fritz@hpfcla.UUCP (01/14/86)
I'd like a few opinions:
My faithful old TV (15-yr-old Zenith 25" color set; tube was replaced about
6 years, ago, so the color was still pretty good) has died. It wasn't great,
but for $100 5 years ago I'd say I got my money's worth.
But now I have to replace it. (Well, I don't *have* to; I've lived without
a TV before and didn't perish. But there are a FEW decent shows out there!)
Since I don't watch a lot of TV, I gag at the thought of dropping megabux on
a set. However, I have the following requirements:
- Large (at LEAST 19") color screen
- Remote control (by GOD I'm gonna mute those !%*#*!#@!! commercials!)
- Small physical size, as in the new monitors
A decent 25" color set w/remote is in the range of $4-500. Horrible, but
I guess I can live with it.
However, since I plan to have this thing for a LONG time, I'm wondering if
I'll regret it if I don't get a stereo TV. I know, I know, I can buy an
outboard MTS decoder, or buy a stereo VCR, but let's not think about that
now. As long as I gotta buy a new box anyway, I'd prefer to have the stereo
in the TV itself. But a 25" stereo TV is something on the order of $800
or more. Stereo seems to add at least $2-300 to the cost of a 25" set.
I can't believe the circuitry actually costs that much; I suspect they are
milking the public for a new technology.
My question (finally): How soon will stereo TV's come down to a reasonable
price? If I waited 6 months with a loaner TV (or no TV) [TV or no TV, that
is the question], would the prices drop appreciably? Or should I just bite
the bullet and get a stereo TV now? Or is stereo going to be another flash
in the pan like quad audio, or a standards battle like Beta/VHS, and I
shouldn't bother?
Please MAIL me any ideas or inside scoops. If you have any recommendations
of favorite models, etc, I'll take them too. I want a good price, but good
picture quality and well-designed, long-lasting equipment are more important.
Thanks,
Gary Fritz
Hewlett Packard
Ft Collins, CO
{ihnp4,hplabs}!hpfcla!fritz