Category: Home Theater

42″ 1080p LCD HDTV $799.99

This is a refurbished HDTV but let’s be honest this is an amazing deal. About a year and a few months ago I bought my Vizio 42″ 720p LCD for $1,300. The idea that you can get such a large TV for such a good price is mind blowing.

I’ve always been a fan of Vizio’s TVs they are an incredible value brand and I love mine. This one I’m sure is no different 42″ is the lowest you can go and still get value out of having it be 1080p so this is a great way to get HD in the home on the cheap.

I do suggest that since it’s refurbished to get the extended service plan, and it’s only $160 so even with the warranty it’s a bargain.

TigerDirect

Left Over From CES (I Finally Got Around To It) – 9mm 50″ Plasma

Yes, I know, I know, This happened last week and you might already know about it, but I’m sure some of you haven’t heard about it and there are a few stories left over from last week in my inbox that I’m going to be writing about in the next day or so, this is one of them.

Pioneer announced a 9mm thick, 50″ Plasma at CES last week. We won’t be seeing these this year but this is just a peak into the future of flat-panel displays.

Gizmodo

Logitech DiNovo Mini Wireless Keyboard

The Logitech DiNovo Mini is a small keyboard that was built to be used on your home theater PC with Windows. The keyboard will allow you to easily control all of the features of your PC without having to use a full size keyboard and mouse.

The keyboard looks really good and will also work with your Playstation 3. The DiNovo Mini will be launching late February for $149.99.

More Photos
Press Release

Blu-Ray Winning Everyone Over

“It should be consumer choice; and if that’s the way they vote, that’s something we’ll have to consider,” this is what Albert Penello group marketing manager of Xbox hardware said when asked whether Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD accessory in the event that HD-DVD failed. –source

This single quote has made the blogsphere set fire yesterday. It seems that Blu-ray may be winning everyone over lately, this doesn’t mean that HD-DVD is dead but things are looking pretty glum for them.

Today we also got news from PaidContent that Universal is going to be ending their HD-DVD exclusivity soon. The reason that Universal has not yet made an official statement about this is that contracts keep them from doing so, Universal is still committed to a series of promotions for HD-DVD in the coming months.

Paramount also may be leaving the HD-DVD camp, from all of the rumors going around it seems that Paramount has a clause in their HD-DVD contract allowing them to switch camps if Warner Bros. goes with Blu-ray (which they already have).

New Line Cinema (a sister company of Warner Bros.) has confirmed that they will follow Warner’s move to go exclusive with Blu-ray. Ron Sanders, Warner Home Video president, said that although Warner Bros. decided to go exclusive with Blu-ray other Time Warner entertainment companies would be making their own decisions. New Line Cinemas decision to stop making HD-DVD titles is effective immediately. –source

With the news of Microsoft’s willingness to come out with a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360 alongside these news stories about studios leaving HD-DVD, it looks like HD-DVD isn’t looking too good right now. I can’t really see HD-DVD coming back and winning this war but I’m not going to come out and say that it is dead either. Although the fact that HD-DVD decided to cancel their press conference at CES says to me, and many others, that the HD-DVD camp is also starting to think that they may lose this war.

Vizio Announces a Slew of New HDTVs

Vizio, that wonderfully low-cost HDTV makers, have announced 30 new HDTVs for CES. The short version is that they have 32-inch Plasmas for $689 and 50-inch 1080p TVs for $1,399. Vizio is also announcing a new LCD line called “Envy” which is a much better designed line compared to their regular line of LCDs.

I’m not going to go through and list all of the new HDTVs but if you want to see Vizio’s entire line up of products you can check them out here.

via CrunchGear

Apply For Your Digital Converter Box Coupon

The conversion from analog to digital broadcast television is set to happen early 2009. But, what are you supposed to do if you rely on broadcast television but don’t have a TV that can receive digital signals? Apply for your Digital converter Box Coupon.

It only takes a minute or two and when the boxes go on sale you’ll get a coupon (or two) in the mail so you can head to your local electronics retailer and get $40 off a digital converter box. This way when the transition hits next your you’ll be peachy keen.

Home Theater Dreams

I have always wanted to have a basement with a giant screen, projector, and a great DVD player. What a lot of home theater enthusiasts forget about though is that you need good seating to have a good experience. Yes, audio has to be right, and yes, I know the display needs to be correctly calibrated, but if you sitting on the floor your not going to enjoy it.

I always wanted to have a bunch of recliners as my seating, maybe two rows with the back row raised above the front row to see over their heads, how cool would that be?

Boston Tables has a great selection of Berkline home theater seating that anyone could enjoy. Whether you like leather or fabric you can find it here. Alright the prices are a little high for some of you but just remember, if you are going to be sitting on this thing for hours on end wouldn’t you like to at least be comfortable?

This post was sponsored by Boston Tables

TiVo HD Review Roundup

The TiVo HD has launched and it looks amazing, not only does it look great but it is also doing really well in all of the reviews out their on the net.
I am not planning on buying one even though the price is so low. I would buy it but for one thing I don’t have cable service and most of my TV content comes over the air (maybe 1 or 2 shows) and the rest comes from either podcasts or iTunes.

Well if you are thinking about buying one you can check out these reviews and make your decision after that.

  1. PC Magazine – 4.5 out of 5
  2. CNet – 7.7 out of 10
  3. PC World – 88 out of 100
  4. TiVo Lovers – Unboxing and review

Purchase the TiVo HD

TiVo HD Launches

I had mentioned the TiVo Series 3 “Lite” here and here, but it is finally here in the form of the TiVo HD.

The TiVo HD can record up to 20 hours of HD recording and up to 180 hours of SD programming. Has 2 CableCARD slots. It is capable of outputting 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i. The box is gorgeous and you get all of this for $299.

Purchase the TiVo HD

Tivo Series 3 “Lite” Specs Leaked

These are not confirmed by Tivo so I cannot guarantee their validity.

The model number will be TCD652160
integrated MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 decoders, a dual MPEG-2 encoder, 2 Samsung based tuners, 128MB DDR Ram, 160GB SATA HDD, no THX, Standard Tivo Remote, all for the low price of $299.

It will be able to record up to 20 hours of HD and up to 180 hours of SD.

Now I did show a picture of the Tivo Series 3 Lite a while back but apparently pictures of the unit have even been found on Amazons website.

All this info was found on the Tivo Community Forums. [via Engadget]