Help_technical carnage!!

Woodstock · 16-03-2008, 16:16

My large TV and video have both broken within the last week and considering they're both really old, I'm now wondering what to get next.

Problem is, I haven't taken a foray into the tech market for years so have NO idea what I'm looking for.

All I want is a decent sized TV (not necessarily flatscreen), with freeview and some kind of way to record off terrestrial tv (ie video equivalent). I already have a seperate DVD player which isn't a recorder.

I don't want to be paying a fortune, in fact, the cheaper the better, but want something that will last.

Can anyone help me with some ideas for what I should be looking for???

Thank you,
from someone very much stuck in the 20th century!

16-03-2008, 16:39

If you are not a perfectionist when it comes to picture quality as you just want a half decent picture and you are not to bothered about top brand names, then one of the supermarket branded LCD TV's and VCR's or even a DVDR could be worth looking at as they will be cheaper than the high street stores.

I believe they still even do widescreen CRT's, so if you are happy with the technology you have now and you are not interested in HD now or the foreseeable future then CRT could still be for you.

Most supermarkets have an electrical department of sorts, have a look the next time your shopping you may find something that catches your eye that you like the look of for the right price.

the hamster · 16-03-2008, 19:01

Give me an idea of budget as I could recommend things that are way out of your league financially.

An idea of screen size would be useful, how big was your old tv?

Also, how often do you record from tv? Do you record, watch then record over it or do you have a library full of old vhs tapes?

Just so I have a better idea.

Woodstock · 16-03-2008, 19:19

Thanks for the replies.

I tend to record and then record over stuff, unless its a film I want to keep. I've been ploughing the internet and it seems that a freeview recorder may be the way to go.

Ideally I want to be spending an absolute maximum of £3-400 in total, and on something that'll last as long as my trusty old TV has!

I'm just wary of getting something that wont outlive all this digital switchover malarkey...

Nigel Goodwin · 16-03-2008, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodstock

Ideally I want to be spending an absolute maximum of £3-400 in total, and on something that'll last as long as my trusty old TV has!

At that budget you're not likely to find anything to last any great length of time, you're really at the absolute low end of the market, unless you're wanting a really small TV?.

the hamster · 16-03-2008, 22:26

I agree with Nigel. Unless you want budget supermarket stuff that lasts 18 months you are going to be hard pushed to buy quality items new. Please dont think that budget tv's/equipment are good value for money, they are'nt.

Theres plenty of people complaining on here that after 14 months their (insert name of supermarket brand here) tv or freeview box has gone bang and its out of warranty. They are faced with a bill that is 50% of the cost of the tv to repair it. MY advice is spend the extra and gain some piece of mind.

£400 is going to get you a small (under 26") LCD and a resonable PVR/Recordable Freeview box.

Bear in mind that if this set-up is going to "future proof" you may need an aerial upgrade on top of this to make the most of the equipment and get all the channels.

Unfortunately, being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century isnt cheap!

How "big" was your old tv?

the hamster · 16-03-2008, 22:34

something like this

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...&pid=LG-22LS4D

or this

http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...&pid=LG-27LC2R

with one of these

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...text%3EPVR.htm

is a reasonable set up, but there are other deals around at places like Currys.

If you shop around, find what you like then post the model numbers on here people can give their opinion and other alternatives.

r_mitchell85 · 17-03-2008, 01:34

If you say your not worried about a flat screen - why dont you have a look at http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh.../crt-tvs.html?
you get a lot more screen for your money - and if the TV is in the corner of the room (they quite often are) then it seems daft paying for a flat pannel screen anyway.

the downside is that you wont be HD ready. (i dunno if you're fussed about that ) but there are quite a lot of people who will argue that the standard def picture quality on a good traditional (CRT) TV is much better than LCD or plasma.

Some of them have built in freeview - but Id suggest getting a PVR or a dvd recorder with built in freeview so you can tape stuff!

jibberjabber2b · 17-03-2008, 02:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by r_mitchell85

If you say your not worried about a flat screen - why dont you have a look at http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh.../crt-tvs.html?

