good to know in the meantime; thanks for that link.

With the alternatives the OP presents, the LCD would presently cost more than four times the CRT model. So; buy two CRT TVs and keep one as a spare. That might also take of not having to move the TV around; however moving can also be taken care of by using some kind of TV cart or perhaps a kitchen type microwave trolley? Also arranging to just plug TV in a couple of places around ones domicile. I used to have TV in the bedroom by feeding an old VCR as a channel changer into an old Commodore monitor! It was small, very cheap and the 13 inch quality was quite good enough for a late night watch of the news etc.

Pro Betacam tapes work just fine in a domestic Beta, and are still available from specialists.

--
*Why is it that most nudists are people you don't want to see naked?*

    Dave Plowman        dave@davenoise.co.uk           London SW
                  To e-mail, change noise into sound.

**I love my VCRs *and* I love my DVD recorder as well as my DVD players :) I use them all. It's a bummer that VCRs are hard to get in brick and mortar stores (well, except for the el cheapos). It just forces people to the Internet if you want a better VCR, hmm, maybe I should just say more expensive. It's sad that you can't get good VCRs anymore.

kaboomie

but

recorders.

What's to like about VCR's? They were great for a while, but whenever I use mine (nice high end Sony from a few years back) I'm struck with how crappy the picture looks in comparison to DVD's, add to that the tapes are big and clunky, wear out with age, have to be rewound, etc. Now that DVD-R's are inexpensive I see no more reason to keep a VCR around than an old DOS PC, with both I keep one stashed around for those rare times I need to use legacy material.

but

recorders.

In the not-too-distant future, you'll be forced to mail order blank tapes as well. A few years ago, I could buy high-grades -- the only kind I ever used in my machines -- just about anywhere. Target, in particular, stocked lots of different brands. Now, the only high-grades in town are at Wal-Mart, and they have only Maxell. Maxell is fine, but I prefer having a choice. Those who once stocked high-grades now barely bother with "everyday" blanks. With blank DVD's being much cheaper, on average, than blank VHS tapes, it won't be long till optical media will be the only type available locally (for most people). I still have an old Toshiba beta machine. I always preferred Beta over VHS. The only store that still stocked blank betas last time I checked was Fry's Electronics and the closest store is about 23 miles away.

DVD's have another major advantage over video tapes: they save space! I'm transferring all my old VHS recordings which can't be had elsewhere (broadcast specials, personal stuff, etc.) over to DVD because I can store

100+ DVD's in a 10" x 5.5" case. The same amount of material on VHS is currently consuming a good chunk of the room!

When NTSC is gone, HDTV playback (i.e., Blue Ray or whatever dominates) will the order of the day and the vast majority of viewers will want playback that matches the capabilities of their new HDTV display. For this reason, expect today's DVD's to disappear in the not-too-distant future in favor of the newer, higher-density media. Sure, there will be disgruntled holdouts who will be utterly satisfied with their old convex GE screen and VHS-quality video, but the majority will be ready to upgrade.

Just be a little bit careful I have VHS tapes 20 years old that still play ok but some of my CDR's less than 5 years old are no longer readable. If you have important data on optical disk keep backing it up and always keep at least 2 copies. Also a damaged tape can be repaired a damaged disk is lost forever. Having said all that be careful and the newer disk technology will be the way to go. John.

**When I'm talking about why I like VCRs, I'm talking about what I've already taped/archived off of TV. Basically programs or movies that won't be showing up on a pressed DVD anytime soon. I have a lot of old stuff like tennis matches, etc. For instance, as soon as ST: Voyager came out on DVD, the tapes went into the record-over pile. I never bought actual commercial movies on VHS. Well, maybe a few. I didn't become an avid movie watcher until I bought a DVD player. There's no comparison. Eventually, I'll burn many of those archived tapes to DVD so I can watch them and not worry about wearing out the tape but I won't get rid of the tapes. I presently have a really nice older Panasonic VCR with a great picture, I wish I could get another one. Also, a lot of people would like a nice VCR so they can archive their videos with the best picture possible.

Another reason I still like VHS, I tape a lot of stuff for my family. When they're done with them, I tape over them again. If I find something I seriously want to archive (which lately is not often) then I tape it as well as burn it.

