Panasonic Tau 36" Flat Screen TV $899 free delivery Circuit City

[KJW]

Anyone else with this TV annoyed that you cannot swap the main picture and the P-I-P? I don't know if this is only while using a cable box, but it really reduces the benefit of having this feature.

and why isn't the TV listed on Panasonic's web site?

 

[kimchee411]

Originally posted by: ingenue007
Yeah does it take progressive scan?

Should I wait and get a HDTV ready tv?

Also does free delivery mean up 3 flight of stairs to my apt?

I believe Costco B&M has a 36" Toshiba HDTV set for $999. Well, they did a month or two ago.

 

[KJW]

The best I saw at Costco for a Toshiba 36" HDTV was about $1400.

 

[Aztech]

Originally posted by: KJW
Anyone else with this TV annoyed that you cannot swap the main picture and the P-I-P? I don't know if this is only while using a cable box, but it really reduces the benefit of having this feature.

and why isn't the TV listed on Panasonic's web site?

I can swap just fine, but I don't have a cable box.

 

[MemnochtheDevil]

Originally posted by: KJW
Anyone else with this TV annoyed that you cannot swap the main picture and the P-I-P? I don't know if this is only while using a cable box, but it really reduces the benefit of having this feature.

When you use an external tuner (ie cable box, satelite box) you bypass the 2 built in tuners and skip the benefits of using them. This would happen on any 2 tuner tv if you hooked it up through an external box. If you have to have the cable box for certain channels (pay-per-view, HBO, etc) your stuck with not being able to switch. If you can do without a cable box, take it out of the loop.

Personally I think cable boxes are a PIA, but as soon as I upgrade to digital cable I'll get stuck with one...

Memnoch

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: trikster2

Originally posted by: mithrandir2001
This is the CT36SX31. I think the only difference between it and the SX12 is that it has the 2-tuner PIP.

The front page of the CC ad says "Special Purchase" and "Amazing Price".

Seems like consumers are opting for the HD sets when you reach the kilobuck level so some wholesaler might have gotten "stuck" with a large stock of these now out-of-favor, but still very nice looking sets.

HDTV is beatuful but the Panasonic flat screen 36 inch HDTV is over twice the price (CT36HX42). That's a hefty premium to pay when 95% of my TV viewing does not support HDTV.

Since I'm upgrading a non-flat screen 27" 9 year old magnovox that does not even have S-Video or component inputs I think I could be happy with this one if it is not OOS.

I bought my 20" JVC NTSC TV in 1989 and at the time there was already excitement about HDTV which was said to be just over the horizon. It took WAY longer than anyone was talking about for the first HDTV broadcasts and TV/Monitors to materialize. It's coming on, and from the looks of the stores, strong. In fact I think that the way the wind is blowing, they are making the takeover of HDTV inevitable, and way sooner than the 13+ years since I got my 20" JVC. I had every expectation when I got that 20" that the next TV I would buy would be HDTV, and I haven't changed my mind. That 20" has lost some brightness, but other than that, it's OK. It does have S-Video and line audio outputs. My next TV will be HDTV, and from what I'm seeing in the stores, I guess a plasma. Why do the non-plasma HDTV's have SO much in the way of reflections off the screen? It's hard to imagine that not being an annoyance.

AFA PIP is concerned, I love it and use it often. One of my two SVHS VCR's supports PIP, and I can use the other VCR for the 2nd tuner, or use its own tuner when watching a tape if I want to see what's on broadcast TV in a corner. And I can reverse the positions of the images, of course, and move the image to any corner, and the sources are swapable. You can even FF/REW the In-Picture source, and see both while it's going on. 2 tuner PIP is cool, but HDTV will be even cooler - IF there's enough good, not-too-expensive HDTV programs available. NTSC is only 330 lines, you know. HDTV is 1080, eh? Of course, it's all too prevalent that there's N channels available but there's "nothin' on" (if you get my meaning) !

 

[KJW]

I would not be so quick to jump on HDTV. Delivery format is still not agreed upon by the major players (i.e., set manufacturers, program producers, and content providers (cable, satellite, etc.)), so an add-on box to receive signals will likely be required for existing sets that do not have special DVI inputs. In addition, its not even clear that Hollywood will deliver digital programing to sets without hardware decoding built-in to prevent unauthorized copying (for all those people dying to distribute bootleg copies of Frasier.) In addition, sales of digital sets are not going well. It was anticipated that digial TVs sales were going to save the just-ended holiday sales season like DVD players have done for the past few years, but it never happened. The bottom line is no one is pushing for digital TV except retailers -- not the public and not the studios. The funny thing is, the party most anxious is the government so it can auction the analog TV frequencies for other uses. The delays have gotten so bad that last summer Congress had to order a complete change to digital by 2006, but that is unlikely to happen.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: KJW
I would not be so quick to jump on HDTV. Delivery format is still not agreed upon by the major players (i.e., set manufacturers, program producers, and content providers (cable, satellite, etc.)), so an add-on box to receive signals will likely be required for existing sets that do not have special DVI inputs. In addition, its not even clear that Hollywood will deliver digital programing to sets without hardware decoding built-in to prevent unauthorized copying (for all those people dying to distribute bootleg copies of Frasier.) In addition, sales of digital sets are not going well. It was anticipated that digial TVs sales were going to save the just-ended holiday sales season like DVD players have done for the past few years, but it never happened. The bottom line is no one is pushing for digital TV except retailers -- not the public and not the studios. The funny thing is, the party most anxious is the government so it can auction the analog TV frequencies for other uses. The delays have gotten so bad that last summer Congress had to order a complete change to digital by 2006, but that is unlikely to happen.