Sorry Mitchell, just gotta correct your link. The ? at the end should be removed.

http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh...e/crt-tvs.html

r_mitchell85 · 17-03-2008, 02:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by jibberjabber2b

Sorry Mitchell, just gotta correct your link. The ? at the end should be removed.

http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh...e/crt-tvs.html

thanks dude, dont know how I ended up with a ? in there!!!

Nigel Goodwin · 17-03-2008, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by r_mitchell85

If you say your not worried about a flat screen - why dont you have a look at http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh.../crt-tvs.html?
you get a lot more screen for your money - and if the TV is in the corner of the room (they quite often are) then it seems daft paying for a flat pannel screen anyway.

the downside is that you wont be HD ready. (i dunno if you're fussed about that ) but there are quite a lot of people who will argue that the standard def picture quality on a good traditional (CRT) TV is much better than LCD or plasma.

But not on TV's so such low a quality as the supermarket ones, they are really poor, and usually have a very short life expectancy.

r_mitchell85 · 17-03-2008, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin

But not on TV's so such low a quality as the supermarket ones, they are really poor, and usually have a very short life expectancy.

even JVC and Daewoo ones?

Nigel Goodwin · 17-03-2008, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by r_mitchell85

even JVC and Daewoo ones?

Well Daewoo are pretty well the 'lowest of the low' (giving Vestel a run for their money), and the JVC's are just badged Vestel sets, JVC only rarely make their own TV's.

r_mitchell85 · 17-03-2008, 11:51

In which case I stand corrected.
In saying "supermarket TVs" I assumed you meant own brand stuff such as Onn, Durabrand or Mastui (that kind of thing)

At one time, all electrical gear you bought from an Adsa store had a free 3 year warranty. Im not sure if this still stands, but if you buy off their website its the standard 12 months!

Nigel Goodwin · 17-03-2008, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by r_mitchell85

In which case I stand corrected.
In saying "supermarket TVs" I assumed you meant own brand stuff such as Onn, Durabrand or Mastui (that kind of thing)

The JVC and Daewoo are of similar quality, and quite possibly exactly the same set.

Quote:

At one time, all electrical gear you bought from an Adsa store had a free 3 year warranty. Im not sure if this still stands, but if you buy off their website its the standard 12 months!

They stopped it a number of years ago, as soon as they found out the high failure rate of the cheap product they were selling. However, for the customer it was a great deal

a friends sister bought a DVD player with a three year warranty from Asda, every 9 months it packed up, she took it back, and they gave her a new one, plus a refund for the difference in price!

Providence · 17-03-2008, 15:51

Slightly risky I know but check your local friday ads or scoop and you'll probably find lots of name brand, not very old CRTs being sold under £50.

That's probably the best way of getting a good CRT that'll last, now that the big brands aren't making them.

the hamster · 17-03-2008, 17:05

CRT tv's are dead technology. A customer GAVE me a 28" Widescreen Sony tv, with built in Freeview as he had upgraded to a plasma and didnt want the hassle of disposal. He was elderly and it was a heavy set but he twisted my arm and I took it away.

Passed it on to a mate who was renting his tv so he could save a few quid.

Nigel Goodwin · 17-03-2008, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by the hamster

CRT tv's are dead technology. A customer GAVE me a 28" Widescreen Sony tv, with built in Freeview as he had upgraded to a plasma and didnt want the hassle of disposal. He was elderly and it was a heavy set but he twisted my arm and I took it away.

Yes, even top CRT sets are pretty well worthless now

As someone who works for a company that rents TV's as well as sells them, you don't want to know how many CRT sets have come back because the customer upgrades to an LCD.

The rental model assumes that when it comes back to stock you can refurbish it and sell it on, but they are coming back worth nothing at all. Still that's the risk you take, and why (in some circumstances) renting can be a good thing.

Woodstock · 20-03-2008, 07:15

Cheers for all the replies everyone...I think Easter weekend is going to be spent trawling the net and electrical shops...

....for supermarket brands it does depend what you're buying. My cheapo Tesco DVD player's fab!

