I’m going to throw out this idea because it seems like whenever I do
that somebody announces the product. Before the holidays I took a few
looks at the new world of TV’s. The last TV I bought was a bottom of
the line 27″ Zenith. And by bottom I mean bottom, no stereo, no
nothing, just a single coax antenna input and that’s it. It was the
cheapest set in the store at the time.
Since then I’ve received a couple of hand me downs, and the set we have
now is more accurately described as a hand me up. It’s a very nice 30
something inches with multiple audio and video inputs and outputs.
There is something hosed in it that prevents us from using the
Playstation on it but other than that it works great and the price was
right, FREE!
So as I took a look at TVs I waded into a world of HDTV, EDTV, 480p,
720p, 1040i, digital vs. HD, 19:9 vs 4:3, LCD vs. Plasma, vs. DLP vs.
LCOS vs. PRTV, DVI or HDMI, WTF!
I decided it’s a little too early to try and figure out the “best” route
to take in getting a new TV.
What I would like to see is a box, one box, that does these things:
1) Plays DVDs, CDs, VCDs, etc. The basic functions of A DVD player. (I
currently use a $20 Cyberhome DVD player).
2) Has a basic surround sound system with the appropriate outputs to
hook up a set of surround sound speakers. (I currently run the cable
box audio and DVD player audio through my stereo receiver)
3) A cable box. (my current cable box has this)
4) A DVR, PVR or Tivo like capability. (my current cable box has this)
5) A basic AM/FM receiver capability. (back to my home stereo)
6) A couple of inputs for external devices like video game systems or
other video/audio inputs. Digicams, audio from my PC etc. (for this I
use the front panel inputs in the VCR)
With one of these all I need are the output devices, a “screen” of some
sort, and speakers. I could get rid of my DVD player, my old CD player,
my receiver, and the old VCR. And just think it would have a remote to
control all those functions so I could dump the 6 remotes I currently
have and I might remember how to get the thing to switch from TV mode to
DVD mode.
I’m not holding my breath as the Cable box people don’t want you to be
watching DVD’s they want you to pay them for iControl, or pay per view
movies.
I can dream though.