Acer LCD tv's

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farmerjo

4 posts

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#12356 13-Mar-2007 12:19

Hi, We are planning a new tv. The big brand lcd's eg Sony, Toshiba are still quite expensive, so found acer on the internet. We went to Harvey Norman and they have the AT3705 MGW, awsome tv, but it is $2999. The one that is in our price range is the AT3720B, $1998 through DSE Powerhouse stores. But it says it only has a analog tuner no digital, so what exactly does that mean? I really don;t underatand alot of the specs they give on tV's..lol, so was wonder if someone here can help me out. Thank you

tallPete

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Master Geek

#63576 13-Mar-2007 14:42

Have a look at the Consumers Institute website (http://www.consumer.org.nz) - they explain a lot of the terms around LCD TV's and other appliances. If you subscribe, they also provide impartial reviews and recommendations of product.

ZiglioNZ

194 posts

Master Geek

#63578 13-Mar-2007 15:03

Those people that can get freeview trials could tell you what type of digital tuner is needed, I guess it's the same type they use in the U.K.
I'm not sure whether they sell TVs with digital tuners that would work here 100% when they start.
But they will start pretty slowly next year... so I wouldn't worry if you need a TV now.
If you can wait, just wait for 1080p models to appear, that would make 720p models cheaper

sbiddle

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#63590 13-Mar-2007 15:39

ZiglioNZ: Those people that can get freeview trials could tell you what type of digital tuner is needed, I guess it's the same type they use in the U.K.

I'm not sure whether they sell TVs with digital tuners that would work here 100% when they start.

But they will start pretty slowly next year... so I wouldn't worry if you need a TV now.

If you can wait, just wait for 1080p models to appear, that would make 720p models cheaper

A built in digital tuner means the TV will be able to receive DVB-T broadcasts which are due to start in NZ next February. Most devices with built in DVB-T only support MPEG2 whereas NZ will use MPEG4 hence the reason no TV's are coming into NZ with build in tuners as they would not work. Expect to see TV's here later this year or next year with built in DVB-T tuners that will work with FreeView.

The whole 720p vs 1080p battle is a bit meaningless. Telling the difference is virtually impossible and it's unlikely we will see any broadcasts in NZ using 1080p as NZ will more than likely be using 720p for HD broadcasts as is the case virtually everywhere else in the world apart from the USA.

tstone

381 posts

Ultimate Geek

#63672 14-Mar-2007 08:37

Yes but you won't be able to watch those Blu-Ray and HD-DVD's (not to mention PS3 games) in their full glorious resolution with 720p. I saw a Blu-Ray player at 1080p on a Sony LCD screen in Noel Leeming's a few weeks back. Boy was that nice!

cyril7

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#63684 14-Mar-2007 10:47

Overseas experience has shown that below 60odd inch diagonal there is little benifit in 1080 over 720.

A recent BBC white paper using double blind tests showed that even experienced video engineers and operators could not reliably see any picture difference between 1028x720 and 1920x1080 sources on 42" 1920/1080 screens at typical domestic viewing distances.

1080p is irrelivent with respect to resolution, it does have some impact on displaying 24fps film sources from the likes of BlueRay but it is unlikely you would have noticed any difference if the player had been outputing 1080i or 1080p if the source was film other than some potential 2:3 pulldown judder.

At this point no BlueRay or HD-DVD players (or DVB operators) are implementing the ICT flag and it would seem that will continue for some time, therefore you can still use the HD component video input and still achieve 720p and 1080i.

Cyril

ZiglioNZ

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Master Geek

#64587 21-Mar-2007 23:01

Still 720p (actual NZ) models should become cheaper as soon as 1080p models arrive.
I've spotted a 37'' Philips one for $5K.

sbiddle

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#64627 22-Mar-2007 09:03

ZiglioNZ: Still 720p (actual NZ) models should become cheaper as soon as 1080p models arrive.

I've spotted a 37'' Philips one for $5K.

I don't think this will necessarily happen - I think we'll just see the newer models appearing that support native 1920x1080 resolution rather than the 1280x768/1366x768. Prices of full HD LCD's are pretty reasonable now it's just full HD plasmas are a little on the expensive side!

Tradepub

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irjaam

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#64737 22-Mar-2007 20:28

farmerjo: Hi, We are planning a new tv. The big brand lcd's eg Sony, Toshiba are still quite expensive, so found acer on the internet. We went to Harvey Norman and they have the AT3705 MGW, awsome tv, but it is $2999. The one that is in our price range is the AT3720B, $1998 through DSE Powerhouse stores. But it says it only has a analog tuner no digital, so what exactly does that mean? I really don;t underatand alot of the specs they give on tV's..lol, so was wonder if someone here can help me out. Thank you

I bought MGW model about 8 months ago and I can tell you that if is an impressive TV for the price. It was listed for 4699 when bought, but I bought through under 3grand going through pricespy nz website. People who have similar priced Sony and Panasonic are highly impressed with my choice, MGW model have DVB-t built in, I have just posted a question here in the forum to understand how I can use this digital tuner to work with freeview channels.
If you can afford it then go for it when DSE have interest free deals. The added advantage is all the media streaming from your home network, my kids just love to see all the thousands of pictures I have of them on my Pc's through the big screen TV with obviously your favorite tunes playing in the awsome srs sound.

lchiu7

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#64756 22-Mar-2007 21:10

..

At this point no BlueRay or HD-DVD players (or DVB operators) are implementing the ICT flag and it would seem that will continue for some time, therefore you can still use the HD component video input and still achieve 720p and 1080i.

Cyril

I think the ICT is a flag on the disc, not a feature on the player. If the flag is on, then the player will downrez any content that is not coming out of the digital outputs (assuming HDCP is in play). From my understanding no discs have the ICT flag on yet because in the US there are so many HD sets that don't have digital inputs and by implementing the flag would alienate all those early adopters of HD whom the industry want to purchase the newer HD players.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

timmmay

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#64786 22-Mar-2007 22:51

There's a review here which seems quite positive.

http://www.cnet.com.au/tvs/lcd/0,239035307,240062344,00.htm

I'm not sure what the "no digital tuner" bit means, anyone care to educate us?

cyril7

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#64792 23-Mar-2007 06:46

Larry you are correct the ICT lag is implemented by the player at the disc (software authors) request. My english was not quite clear.

Timmmay, the no digital tuner bit refers to the fact that the NZ version is sans DVB-T tuner. This is not an issue as the DVB-T implenentation in NZ will use mpeg4 which the DVB-T tuner in the AUS versions does not suppot. So essentially you will need a seperate external DVB-T STB or if you are outside one of the main Tx coverage areas a DVB-S STB. I would not worry about this issue.

Cyril