It's very weird. When I bought my NTSC 20" JVC in 1989, they said HDTV was going to come in strong and take over the US in less than a handful of years. Europe and Japan already had their HDTV standards decided upon and working - i.e. people there were watching high definition television in the 1980s. Why hasn't it happened here? It's only a matter of time. Question: Where do you go for an impartial and practical assessment of what's going on? I used to subscribe to a couple of video magazines, and that's where I got most of my info, but that was around 1988-1990. What's a good source of dependable info now, preferably online?

 

[Grimm1]

FYI - From Audio Review Dot Com

 

[kimchee411]

Originally posted by: KJW
I would not be so quick to jump on HDTV. Delivery format is still not agreed upon by the major players (i.e., set manufacturers, program producers, and content providers (cable, satellite, etc.)), so an add-on box to receive signals will likely be required for existing sets that do not have special DVI inputs. In addition, its not even clear that Hollywood will deliver digital programing to sets without hardware decoding built-in to prevent unauthorized copying (for all those people dying to distribute bootleg copies of Frasier.) In addition, sales of digital sets are not going well. It was anticipated that digial TVs sales were going to save the just-ended holiday sales season like DVD players have done for the past few years, but it never happened. The bottom line is no one is pushing for digital TV except retailers -- not the public and not the studios. The funny thing is, the party most anxious is the government so it can auction the analog TV frequencies for other uses. The delays have gotten so bad that last summer Congress had to order a complete change to digital by 2006, but that is unlikely to happen.

I think the 16:9 aspect ratio and progressive scan are the most attractive features of HDTV sets. I doubt many people buy them for the actual HDTV broadcasts.

 

[Muse]

I think the 16:9 aspect ratio and progressive scan are the most attractive features of HDTV sets. I doubt many people buy them for the actual HDTV broadcasts.

Well, eventually presumably, there will be a lot more HDTV broadcasts. Where do you go to get a handle on what's up with video broadcast technology?

 

[Openlate]

Originally posted by: Grimm1
FYI - From Audio Review Dot Com

When those reviews on there complain about the mis-matched lines and letterboxes they are right. My TV is mis-matched and I am waiting for Circuit City to get more in for an exchange.

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: Openlate

Originally posted by: trikster2

Nice picture!

Notice your five remote controls

I've got the same thing. Have yet to find a remote that works with: DishPVR, TV, Old Panasonic DVD, Onkyo reciever.

Either they just don't work (i.e. dishPVR remote with panasonic DVD) or they work but it is all dorked up (Like my onkyo reciever. remote works but you have to tap the volume to make it go up or down. Volume level is 0 to 100 so 100 taps to go full range. silly).

I am actually using just one remote. That is simply my collection of remotes, haha.

I use the Philips 8-Device Universal Remote With LCD

Operates everything without a problem. TV, DVD, Digicable, Receiver. Can learn commands from other remotes also. Highly recommended. It takes about 30mins to an hour to really get it dialed in exactly how you want it.

On the way home tonight stopped to pick up a battery from radioshack and got

This remote control

Actually got two as we are always loosing them.

Programmed in the new panny, dishpvr, old panasonic DVD player and onkyo reciever. So far everyting works, can even do the menu for the TV.

Well almost everything. PVR functions of dishpvr are not working. But it is a "learning" remote so when I get more ambitious I'lll try to make them work.......

 

[trikster2]

Originally posted by: bigsmooth

Will I gain a lot in quality by moving off from the single regular video cables and using the component for DVD and S-Video for my dishnetwork?

Yes. S-Video will be noticeably better than composite video (single RCA cable) and component video is even better than S-Video.

I went and got the Monster S-Video 3. A $50 6 foot cable. One of the best they had at best buys..

I can't see any difference between the composite (single RCA cable) and super duper monster S-Video cable using the signals from my disnetwork box and switching between the two sources.

Is that because

A: electronics (comb filter velocity modulation or whatever) make up for the deficiencies of the composite (single RCA cable)?

B: Disnetwork sucks and S-Video can't make it any better

Or

C: my eyes just suck and I would not notice a better picture if it bit me on the but?

