viewsonic vs. insignia 26" TV??

[mrtunes]

my apologies if this forum isn't for discussing specific tv sets, but i'm about to buy my first HD LCD TV and i was wondering which company has a better reputation? best buy is selling the insignia
and costco is selling the viewsonic 26" - both stores around the same price. but i don't know which company has a better rep or if anyone here knows the tv market well. thanks!

[edDV]

Insigna is mostly a low end house brand for Best Buy. Viewsonic has a better reputation as a computer monitor company.

The Insignia NSLCD26F lacks a digital ATSC tuner. This probably indicates it is older technology.

The Viewsonic looks better overall but I suggest you demo both with SD and HD sources.
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?catg=535&item=378848&prDeTab=2#A

[mrtunes]

The Insignia NSLCD26F lacks a digital ATSC tuner. This probably indicates it is older technology.

i don't know what a digital ATSC tuner is, i imagine it's an upcoming technology to replace the digital cable boxes that we all use? what would you say is worse, not having a digital ATSC tuner or not having HDMI input?

from what i understand that viewsonic has 1 HDMI input and that could be tricky if you ever have HD cable and HD DVD players. i believe that i read the insignia doesn't even have HDMI at all, it just has DVI. i'm actually not really hooked up with any HD sources but i imagine within 2 years they will be more in my reach. i don't replace my electronics that often.

[edDV]

The Insignia NSLCD26F lacks a digital ATSC tuner. This probably indicates it is older technology.

i don't know what a digital ATSC tuner is, i imagine it's an upcoming technology to replace the digital cable boxes that we all use? what would you say is worse, not having a digital ATSC tuner or not having HDMI input?

from what i understand that viewsonic has 1 HDMI input and that could be tricky if you ever have HD cable and HD DVD players. i believe that i read the insignia doesn't even have HDMI at all, it just has DVI. i'm actually not really hooked up with any HD sources but i imagine within 2 years they will be more in my reach. i don't replace my electronics that often.

OK, we were just looking at those two in the first pass. Ideally you would want the following

NTSC tuner (analog channels)
ASTC tuner (digital over the air channels)
QAM tuner (non-encrypted digital cable channels)

HDMI (with HDCP) two to three for cable/sat box, HD DVD, Camcorder
PC Port (VGA) to connect game console or computer
also component analog + S-Video inputs

[MEL15]

I wonder how many people are goin to use the astc tuner,not many I suppose

[edDV]

I wonder how many people are goin to use the astc tuner,not many I suppose

In USA, on Feb 17, 2009 analog NTSC broadcasting will be turned off forever. If you want TV over the air, ATSC will be your only choice. The young have only known cable. I guess they won't miss NTSC.

[mrtunes]

I wonder how many people are goin to use the astc tuner,not many I suppose

In USA, on Feb 17, 2009 analog NTSC broadcasting will be turned off forever. If you want TV over the air, ATSC will be your only choice. The young have only known cable. I guess they won't miss NTSC.

thanks for your help above clearing this stuff up.

amazing how they've set a date to get rid of ntsc cable. i imagine though that when this time rolls around you will be able to buy an adapter system? like the RF modulator? i guess this is a worthwhile concern cause it's essentially one year away if it's true. not sure what's going to happen in canada.

[edDV]

I wonder how many people are goin to use the astc tuner,not many I suppose

In USA, on Feb 17, 2009 analog NTSC broadcasting will be turned off forever. If you want TV over the air, ATSC will be your only choice. The young have only known cable. I guess they won't miss NTSC.

thanks for your help above clearing this stuff up.

amazing how they've set a date to get rid of ntsc cable. i imagine though that when this time rolls around you will be able to buy an adapter system? like the RF modulator? i guess this is a worthwhile concern cause it's essentially one year away if it's true. not sure what's going to happen in canada.

NTSC will be gone for over the air (in the USA) but not on cable. In Toronto this means US analog stations will dissapear that day if you are using an antenna. Canadian and Mexican stations will continue with NTSC for a few years.

After that you will need an ATSC digital tuner for over the air reception.

For cable, analog NTSC will continue for at least two more years in the USA and probably longer in Canada. When analog finally disappears from cable, only QAM tuners or cable boxes will work.

[lordsmurf]

I would imagine cable holding on to analog for a good deal longer than 2 years. I'd say 5-6, with some moving as early as 3-4.

[edDV]

I would imagine cable holding on to analog for a good deal longer than 2 years. I'd say 5-6, with some moving as early as 3-4.

Currently analog takes up over half the bandwidth of a typical cable system. Pressure on analog % comes from digital users that want more HD and VOD and from the FCC which is requiring QAM digital *and* analog for locals. That will force many two digit analog cable channels up into three digit digital as space is made for the new services.

The FCC requirement is that locals be offered in analog until 2012 but this might be extended. They do give the option for cable systems to go all digital so long as cable boxes are provided to "basic" customers without added fee.

[oldandinthe way]

Comcast has brought their Boston subscribers to all digital by giving free cable boxes. They are now giving free digital cable boxes to subscribers in the Boston suburbs without announcing the elimination of analog interfaces.

Its good business for them since their digital boxes can handle targeted ads and their analog cannot. It also lets them recycle boxes replaced by HD boxes and their DVRs. And it gets around the cable card mandate.

An aside, if you are a Comcast subscriber in an area served by FIOS, check your bill. If you are paying more than FIOS for fewer channels - Comcast is lowering bills and providing the digital tier for free - if you ask. If you don;t ask, you just overpay.

[edDV]

I wish Verizon would bring FIOS here

[mrtunes]

so i ended up getting the viewsonic cause apparently it's a better name brand with their history in the computer monitor business. i plugged in the TV and then i plugged in the analog cable - and then these huge blue sparks started flying and the cable jack got burnt and a little melted. what happened? that was really scary. i'm not sure i want to try another viewsonic after seeing that.

[oldandinthe way]

Fios will probably reach most areas which have Verizon local phone service or they will sell off the local phone service as they have in Maine, NH, and rural upstate new york.

They haven't made a push out of their own area.

If you are in an AT&T area watch for their fiber offering. They keep the copper to the house but fibre to the pole. Still better than traditional cable.

[edDV]

so i ended up getting the viewsonic cause apparently it's a better name brand with their history in the computer monitor business. i plugged in the TV and then i plugged in the analog cable - and then these huge blue sparks started flying and the cable jack got burnt and a little melted. what happened? that was really scary. i'm not sure i want to try another viewsonic after seeing that.

Yikes! Better call the cable company. Some AC must be on that cable.