16-03-2008, 16:16	#1
Woodstock Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 198	Help_technical carnage!! My large TV and video have both broken within the last week and considering they're both really old, I'm now wondering what to get next. Problem is, I haven't taken a foray into the tech market for years so have NO idea what I'm looking for. All I want is a decent sized TV (not necessarily flatscreen), with freeview and some kind of way to record off terrestrial tv (ie video equivalent). I already have a seperate DVD player which isn't a recorder. I don't want to be paying a fortune, in fact, the cheaper the better, but want something that will last. Can anyone help me with some ideas for what I should be looking for??? Thank you, from someone very much stuck in the 20th century!

16-03-2008, 16:39	#2
TommyW Posts: n/a	If you are not a perfectionist when it comes to picture quality as you just want a half decent picture and you are not to bothered about top brand names, then one of the supermarket branded LCD TV's and VCR's or even a DVDR could be worth looking at as they will be cheaper than the high street stores. I believe they still even do widescreen CRT's, so if you are happy with the technology you have now and you are not interested in HD now or the foreseeable future then CRT could still be for you. Most supermarkets have an electrical department of sorts, have a look the next time your shopping you may find something that catches your eye that you like the look of for the right price.

16-03-2008, 19:01	#3
the hamster Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: AA Aerials, Grantham & Melton Posts: 1,034	Give me an idea of budget as I could recommend things that are way out of your league financially. An idea of screen size would be useful, how big was your old tv? Also, how often do you record from tv? Do you record, watch then record over it or do you have a library full of old vhs tapes? Just so I have a better idea.

16-03-2008, 19:19	#4
Woodstock Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 198	Thanks for the replies. I tend to record and then record over stuff, unless its a film I want to keep. I've been ploughing the internet and it seems that a freeview recorder may be the way to go. Ideally I want to be spending an absolute maximum of £3-400 in total, and on something that'll last as long as my trusty old TV has! I'm just wary of getting something that wont outlive all this digital switchover malarkey...

16-03-2008, 19:55	#5
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by Woodstock Ideally I want to be spending an absolute maximum of £3-400 in total, and on something that'll last as long as my trusty old TV has! At that budget you're not likely to find anything to last any great length of time, you're really at the absolute low end of the market, unless you're wanting a really small TV?.

16-03-2008, 22:26	#6
the hamster Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: AA Aerials, Grantham & Melton Posts: 1,034	I agree with Nigel. Unless you want budget supermarket stuff that lasts 18 months you are going to be hard pushed to buy quality items new. Please dont think that budget tv's/equipment are good value for money, they are'nt. Theres plenty of people complaining on here that after 14 months their (insert name of supermarket brand here) tv or freeview box has gone bang and its out of warranty. They are faced with a bill that is 50% of the cost of the tv to repair it. MY advice is spend the extra and gain some piece of mind. £400 is going to get you a small (under 26") LCD and a resonable PVR/Recordable Freeview box. Bear in mind that if this set-up is going to "future proof" you may need an aerial upgrade on top of this to make the most of the equipment and get all the channels. Unfortunately, being dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century isnt cheap! How "big" was your old tv?

16-03-2008, 22:34	#7
the hamster Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: AA Aerials, Grantham & Melton Posts: 1,034	something like this http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...&pid=LG-22LS4D or this http://www.richersounds.com/showprod...&pid=LG-27LC2R with one of these http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...text%3EPVR.htm is a reasonable set up, but there are other deals around at places like Currys. If you shop around, find what you like then post the model numbers on here people can give their opinion and other alternatives.

17-03-2008, 01:34	#8
r_mitchell85 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,884	If you say your not worried about a flat screen - why dont you have a look at http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh.../crt-tvs.html? you get a lot more screen for your money - and if the TV is in the corner of the room (they quite often are) then it seems daft paying for a flat pannel screen anyway. the downside is that you wont be HD ready. (i dunno if you're fussed about that ) but there are quite a lot of people who will argue that the standard def picture quality on a good traditional (CRT) TV is much better than LCD or plasma. Some of them have built in freeview - but Id suggest getting a PVR or a dvd recorder with built in freeview so you can tape stuff!

17-03-2008, 02:29	#9
jibberjabber2b Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London Posts: 721	Quote: Originally Posted by r_mitchell85 If you say your not worried about a flat screen - why dont you have a look at http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh.../crt-tvs.html? Sorry Mitchell, just gotta correct your link. The ? at the end should be removed. http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh...e/crt-tvs.html

17-03-2008, 02:36	#10
r_mitchell85 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,884	Quote: Originally Posted by jibberjabber2b Sorry Mitchell, just gotta correct your link. The ? at the end should be removed. http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh...e/crt-tvs.html thanks dude, dont know how I ended up with a ? in there!!!

