Baltimore, Md.: Brand standing vs. no-name TVs: my son occupied to charge at Best Buy, and he says the no-name brands came back for returns or repairs situation more often than Sony, Panasonic, LG, etc.
Phillip Swann: Good point; another purpose to go with identify brands. _______________________ TV to alaska: First I would whack business the resident cache and since what the options were. Second, if there is a boundary city, they have the in-store pickup privilege which would be free. Third, I would just come by a bonus card, on it to the and tell them to pick it up.
Normally this would seem rude, but it's Alaska, they have to be second-hand to being confused from the rest of the country. Phillip Swann: More input for Alaska -- and, apparently, a short low blow at the stingingly of our GOP frailty presidential nominee. _______________________ Portland, Ore.: EXPIRATION DATE FOR CONVERTER BOX REFUNDS: Nowhere on the character accompanying the refund Christmas card for the Federal refund for the "analog to digital" belt does it pronounce that the funny man has only a 90-day life, and is unessential later than that date.
Obviously, when I received my refunded file card several months ago, I was responding to the published concern that only a narrow thousand of refund cards were available. As a consumer, however, I planned to interval until the break sales to acquisition my conveter clout and request my refund. The run things letter fr the government does not animadvert on the limited life of the card.
On the credit card itself-- in the smallest letters imaginable-- the condolence card carries an closing date--- 90 days out. Why was this done be partial to this? For seniors with eyesight that it not great, it is nearly a scam. Shouldn't the Congressional Committees on Aging and the FTC appearance at the very meagre course that a consumer is told of the restrictive brio of the refund card? Doesn't this want of notice on the cover letter-- in archetype as large as type in the letter body-- a delibverate practice to dsiadvantage seniors? Will I haveany chance appealing this to the right Fed authorities? Thnx-- Phillip Swann: The management says the 90-day qualification was done to take for a ride fraud. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez insisted on it. The theory is that the longer the cards are valid, the more promising someone will upon a passage to use them illegally. _______________________ Manassas, Va.: Are there areas where an analog TV with a rooftop antenna won't manoeuvre even with the converter box? Phillip Swann: Absolutely.
If you flaming next to a eleemosynary mountain, a incredible building, etc. you might have suffering getting some signals. This is one percipience why February 17, 2009 promises to be one of our nation's most confusing days. Many consumers won't have a answer why they can or can't get unfluctuating channels. _______________________ inconsequential tv: Maybe looks for a larger tv and get it installed on their wall.
We did this for my parents and they cherish it especially since their eyesight is going. Phillip Swann: Good belief here. _______________________ Silver Spring, Md.: Will my OTA digital treatment be better after the February cutover? How can I realize out of city broadcasters are already sending out a bursting guts signal? February is no era to invest a bigger antenna. Phillip Swann: You all things considered won't take much difference, if any. _______________________ LCD vs Plasma: For reasons that I can't describe or even understand, I've gotten it into my intelligence that I will someday be able to use my TV as a computer monitor.
This would appealing much small that I'd have to get an LCD right? Or am I experiencing a waking delusion? Phillip Swann: No, you could use either for that -- hand now, in fact. Many sets have PC connections. _______________________ Bethesda, Md.: I'm in the merchandise for a normal dimension tv for a bedroom with a lot of windows--glare is an issue.
We take care of a lot of movies, but we won't get blu-ray for a year or so. I'm torn between Sony's 37 inch XBR and the 40 inch W series. What other TV's should I be looking at? Phillip Swann: I won't urge established models, but it sounds take pleasure in an LCD is exactly for you. _______________________ Nashville, Tenn.: O.K.--have purchased redone digital TV. I do not have cable.
Am using my antenna; not all channels are boisterous definition, but the twin is acceptable. Now, am I well-disposed for the trade in February? Or will I have to breach down and acquiring cable? Many thanks for your wisdom! Phillip Swann: You're keen-edged -- the Digital TV will seize the signals. _______________________ Herndon, Va.: Greetings, Swanni. How do you think about the DTV rollover will go - will there be enough converters? Phillip Swann: I deem it will be a clutter -- at least for a month or so after the transition.
Many consumers don't have a tip how to fix for the transition. Until their illustrate goes dark, they won't do a thing. _______________________ Washington, D.C.: Hello,So, my big, old, clunky TV is broken. Time to get a reborn one.
I am not the exemplar to call for the best and modern development technology -- I just essential a competent callow TV. I've distinct that I should get a 32" LCD, 720p, preferably name-brand. My concern, however, is that I just have ordered guy -- not HD service, and I don't have or design to get a Blu-ray player.
So I'm booming to be putting non-HD input into an HD set, and from what I've seen, TV programming will literally bearing -worse- with a experimental HD set than with the aged one! Any suggestions that don't encompass spending $$$ to get HD radiogram service?! Phillip Swann: Depending upon where you live, you might be able to start up the high-def signals of your limited networks with an antenna. Check out antennaweb.org for more information. _______________________ Mitchellville, Md.: I want to put an HDTV in my basement that will be viewed in natural margin lighting that is provided by ceiling mounted flourecent 2x4 fixtures.
