First anniversary of 4K UHDTV

I think the people that buy these things are not really being sensible. They just want the latest and greatest.

I'm realizing I prefer smaller screens that
are closer to my face, than the huge ones
that are 10' away. I see more when it's up
close and it holds my attention better. I
bet there are a lot of people out there like
me, but they've bought into the whole
bigger is better myth. It's the quality of
the picture that counts, not the size.

I usually like movies better on the small
screen than the huge screens of a movie
theatre. I always feel like an idiot sitting
there with a bunch of coughing and talking
strangers. Who needs it. It's an archaic throw
back to the days when it was our only entertainment
choice.

Quote: Evenbob

I'm realizing I prefer smaller screens that are closer to my face, than the huge ones that are 10' away.

I suppose some people will decorate homes without a fixed TV anywhere in the house. The household members will simply walk around with tablets or other devices.

Quote: Pacomartin

I think the people that buy these things are not really being sensible. They just want the latest and greatest.

Yes, but it's not exactly the same thing.

People who paid thousands for HD plasma screens some years ago were getting a revolutionary and new product. Even if there wasn't much content yet, at least the picture was HUGE, and much better than the old projection screens has been.

4K offers better resolution, yes, and monstrous sizes, too, but it's all only an incrememntal increase over what's already common. So even for the "latest and greatest" crowd, aprticualrly those intent on impressing other people, there's less incentive to acquire 4K screens when there's little content for them yet.

As for me, I wouldn't minda larger screen, though my room is rather small and the current 32" LCD is big enough. Still, since I got it I have not considered a replacement (except the time it wouldn't turn on any more, and suprirsigly it was repaired and has been working since). Now I would rather wait for the 4K to come down in price so I could get something in the 40-50" range for a few hundred dollars. So a few years more.

The TCL 50" Class 4K ULTRA HD LED TV - 16:9, 120Hz, 3840 x 2160, 4x HDMI is now $849.99, so it may come cheaper shortly, but most people believe that 50" is much to small to get any value out of 4K resolution.

I don't know what is happening in Mexico, but 32" 720p televisions have become a commodity, and the inexpensive models regularly sell for$170-$200 (as low as $100 for door-buster specials).

Quote: Pacomartin

I don't know what is happening in Mexico, but 32" 720p televisions have become a commodity, .

I had a CTR 32" for 10 years and bought another
one in 2008. In 2011 I bought a 52" flat screen
(which I rarely watch now) and still have the
32". I can't give it away, let alone sell it. The
damn thing cost $500 and has years left on it,
but it weighs at least 150 pounds and takes up
way too much room. I can't bring myself to
toss it, so there it sits. I would have to hire a
crew to remove it, I can't lift that kind of weight
anymore.

I assume you mean the Cathode Ray Tube televisions (32") weigh 150 pounds. The 52" flat screen should weigh less than 50 pounds.

I hauled 5 televisions out of my parent's house by myself (up to 120 pounds) and almost killed myself. I was determined to turn them in at Best Buy while they were still taking them for free. I was going to be darned if I was going to have to pay someone to dispose of them.

Disposal of old televisions, monitors will soon cost money October 22, 2013

You might end up paying $40 recycling fee just to throw away that TV (plus an equal fee to manhandle it). I'd get rid of it soon.

Quote: Pacomartin

The TCL 50" Class 4K ULTRA HD LED TV - 16:9, 120Hz, 3840 x 2160, 4x HDMI is now $849.99, so it may come cheaper shortly,

I'd like to see it drop to 1/4 of that.

Quote:

but most people believe that 50" is much to small to get any value out of 4K resolution.

Maybe. But anything more than that and the room becomes too small for both me and the TV to share.

I figure in some years either 4K will be the standard and everyone will have them, as HD is now, or they will have flopped, like HD 3D did.

But if someone came up with a working holographic TV, I'd pine for one (I wouldn't be able to afford one, but I'd want one very badly). But like nuclear fussion, it's always a couple of decades away.

Quote:

I don't know what is happening in Mexico, but 32" 720p televisions have become a commodity, and the inexpensive models regularly sell for$170-$200 (as low as $100 for door-buster specials).

I don't know, either. I quit looking at prices when I bought mine and only occasionally become aware of them. I know there are some cheap, no-name, models which sell for under $200, but I've no idea of the specs thereof.

Quote: Pacomartin

I assume you mean the Cathode Ray Tube televisions (32") weigh 150 pounds. The 52" flat screen should weigh less than 50 pounds.
.

It's a boat anchor, the CRT. The 52" weighs under 50, maybe
under 40. I just got a 23" HP monitor and it weighs
6 pounds. Unreal.

Quote: Nareed

I figure in some years either 4K will be the standard and everyone will have them, as HD is now, or they will have flopped, like HD 3D did.

It is possible that video screens will become so lightweight, that we will be able to put them in a briefcase, or a backpack. They could be easily powered by batteries.



High resolution is about large screens. Although that will never completely vanish, it may be that watching video will be like reading a newspaper today. You will be able to look at low power flexible screens from any chair in the house without any concern about power plugs or cable video feeds. A normal house will not have dedicated chairs or rooms for TV viewing.