Reasons to buy this or not to buy that

[.:neuko:.]

Have you ever bought something so wonderful that you had to tell the whole world why it's so great? Or conversely, have you ever brought something so awful that you felt the dutyful urge to tell the whole world why it's so lame?

This thread is for people who like debates, arguments and controversy. We need these things because without them, there's no conflict: no conflict equals no animation, and no animation equals no life. So come on people... exercise those democratic rights (while you still have some)!

I'm going to kick off this thread by adding my reasons as to why you should not buy an LCD TV. And yes, I think Plasmas are way better. If you think otherwise, challenge me here!

Reasons not to buy an LCD TV:

1. Colour accuracy depends on viewing angle.
2. Kids, pens, and a fragile panel doesn't mix... need I say more?
But I'm going to anyway so... 3. Slooooow response time (around 8ms as opposed to 0.001ms from plasma panels). Don't believe me? Try dragging a dialog box at speed on a TFT or laptop monitor and see if you can still read that text... go on!
4. Silly prices beyond 37"
5. There's a reasonable chance of buying one with some perminently lit or unlit pixels... and if they don't reach a given minimum, your manufacturer won't replace it.
6. Many brands cheatedly have their panels made by other manufacturers... isn't that right, Sony?
7. Input lag when you play games due to questionable picture processing.
8. The backlight goes after about 60,000 hours use.

And don't forget, this thread is also open to reasons for and against buying things of your choice! They don't have to based on mine.

[Anoleis]

...I think our TV is about 20 years old, and works perfectly fine. I don't see a reason to "upgrade" at all, whether to LCD or plasma.

[Furore]

I think anyone who buys a TV based on type alone should seriously reconsider their approach.
There are crappier plasma TVs and LCD TVs that won't look half as good as a decent TV of either type.
When you actually look at a few in use you can pick a specific model of either dominating all the other TVs around.

[Izzy Stizzlebonk]

This thread is for people who like debates, arguments and controversy. We need these things because without them, there's no conflict: no conflict equals no animation, and no animation equals no life.

Oh. I always thought no conflict means people can live together harmoniously! Maybe I'm just crazy. Maybe I am!

Anyway, I totally agree with #2. But since you want us to debate and argue, then I... hmm... let's see... disagree with #3, 'cause slow is... err... subjective! When I turn on my TV, I never notice how slow it is. See, subjective? Slow to me may not equal slow to you!

[.:neuko:.]

Hey, this thread doesn't have to be just about TVs, you know! But anyway, in response to...

I think our TV is about 20 years old, and works perfectly fine. I don't see a reason to "upgrade" at all, whether to LCD or plasma.

You make a good point. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, I suppose... I'll let you in a little secret though (although it won't be, now that it's on this thread)... I still like CRT more than any other technology, as they cannot be beaten for their response time or durability. My dad used to own a Fergusion that lasted for 25 years. However, when your CRT eventually goes caput, the problem begins when the time comes to replace it, because now, due to the overwhelming preference of LCDs (and plasmas to a lesser extent), high-quality CRTs are practically out of the market.

Oh. I always thought no conflict means people can live together harmoniously! Maybe I'm just crazy. Maybe I am!

Anyway, I totally agree with #2. But since you want us to debate and argue, then I... hmm... let's see... disagree with #3, 'cause slow is... err... subjective! When I turn on my TV, I never notice how slow it is. See, subjective? Slow to me may not equal slow to you!

When I say "conflict = animation = life", I mean there's no harm in arguing, so long as it's done in an objective and respectful manner. Just because we can argue doesn't mean we have to go to war over it... that would equal destruction, which would equal death! Therefore, conflict and harmony can co-exist. I argue with my brother a lot, but we respect each others views too, so though we argue, we very rarely fall out.

I may have subjectively said "slow", but I backed that statement with real figures in real units! How is that subjective? I never go into a reason without doing my homework first! My saying that LCD is slow alone may be subjective, but if I can't read that large scrolling text on the QVC channel, then surely that's a good reason to bring up that word.

I think anyone who buys a TV based on type alone should seriously reconsider their approach.
There are crappier plasma TVs and LCD TVs that won't look half as good as a decent TV of either type.
When you actually look at a few in use you can pick a specific model of either dominating all the other TVs around.

We're talking about technology here, the underlying principle that determines the minimum quality of TVs. And believe me, I've benchmark tested LCDs as much as plasmas. I even brought a Sony Bravia LCD (It's my brother's now) that held an award for over 12 months... and yet I felt it was lacking in something essential... something I came to realise was taken for granted with CRT: the ability to grasp motion. And although the quality of LCDs and plasmas vary, you'll find that all LCDs inherit the same basic limitation in their underlying technology. We're talking about TVs that have to lug relatively heavy liquid mass around to create ever-changing pictures, vs other TVs that use relatively low mass elections or gas for the same, but more immediate effect. I'll admit that plasmas have their issues too (screen retention for instance), and although I prefer plasma to LCD, I'll be doing future posts on reasons not to buy a plasma as well, since I believe it's only fair to point out the flaws of other technologies.

Anyways, thanks for your comments all! If you want to let off some steam... or happiness, you know this is the place!

[Eris]

I personally prefer CRTs to both LCDs and plasma TVs. Old, trusted technology, and not at all flimsy.

3. They have a sloooooooow response time (around 8ms as opposed to 0.001ms from plasma panels). Don't believe me? Try dragging a dialog box at speed on your laptop and see if you can still read that text... go on!

There's no way a human could process changes at the 1 µs range. A single digit ms updates is plenty to eliminate drag (and LCDs pull that off just nicely). And my LCD screen has a 2 ms response time, which is plenty. No lagging after-image at all.