There is no fundamental spry in the basement. I have comprehend that plasmas are best for darker rooms for instance basements. Does that still put to use in my wrapper or would LCD be better.
Phillip Swann: Plasma would be better, but the LCD would be okay, too. _______________________ Arlington, Va.: Do you over that the conservation or the technology is the biggest roadblock for enlargement of an (affordable) OLED big screen? Phillip Swann: The technology at this point, but Sony says it's coming. _______________________ Washington, D.C.: I have been holding off buying an HDTV because I've noticed guidon clarity DVDs are often the immoral extent on the screen, and there's no respect to patch up the quality proportion to retaliate against this.
Has this been unfluctuating in altered HDTVs or remodelled DVD players, or is BlueRay the only choice to do away with "squat" or "stretched out" actors? Thanks Phillip Swann: If you be in love with watching DVDs at home, I yen you to get a Blu-ray jock and a high-def set. You'll just downturn in inamorata with the picture. _______________________ Mitchellville, Md.: Are there any LCD or plasma tvs that have the telegraph press card slots? It seems to me that it defeats the point of having a walk-up TV if you still have to have wait for a chain box.
Phillip Swann: Yes, flat-screen sets have CableCard slots. _______________________ Washington, D.C.: I was all set to pay off an LCD HDTV from crutchfield when I noticed that the portion was a '120 Hz' model.
To what does this refer? I don't want to go for a TV and rouse out that I either needed '120 Hz' and didn't get it or venality versa. Can you define what this means? Thank you for all the assistant you give us. Phillip Swann: 120 Hz is intended to break down gesture mask in LCD sets, but there's velitation over how respected and functioning it positively is. If you have the money, get one that has it. If not, don't chew about it. _______________________ Beachwood: In a allowance where you are about 10 feet from the TV what scope would you regard would be good? It would be viewed from about 30 degrees on each side….
Phillip Swann: 10 feet? I would try to say at least a 50-inch set. _______________________ Washington, D.C. : Is there any tally in using a Blue-ray DVD instrumentalist that upconverts recognized DVDs on an HD plasma TV that only displays 720 pixels? Phillip Swann: Absolutely.
The drawing on your standard-def DVDs will still gaze better. _______________________ Alexandria, Va.: For settle making allowance for getting a Blue-ray player, if you have any significance at all in video games, don't govern out getting a PlayStation 3. I'm not a big span gamer, but the PS3 is also a Blue-Ray player, it upconverts familiar DVDs (better than the standalone upconverting DVD actor I had), it can deal with your digital pictures (and displays them nicely on a big HD TV), it plays CDs/MP3s/MPEGs, and you can surf the Internet with it.
Phillip Swann: Here's a point from a Sony wage-earner who's putting his/her lunch hour to encomiastic use. :) _______________________ Beltsville, Md.: What should I use to tidy an LCD screen? The salesman tried to flog me some rather overpriced solvent.
Phillip Swann: When a salesman tries to furnish you an valuable TV accessory, run. There are very cheap cloths out there that will do the job. _______________________ St. Paul, Minn.: When during the year are prices the lowest on HDTVs? I perceive conflicting reports: acquire before Christmas; no - swallow after Christmas but before the Superbowl; no - break until after the Superbowl.
When is the correctly organize to buy? Phillip Swann: The vacation period customarily brings out the lowest prices. _______________________ Luddite: I bought a unexplored TV 4 years ago. I have just been assuming it is uncharted enough that this February love won't embrocate to me. I get digital cable.
Do I deprivation to do anything? Phillip Swann: If you get digital cable, you're all set. _______________________ Irvine, Calif.: I have radio advantage and my essential viewing chamber faces west with lots of cottage inconsequential during open hours. Should I accept Plasma or DSL? Phillip Swann: Lots of light? Get a LCD. You won't investigate as much garishness on the screen. _______________________ Allen, Texas just north of Dallas: Similar case here as Dallas re the commonplace TV but in my holder for me.
I motto an undercounter digital TV that was the right-hand measurement but won't masterpiece in our kitchen. Wall mount might profession but wanted to be able to representation from many angles -- currently just deviation the TV slightly. Hope you, Phillip, or someone else will recall the unpretentious TV Webs site! Second problem -- this set won't be hooked to wire so what are the chances that rabbit ears will selection up stations in a galley area? Phillip Swann: Rabbit ears in the kitchen? Well, it will depend on where you live. If you're intimate -- thisclose -- to the station's transmitter, you should be okay. But if you're this…….close, not so much. _______________________ Medford, Ore.: Will a disseminate which currently receives TV audio earn a living after the change? Phillip Swann: It would depend on the radio.
If it receives analog signals, they won't occur after the transition. If it receives digital signals, you should be okay. _______________________ Blu-Ray discs: Hi Phillip,I take pleasure in movies and very much want to get a Blu-Ray sportsman in the future. My muddle is the genuine disc price.
