Perhaps new Tvs aren't useless afterall

[jpdylon]

I had been meaning to find a new big TV to play video games one when I have friends over. I recently got ahold of a big 32" FD Trinitron WEGA with stand and accessories for only 300 bucks. The TV is not even two years old.

I have to say that the picture on these WEGAs compare to my chromacolor II. The color is very lifelike, and not over saturated or over contrasted. Its also got all the inputs I need for my video game consoles. DVDs look awesome with the component video, and it even has computer video input. Makes for a nice large computer monitor.

Despite the pictures, the text is very readable. Playing first person shooters on the big screen with friends is fun too.

[kx250rider]

I had a Sony KV-36XBR400 HD WEGA a couple years ago (it was about 2 years old then), and it was indeed impressive. But it was, afterall, not handbuilt like my Zenith 25DC56. The Sony boards were assembled by a chip placer machine someplace in Asia, then soldered by a wave machine, then inspected by an AOI machine. Then put in the cabinet in Mexico by an unskilled manual laborer.

My Zenith was engineered in Chicago by World War II veterans, handwired by cute girls, and assembled by skilled Americans into a cabinet made of solid steel from Pittsburgh. And don't forget that the picture tube was custom-ordered by a high school kid in Los Angeles in the 80s and that tube was built in an old building on Washington Blvd by a guy who played golf with Richard Nixon (long story)...

As I have said previously, I still have my Zenith in the livingroom!

Charles

[compucat]

I'd like to see a picture of that Zenith. No matter how many times I get tempted by new TVs, I still always come back to the vintage ones. Last night I watched my favorite show on my 8" RCA metal portable instead of the HD set. There's nothing like watching an interesting show on an even more interesting TV set.

[smoker76]

He has that way of thinking I remember from many of the cool seniors I have known and sometimes still meet. They just make good sense and thier ways worked good in the past and would do so again.
Everybody wants new ideas and new stuff as if the new is always better.
So, we could debate fine picture details between the new and older sets but the simple fact will remain that older sets are more than adequate audibly and visually to do everything a TV is needed to do.
It is a great comfort to know there are still people that think logically with considerations to others
I believe it is bad to purchase anything new that is not absolutely necessary simply because the profits are used by big business in ways that lead to every solveable problem on the planet.
Does anybody think I am wrong about that?

[Randy Bassham]

When the black plastic set fails the best use for it that I've found is to convert it to an "ECD"....(Erosion Control Device).

[jpdylon]

I know It won't last nearly as long as my zenith CC, but its serving its purpose for now. All my vintage sets have been moved downstairs. They will eventually go in my listening room along with my stereo gear.

[Duane]

Jordan,

Do you know how to access the service mode? You would be able to adjust geometry,sub controls,color temp,etc. from it.

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by smoker76

I believe it is bad to purchase anything new that is not absolutely necessary simply because the profits are used by big business in ways that lead to every solveable problem on the planet.
Does anybody think I am wrong about that?

Nope.... Well at least "I" don't. I'm keeping a few Chromacolors around as spares to last me as long as needed. Eventually, I'll have to buy the digital box, but my contibution to evil will be as small as possible, lol.

[compucat]

Originally Posted by Carmine

Eventually, I'll have to buy the digital box, but my contibution to evil will be as small as possible, lol.

I plan to keep my tube TVs and connect them to a digital converter box when it becomes necessary. I am already running them off of a VCR for all-channel remote tuning. I am thinking of selling off some of my handheld sets and five inch portables as they will be impractical to use if they have to be tethered to a converter (i.e. no longer truly portable). Aside from maintaining a newer set in the living room to keep the wife and kids happy, it's old tube sets (preferably metal cased Zeniths) for me.

I do plan to buy a digital handheld set when they become available. I like to have a battery powered portable.

Progress was alright once but it went on too long. - unknown.

[jpdylon]

Originally Posted by Duane

Jordan,

Do you know how to access the service mode? You would be able to adjust geometry,sub controls,color temp,etc. from it.

I do not know wat the service code is for this set. I would like to know in the event I need to adjust size, greyscale, etc...

If you know how to enter the service mode on this set, I would greatly appreciate the information.

[Duane]

Jordan,

Sent you an email.

Duane