I don't have a test patern but have compared a variety of sources including the fine texte on bloomberg info channel and CNN, colorful things like south park and just plain ole movies and other television.

 

[kp1126]

you forgot D: Monster Cable aint nothing more than thicker wire and nice metal connectors. I've never really noticed a difference in PQ either when I bought those expensive cables.

 

[partialwrtx]

Originally posted by: kp1126
you forgot D: Monster Cable aint nothing more than thicker wire and nice metal connectors. I've never really noticed a difference in PQ either when I bought those expensive cables.

Likewise. I can't tell the difference in PQ between signals using S-video, component video, or regular yellow white red connections and I have a good TV and a good DVD player. It's all bull

 

[KJW]

Originally posted by: MemnochtheDevil

Originally posted by: KJW
Anyone else with this TV annoyed that you cannot swap the main picture and the P-I-P? I don't know if this is only while using a cable box, but it really reduces the benefit of having this feature.

When you use an external tuner (ie cable box, satelite box) you bypass the 2 built in tuners and skip the benefits of using them. This would happen on any 2 tuner tv if you hooked it up through an external box. If you have to have the cable box for certain channels (pay-per-view, HBO, etc) your stuck with not being able to switch. If you can do without a cable box, take it out of the loop.

Personally I think cable boxes are a PIA, but as soon as I upgrade to digital cable I'll get stuck with one...

Memnoch

Can I use the swap feature with a cable box if I split the cable before it enters the TV and then put one signal through the cable box and VCR into the TV and the other directly into the TV?

 

[MemnochtheDevil]

Can I use the swap feature with a cable box if I split the cable before it enters the TV and then put one signal through the cable box and VCR into the TV and the other directly into the TV?

Maybe, it depends on how you are connecting your cable box to the tv and how this particular tv handles switching. I would think that would work, has anyone here set theirs up this way? One downside to this might be that every channel wouldn't be available in you pip window (the channels you need a cable box for).

Anyone else have any thoughts?

 

[popeye44]

Memnoch I'm fairly certain you have the correct assessment of it.

When I first bought this sony 27 I have with pip I used a cable box and regular cable. the only thing the box was good for was those channels I subscribed to. The standard "basic cable" was giving me everything else. splitting the cable allowed me to see what was on the box and what was on basic at the same time and swap them.. I'd have to hook it up again to see exactly how I did it since my sony vcr has this weird mouse looking thing for controlling cable boxes it's a pita to setup. I haven't paid for more than basic cable in a long while "i'm just not a big watcher of tv"

When i do watch tv.. i want one like this 36 to do it on.. hehe I'm suddenly indecisive about where to spend my tax refundage

 

[Muse]

trikster2: When I bought a TV with S-Video in and two SVHS VCR's over a decade ago I too compared the difference between watching via composite and the S-Video and could not detect a difference. I concluded that S-Video more more hype than anything else. I'm not sure that's true, but "seeing is believing."

 

[masterxfob]

circuit city just delivered my set i set it up and noticed a single dead pixel on the screen.....not all that noticable, but should i exchange it?

 

[KJW]

Originally posted by: masterxfob
circuit city just delivered my set i set it up and noticed a single dead pixel on the screen.....not all that noticable, but should i exchange it?

A dead pixel on a television? a CRT television? I've never heard of that.

 

[Runciter]

If you can't tell (much? any?) difference between composite (the yellow wire) and S-video, that means your comb filter is doing a great job. The primary purpose of it is to separate the luminance (Y) from the chrominance (c). The S-video (aka Y/C) cable already does this and bypasses the comb filter on your set. The separation will either occur in the set, or in the video unit (say DVD player). Component is a whole nother issue.

 

[MemnochtheDevil]

Originally posted by: Runciter
If you can't tell (much? any?) difference between composite (the yellow wire) and S-video, that means your comb filter is doing a great job. The primary purpose of it is to separate the luminance (Y) from the chrominance (c). The S-video (aka Y/C) cable already does this and bypasses the comb filter on your set. The separation will either occur in the set, or in the video unit (say DVD player). Component is a whole nother issue.

Yeah, not to start up a cable arguement, but on the wega setup we showed my friends wife the difference between component and composite. It was very noticeable... The cables we used were decent but nothing special. This was from a sony dvd player to a 36" wega.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: Runciter
If you can't tell (much? any?) difference between composite (the yellow wire) and S-video, that means your comb filter is doing a great job. The primary purpose of it is to separate the luminance (Y) from the chrominance (c). The S-video (aka Y/C) cable already does this and bypasses the comb filter on your set. The separation will either occur in the set, or in the video unit (say DVD player). Component is a whole nother issue.

That's true, a high-quality comb filter can definitely make a difference. Also, 36" is still (relatively) small enough that any improvement the S-Video cable offers might not be noticeable. I've read on some of the HT forums that you can certainly tell the difference on anything bigger than 36".