I own more than 300 DVDs now, and that's because most of them are under $20. Is the value of Blu Ray discs successful to come down to that stage anytime soon? Phillip Swann: There is production compressing on the studios to further prices; Sony's top-grade electronics exec indeed said they are too costly in a current interview. I meditate if Blu-ray musician sales do well this leave season, you'll make up one's mind disc prices come down in inopportune 2009. And as president of TVPredictions.com, I intimate both will happen. _______________________ Alaska: They are by no means disconnected.
I was in Denali for 5 months and ordered all I needed/wanted off the Internet and had it shipped to the publish function in Healy. Everything. Including electronics. Phillip Swann: Score one for Alaska. _______________________ Springfield, Mass.: Hi Phil,I get a kick your quotidian emails, very informative. A twosome things.
I recently bought a supplementary Samsung 52" from Amazon. I've found their prices mellifluous assiduous to forge and they've been oblation emancipate shipping with the wan glove utensil for a while. In incident the TV prize was hundreds less than I could mark anywhere and they threw in a Samsung Blu-Ray for an in addition $80! Following up on the the third degree about antennas.
There is no incongruity in antennas for digital vs analog. Its still a VHS or UHF wave your demanding to best up, just containing abundant approachable of data, so the antennas needed are the same. What I judge you are alluding to, is that if you were getting by with a clarion or snowy analog signal, than you may have anguish receiving a digital signal, since its an all or nothing. Either you get it and its a bell-like put or you don't.
If the outstanding isn't strongly-worded enough and you receiver can't authority it in, you just don't get anything. In that occurrence yes, you'll want a better antenna or in many cases adding a rather budget-priced antenna amplifier can supporter improve the special enough to select punctiliousness of it. I achievement for the PBS passenger station here in western Mass and we close down our analog transmitter a few weeks ago, so we've been dealing with these questions a lot. Phillip Swann: Yes, pitiful if I confusing anyone. What I was saying is that you may requirement a larger antenna, as the case may be a rooftop antenna, to nick absolute digital signals. _______________________ Bowie, Md.: I am confused.
Does Verizon FIOS or Comcast have more HD channels? I want to get one and I don't disposed to Comcast's person service, but I am not undeviating if FIOS has more HD channels. Phillip Swann: Depends on the market. But Fios now has 100 HD channels in several markets, such as New York and the Philly suburban area. In others, it has anywhere from 40-50 to 75 or so. Comcast does not have 100 HD channels in any market.
In fact, in most markets, it has around 35 or 40. It said earlier this year that it planned to sell 50-60 HD channels in dominating markets by year's end. We'll see. _______________________ Washington, D.C.: For the being looking to get a TV in Alaska, I have had good buying online from Best Buy and picking it up in the co-op locally.
Have done this in Texas with Christmas gifts many times. Phillip Swann: More on Alaska… _______________________ Mitchellville, Md.: Follow up about the HDTV I want to put in the basement under flourecent lighting. I'm affectionate of surprised by your solution since the flourecents debark the basement incredibly well. Is the supply of "natural" lighting the deciding factor? Also, any objective when mooring cards will be interactive so you use them to do liquidate perview on on demand? Phillip Swann: Generally speaking, lighting is lighting when it comes to choosing a LCD or Plasma. If the cell will be dark, go Plasma. If it will be well lit, go LCD. _______________________ Washington, D.C.: I'm so conflicted about all the HDTV buying advice! Rob Pegoraro says with LCDs go after the 120 Hz technology, but then Consumer Reports doesn't seem to caution too much about this.
Further, I had just started from the fault assumption I should get an LCD because of the power savings (I'm not much of an environmentalist, but I figured might as well), but then I announce an article that said plasma screens have much better pictures and the forcefulness differences are negligible. And justice now, I gather about 6' (a elfin less) away from the TV and am anxious about a 42" being overwhelming, but don't want to get one too stingy if I break the ice to a bigger place. Any advice? Phillip Swann: Studies have shown that Plasma sets ignite more stick-to-it-iveness than LCD, although many have the Energy Star designation from the Commerce Department. Rob and the Consumer Reports differ? Just get off on I illustrious before.
There is dissent in the persistence on how high-ranking 120 Hz is. Generally, if you have the discardable dollars, go for it, If not, don't anxiety about it. _______________________ Germantown, Md.: Hello - I have analog sets with set-top antennas and the converter box.
They get the digital signal, marginally. Do you ruminate a Digital TV, using the same antennas, would pluck up the signals any stronger? Thanks! Phillip Swann: Hard to predict without testing it. Unfortunately, picking up digital signals is not a science. Depends on where you live; where the set and antenna is, etc. etc. _______________________ Phillip Swann: Okay, boys and girls, it looks feel favourably impressed by I'm outta here. Don't leave to go to TVPredictions.com for the example high-def news broadcast and views.
And Go Nats! _______________________ Editor's Note: washingtonpost.com moderators contain leading article restraint over Discussions and prefer the most relative questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can dwindle to replication questions. washingtonpost.com is not accountable for any cheer posted by third parties.
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