[TomoyoSakagami]

Don't buy Coca Cola in 2 litre bottles everyday or you become addicted!

Also Fosters and Jack Daniels too.

[Eris]

Don't buy Coca Cola in 2 litre bottles everyday or you become addicted!

Well, mostly you'll become really fat.

[TomoyoSakagami]

Well, mostly you'll become really fat.

I've done it for years and I don't even weigh 10 stone.

[Izzy Stizzlebonk]

When I say "conflict is good", I mean there's no harm in arguing, so long as it's done in an objective and respectful manner. Just because we can argue doesn't mean we have to go to war over it... that would equal destruction, which would equal death!

I may have subjectively said "slow", but I backed up that statement with real figures in milliseconds! How is that subjective? I never go into a reason with doing my homework first! My saying that LCD is slow alone may be subjective, but if I can't read that large scrolling text on the QVC channel, then surely that's a good reason to apply that word.

I agree with the conflict thing now. I guess I shouldn't assume that "conflict" means verbal put-downs, disrespect, and overall negativity. Healthy debates are healthy and fruitful, but I've been on so many message boards where "conflict" is just name-calling, insults, and put-downs. I apologize that I lumped your view on conflict with the negative stuff.

With the whole subjective thingy, I wasn't disputing your evidence at all. What I was trying to say was that slow for one person may not be slow for another. Like 0.0001 ms might be considered slow by many, but for me, I don't pay attention to that kind of stuff, so it isn't slow to me. Maybe it's not subjective then? Maybe it's relative? Like the theory of relativity? Oh ho, now I'm really crazy.

[Eris]

Wait a moment, I found another dubious point:

4. The backlight dies after about 60,000 hours use.

That is SEVEN YEARS OF NON-STOP USAGE! Meaning probably like 20-ish years, even if you watch an exuberant amount of TV.

[Nanobyte]

Well, mostly you'll become really fat.

I've done that for about... 3-4 years now. I weigh 83 pounds. ._.

[Izzy Stizzlebonk]

I've done that for about... 3-4 years now. I weigh 83 pounds. ._.

Ahh, you are lucky! Whenever I consume mass amounts of soda, I blow up.

[Eris]

I've done that for about... 3-4 years now. I weigh 83 pounds. ._.

That's not a healthy weight at all. You should go see a doctor, as there may be quite serious underlying medical reasons to your low weight.

[.:neuko:.]

Wait a moment, I found another dubious point:

That is SEVEN YEARS OF NON-STOP USAGE! Meaning probably like 20-ish years, even if you watch an exuberant amount of TV.

With Panasonic plasma panels, you get up to 100,000 hours of panel life. In normal TV viewing terms, that's at least 30 years.

[Eris]

With Panasonic plasma panels, you get up to 100,000 hours panel life. In normal TV viewing terms, that's at least 30 years.

Who cares? A TV from 15 years ago is absolutely medieval by today's standards. The same is likely to apply in 15 more.

[Alphabet]

Bloated really with the soda, due to all those carbonation bubbles.
And gas, on one end and or the other.
ooshy ooshy ooshy

[Anoleis]

Don't buy Coca Cola in 2 litre bottles everyday or you become addicted!

I think you mean do not drink 2 liters of Coca~cola, buying it is hardly addictive.
Now my father has bought a 2 liter bottle of Coca~cola everyday for the past 18 years *that I know of, could be longer. And quite obviously not everyday* and he is anything but addicted or fat.

[TomoyoSakagami]

Ah, I stand corrected. "Drink" everyday then, and of course it's obvious you'd become addicted.

[Skylar1]

I think you mean do not drink 2 liters of Coca~cola, buying it is hardly addictive.
Now my father has bought a 2 liter bottle of Coca~cola everyday for the past 18 years *that I know of, could be longer. And quite obviously not everyday* and he is anything but addicted or fat.

I say, "skip the soda, and just drink coffee". Seriously, if all you need is the caffeine, you're going to get a far higher quantity and without all the artificial coloring/sugar/calories/whatever else they put in those things to boot.

[Anoleis]

I say, "skip the soda, and just drink coffee". Seriously, if all you need is the caffeine, you're going to get a far higher quantity and without all the artificial coloring/sugar/calories/whatever else they put in those things to boot.

He hates coffee, and only buys Coke because he doesn't like any other soda.

"Drink" everyday then, and of course it's obvious you'd become addicted.

Doing anything after a certain amount of time is addictive, but only to those who let it become so. Putting something like addiction as an absolute isn't correct. i.e. I drink water everyday, and I'm not addicted to it.

On the subject of TVs: The only problem I have with ours is that we can't ever seem to find a VCR that lasts, we got about 4 months out of the most recent one we bought...

[TomoyoSakagami]

I'm no good at debating.

[Eris]

He hates coffee, and only buys Coke because he doesn't like any other soda.

Then tell him to man up. If you're not a girl that is younger than 9 years old or possibly a small rodent, you should be drinking coffee, and it should be black as death with no sugar.

[Anoleis]

Then tell him to man up. If you're not a girl that is younger than 9 years old or possibly a small rodent, you should be drinking coffee, and it should be black as death with no sugar.

Do you like drinking animal urine, because if you don't, you should man up and drink animal urine!
People like different things, my dad doesn't like coffee, I don't like Coca~cola. We deal~

[Eris]

Do you like drinking animal urine, because if you don't, you should man up and drink animal urine!
People like different things, my dad doesn't like coffee, I don't like Coca~cola. We deal~

Animal urine has no caffeine.