Email response from Circuit City

[zzyzzx]

I knew they they were too stupid to answer my question:

My question:
MESSAGE: When will I be able to buy a 20 CRT type TV with a ATSC/QAM
tuner built in?


Their answer:
Thank you for writing to www.circuitcity.com

I understand that you want to purchase 20 CRT type TV with a ATSC/QAM
tuner. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

We can suggest that you contact one of the knowledgeable sales
counselors at your local Circuit City Store. Our store associates
receive extensive training and should be able to remedy your situation.
It would be best to visit our store at an off-peak hour to obtain the
most expeditious assistance.

[WhoCares?]

This is obviously a corporate response that was written rather generically so as to relieve them from any responsibility. However, I am not surprised as the corporate office does not keep track of inventory at individual stores. Each store manager has discretionary purchase ability over and above what corporate sends them. In other words, there is a baseline of hardware/software that is sent to each store and store managers can include "non-standard" items in their inventory. This is normal for most stores, including Walmart, SAMS club, Best Buy, Comp-USA, etc.

If you're looking for a specific model, go to the store or call them on the phone.

[zzyzzx]

I was simply asking them when such a thing would become available. It's not available now. They should know that. I am expecting the people in the stores to be equally stupid, or possibly even stupider than their email response.

[Relayerman]

Then why bother to ask?

Relayerman

[zzyzzx]

In case they actually had an answer, and to see if they are as stupid as I expected. They are supposed ot have these things my March 1, 2007, so I'm expecting them to be there any day now. I'm looking forward to trashing my existing TV and getting one with an ATSC tuner in it.

[thecoalman]

Stupid questions get stupid answers... What did you expect? At best they could have given you an expected arrival date that would or would not have been applicable to you. Directing you to where to get the most relevant information IMO is the best response.

[jman98]

What exactly is a "20 CRT type TV"? I understand the ATSC/QAM part. Is the word "inches" missing but implied in this question?

Many companies, such as Amazon.com, outsource their email help desks to India. Don't be surprised if Sanjay doesn't know the answer to your question.

[handyguy]

What would be the point of having hdtv in a 20" set? It would look the same as non hdtv. That's why they don't make such small sets. They do make slightly larger ones with 3 hdtv tuners. Samsungs.

[kevo777]

You put too much faith in the retail world. Retailers don't control manufacturing or distribution. They "sell" stuff. Stick with when the manufacturer estimates availability. After that date or time period, then start hounding retailers. At least then it's easier for them to give a more realistic answer. The response you received from Circuit City is typical "fluff"; a PR-friendly way of saying "we really have no idea".

[gadgetguy]

What would be the point of having hdtv in a 20" set? It would look the same as non hdtv. That's why they don't make such small sets. They do make slightly larger ones with 3 hdtv tuners. Samsungs.

Who said anything about HD? He just wants a normal TV with a built in tuner that can receive digital transmissions at a reasonable cost (like sub-$200). This is what they should have flooded the market with in the beginning of the digital transition process to get everyone switched over to digital rather than attempting to force the transition to HD.

[JonnyCabs]

Try this link

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4091967

Its a 27" TV - the smallest available with ATSC built-in ($249 + shipping)

Hope that helps

On the subject of the email, re-read it.
The first paragraph is obviously written by a non-english person,possibly even computer generated, whilst the second is corporate auto-signature style text

[MJA]

or just buy the tuner box you can use it on any TV
I bought this few months ago using the google checkout .it was $149 at that time.


http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4144839


The 27' Toshiba isn't bad at all too,BUT THE SHIPPING SUX
$115.30

[zzyzzx]

What would be the point of having hdtv in a 20" set? It would look the same as non hdtv. That's why they don't make such small sets. They do make slightly larger ones with 3 hdtv tuners. Samsungs.

I don't want a HDTV in 20", I want a ATSC tuner it is for SDTV. And I also want one of these tuners in a VCR or DVD recorder (or TIVO like device, if anyone ever decides to make one that doesn't have a monthly fee).

[zzyzzx]

or just buy the tuner box you can use it on any TV
I bought this few months ago using the google checkout .it was $149 at that time.


http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4144839


The 27' Toshiba isn't bad at all too,BUT THE SHIPPING SUX
$115.30

I'm not interested in anything that doesn't have a built in tuner. I want to be able to watch regular TV and record another program with a VCR, as nature intended. I just want ATSC tuners in both devices and no HDTV. Been able to do that for years and want to keep on doing it.