17-03-2008, 09:58	#11
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by r_mitchell85 If you say your not worried about a flat screen - why dont you have a look at http://www.asda-electricals.co.uk/sh.../crt-tvs.html? you get a lot more screen for your money - and if the TV is in the corner of the room (they quite often are) then it seems daft paying for a flat pannel screen anyway. the downside is that you wont be HD ready. (i dunno if you're fussed about that ) but there are quite a lot of people who will argue that the standard def picture quality on a good traditional (CRT) TV is much better than LCD or plasma. But not on TV's so such low a quality as the supermarket ones, they are really poor, and usually have a very short life expectancy.

17-03-2008, 11:36	#12
r_mitchell85 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,884	Quote: Originally Posted by Nigel Goodwin But not on TV's so such low a quality as the supermarket ones, they are really poor, and usually have a very short life expectancy. even JVC and Daewoo ones?

17-03-2008, 11:42	#13
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by r_mitchell85 even JVC and Daewoo ones? Well Daewoo are pretty well the 'lowest of the low' (giving Vestel a run for their money), and the JVC's are just badged Vestel sets, JVC only rarely make their own TV's.

17-03-2008, 11:51	#14
r_mitchell85 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 4,884	In which case I stand corrected. In saying "supermarket TVs" I assumed you meant own brand stuff such as Onn, Durabrand or Mastui (that kind of thing) At one time, all electrical gear you bought from an Adsa store had a free 3 year warranty. Im not sure if this still stands, but if you buy off their website its the standard 12 months!

17-03-2008, 13:31	#15
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by r_mitchell85 In which case I stand corrected. In saying "supermarket TVs" I assumed you meant own brand stuff such as Onn, Durabrand or Mastui (that kind of thing) The JVC and Daewoo are of similar quality, and quite possibly exactly the same set. Quote: At one time, all electrical gear you bought from an Adsa store had a free 3 year warranty. Im not sure if this still stands, but if you buy off their website its the standard 12 months! They stopped it a number of years ago, as soon as they found out the high failure rate of the cheap product they were selling. However, for the customer it was a great deal a friends sister bought a DVD player with a three year warranty from Asda, every 9 months it packed up, she took it back, and they gave her a new one, plus a refund for the difference in price!

17-03-2008, 15:51	#16
Providence Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 841	Slightly risky I know but check your local friday ads or scoop and you'll probably find lots of name brand, not very old CRTs being sold under £50. That's probably the best way of getting a good CRT that'll last, now that the big brands aren't making them.

17-03-2008, 17:05	#17
the hamster Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: AA Aerials, Grantham & Melton Posts: 1,034	CRT tv's are dead technology. A customer GAVE me a 28" Widescreen Sony tv, with built in Freeview as he had upgraded to a plasma and didnt want the hassle of disposal. He was elderly and it was a heavy set but he twisted my arm and I took it away. Passed it on to a mate who was renting his tv so he could save a few quid.

17-03-2008, 17:56	#18
Nigel Goodwin Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: North Derbyshire Posts: 41,789	Quote: Originally Posted by the hamster CRT tv's are dead technology. A customer GAVE me a 28" Widescreen Sony tv, with built in Freeview as he had upgraded to a plasma and didnt want the hassle of disposal. He was elderly and it was a heavy set but he twisted my arm and I took it away. Yes, even top CRT sets are pretty well worthless now As someone who works for a company that rents TV's as well as sells them, you don't want to know how many CRT sets have come back because the customer upgrades to an LCD. The rental model assumes that when it comes back to stock you can refurbish it and sell it on, but they are coming back worth nothing at all. Still that's the risk you take, and why (in some circumstances) renting can be a good thing.

20-03-2008, 07:15	#19
Woodstock Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 198	Cheers for all the replies everyone...I think Easter weekend is going to be spent trawling the net and electrical shops... ....for supermarket brands it does depend what you're buying. My cheapo Tesco DVD player's fab!

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