For me, it comes down to: the longevity of burnt DVDs isn't established yet. I have VCR tapes from the early 80s that still function. So I guess it's a wait and see thing. Depending on people's needs, some have reasons to keep VCRs around and some don't, no biggie.

kaboomie

**Hi Ray. You're right, we are already in the not-too-distant future. After poking around at some other stores, I'm going to check Walmart and see if they have anything high-grade and buy a couple of packages. Right now, because I've replaced many tapes with commercial DVD pressings, so I have a ton of good video tapes that had almost no use. **Also no rewinding, as others have mentioned, and no tape wear. There's also convenience. But as posted elsewhere: I don't have the faith in the longevity of the burnt DVDs as others have. **I hear that! I had Xena, Buffy and Voyager on video tape. When I bought the DVDs, I put the taped copies into the record-over pile. Man, that was a lot of tapes. I want to bring copies of stuff (also programs that can't be had elsewhere) over to DVD and then store the video tapes away. **Technology is turning itself over daily. In fact, it's running us over. :) **I bought my parents a DVD player for Xmas. My sister and I decided to get them DVDs that they would be really eager to watch so that they would be forced to use the player. I got my Mom an Eddy Izzard DVD and my sister bought Dad some Benny Hill. My Mom guessed when she say the present that it was a DVD. I said: Damn it, it's the new millennium, time to move forward. Oddly, it turned out to be the new Bambi release that pushed Mom into using the thing. My niece made cow eyes and Grannie melted. Now Mom thinks she's a DVD pro. :)

kaboomie

will

of

with

The nice thing about Blu-Ray is the high likelyhood that the players will be able to play today's standard DVD media, we've seen it again and again how much consumers value backward compatibility.

That is a possible issue, I haven't personally had many problems with the better brands of recordable CD's but I have had a few cheapies fail. Of course these days it's not too terribly expensive to backup that stuff on a USB hard drive and stash it away.

You guys are right to be concerned about that. For those not familiar with pressed dvd "rot" and the exposure effects of various light sources on recordable DVD's, check this out:

The page includes a link to the NIST data as well.

will

reason,

of

Yeah, it can seem that way. :) Display technology is constantly changing, but the format itself hasn't undergone a major change since the introduction of color decades ago. Once HDTV is the standard in the USA, consumers shouldn't need to worry about having to replace their HDTV move collection in favor of yet another new standard for quite some time, probably decades.

I didn't know that was out on DVD. I'll have to see if I can find it. I haven't seen the show in years, but it always cracked me up.

be

It'll be very helpful for material that will never be available in HDTV. But hopefully HDTV disc players (and factory movies) will be priced for the masses soon after NTSC is history. The recorders will no doubt be out of my price range for a while. :(

I dont know if LCD is more reliable but here is what i can offer .

I work in a salvage store where they buy big loads of costco and other big chain store returns . Its my job to check all the electronics . We have always gotten in dozens of CRT tv sets of all sizes . About 2 years ago we started getting in LCD tv sets and computer monitors and about a year ago in comes the plasma sets . I have had the chance now to play with anything from 12`` to 37`` LCD tv sets and bring a couple home to try out . I bought a 13`` Sharp Aqous and love it . I was not so impressed with the larger LCD screens comparing one next to my 27`` tbe set .

LCD screens are different in small ways but if you get one and you are real picky your eyes will get used to it very quickly I have noticed anything over 26`` LCD you can notice a downgrade in picture quality from close up , sitting back they are beautifull . Most of the 30`` and larger LCD sets all have a clunky receiver you hook to the screen I ended up buying a 26`` JVC that came in . It has a brighter and better picture than the Sharp , Panasonic or Toshiba i tried . It also has all the electronics and tuner in the screen just plug & go .

Lastly on comparing LCD to CRT .. I have seen very very few LCD sets broken either out of the box or 2 years old , probably 4 out of aprox

200 . I have however run across about a 25% broken count on CRT and projection sets .. many of them new out of box .

If the low priced LCD sets are built anything like the low cost DVD players then we are in trouble ! stay away from samsung !

**There's a magazine out called Wavelength. It's from the DVD Association. For some reason, we got a sample at work. They had a NIST article in it on the error rates on optical discs. It's probably the same article. The mag was also filled with statistics. Yummy :) I can't find it online but the articles in it are pretty good if you can find it somewhere.

kaboomie