[zzyzzx]

Try this link

http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4091967

Its a 27" TV - the smallest available with ATSC built-in ($249 + shipping)

Hope that helps

I know that Larget TV's already have the feature that I am looking for. I am impatiently waiting for it to appear in a TV small enough for me to want it. 20" is as big as I can go.

[RabidDog]

"20" is as big as I can go." I know! Car batteries are'nt really up to bigger Tv's and the Dashboards are not really big enough either!

[zoobie]

Best thing about CC is they make mistakes in my favor all the time...

[zzyzzx]

Best thing about CC is they make mistakes in my favor all the time...

Details please.

[zzyzzx]

These things are finally showing upon online stores:

http://officesupplieslane.com/sonkv20fs120.html

SONY [KV20FS120] 20IN FD Trinitron. WEGA HI-SCAN. Flat CRT Television
SONY [KV20FS120] FD Trinitron® WEGA™ HI-SCAN® Flat CRT Television 24-7/8wx19-1/4dx18-3/8h 20" Screen

Affordable excellence without compromising picture quality. Built-in full-digital ATSC tuner. Three-line digital comb filter ensures maximum picture detail and resolution. 16:9 enhanced aspect ratio. Program Palette™ presets include vivid, standard, movie and pro. Features cable connect, sleep timer, two-event clock/timer, closed captioning, favorite channel, Speed Surf™ channel selection and V-Chip program lockout. Component video, A/V, S-Video and RF inputs. Matrix provides fuller, more powerful audio. Headphone jack. Includes remote control. Energy Star® compliant.

I'm also curious as to why something with a digital tuner would need a comb filter???


And two more at Target's website

[WhoCares?]

I'm also curious as to why something with a digital tuner would need a comb filter???

My guess is that the comb filter is included for AV component hook-up, which would still be analog in nature.

I took the following from an article here.

- Comb filter. If a television does not have a comb filter, its resolution will be limited to about half the full potential of DVD. Most sets with comb filters can provide all of the resolution of DVD. The types of comb filters you'll see advertised, in order of lower to higher quality, include two-line, three-line, digital, and 3D YC varieties. They provide incremental improvements in performance, especially in reducing rainbows that can appear in fine detail, such as a talking head's suit coat. Comb filters affect only composite-video or RF connections (see Inputs and outputs).

[zzyzzx]

I actually went to a Circuit City and asked an employee whe I could expect to see a DVD recorder witha built in ATSC tuner. The employee was unfamiliar with what I was talking about and only proceeded to ask why anyone would want one. They were unfamiliar with the concept of OTA TV. Essentially, the salesperson was as stupid as I was expecting.

[zoobie]

Best thing about CC is they make mistakes in my favor all the time...

Details please.

Dunno how or why...It's just everytime I go to CC, they goof up and give me a lower price at checkout...not that I buy much from them...some dvd blanks...but I usually stay away from these chains.

[sanlyn]

If you are looking for someone "knowledgeable" at Circuit City, you're gonna be lookin' for a looooonnnnnggggg time.

[zzyzzx]

If you are looking for someone "knowledgeable" at Circuit City, you're gonna be lookin' for a looooonnnnnggggg time.

Yeah, espically since they are planning to lay off all their knowledgeable employees.

And the type of TV and DVD recorders (with built in digital tuners) are just hitting the market now. In another month or two I should have plenty of choices.

[edDV]

For those on cable, look for QAM capability in addition to ATSC (OTA) in a digital tuner. Most cable systems after rebuild will allow direct tuning QAM in clear local digital channels (including HDTV locals) without a cable box and with the basic cable plan. They are also supposed to support cable cards for advanced QAM tuners to allow direct TV tuning of encrypted premium channels again without a cable box.

Cable box rentals + remote add up to about $180/yr.

[sanlyn]

I have a 27" and 32" Toshiba Standard CRTs. As I've said, the image and audio on these sets is way too good for me to even think about getting rid of them any time soon (most people think they are both HDTV anyway). I realize that eventually I'll have to go HDTV, one day, but I'm in no great hurry for it regardless of improvements in image. Most people with old CRT's are using junk sets anyway, so anything new would look better to them.

Anyway, I have my cable signal split just before it goes into my cable box. One output goes to the digital box, the other RF goes straight into the RF on the back of one tv. On some stations I'm getting a better picture thru analog RF than I get from the box. I also want to keep that line split because my wife insists on viewing one station thru RF while I record another thru the box.

In 2009 I'll have to hook that analog RF to an ATSC tuner. I know I won't get scrambled channels, but I seldom watch those anyway. Anyone know of a good ATSC tuner already on the market? I searched the 'Net for 3 hours and never found one. I hear Samsung makes one, though I'm not nuts about that brand.