Finally the Bear arrives in the 21st century! Some how, I managed to trick my wife into letting me buy a brand spanking new Samsung LED LCD TV! I'll never watch standard def TV again!!

46" of Hi Def beauty, black bezel with the "Touch of Color" edge lighting. 1.2" thick front to rear, sleek mounting base. This thing is a work of art!


http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g304/Bear_on_a_bicycle/new%20tv/f493f30a.jpg


http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g304/Bear_on_a_bicycle/new%20tv/7a8a3fe9.jpg

I concur that baby is sweet.
Some lucky Son of a gun actually won one of those at my golf club with a hole in one during our festival week,

looks Sweet Bear :thumb: but are ya sure that you tricked the wife ??? or did she just make it look like she was tricked ;)

My tube type burned out about a month ago, I got the same one but a 41". Pretty cool to watch the speed channel ain't it.

looks Sweet Bear :thumb: but are ya sure that you tricked the wife ??? or did she just make it look like she was tricked ;)

Yeah, that's probably closer to the truth...

:D


My tube type burned out about a month ago, I got the same one but a 41". Pretty cool to watch the speed channel ain't it.

Yes!! Speed channel is AWESOME! They were showing a car auction & the detail you could see in the finish of the paint was amazing. Heck, even the news channels & the Weather channel are amazing.

Well if that is the case she can have something to do while you ride the versys. On the other hand having HD might keep you home more.

:teetertooter:

My new Sony 1080p, 46', 120hz was delivered last night. God, what an incredible picture it has.... Gotta love the HD.

It's still the "boob" tube fellas....get out and ride. he he he ;):rolleyes:

Yea but the boobs look SOOO much better in HD....


Hold on! You don't even have a bike!

With my 46 inch Sony and the home theater surround sound, I'd rather sit home and watch NASCAR than go to the track. Beer's a lot cheaper, and it's air conditioned. Food's better too.

LMAO..."bear". and yeah, I don't have a bike....yet. lol:(

I did go to my local dealer on saturday. they're offering 1500 bucks off on a green '09'. big ole "0" on the odometer. Most comfortable bike I have sat on.

Gonna talk to my bank this week.....I might just have to be a lil reckless and buy the bike now. no payments for 6 months. Sounding to good to be true.

I'll keep ya posted... and thanks for the chuckle.

Carl:D

I aim to please...



:D

Welcome aboard stagehand38!!
I'd def. get the green one, you won't regret it!!

DATELINE...OCTOBER 14.....2009..........
(cue sound effects: teletype in background).Got my temp license today; first try. which is good since there's now a 2009 Versys sittng in my garage.

YES!!!!! :D YES!!!!!:D YES !!!!!:D

:yeahsmile:WOOOOO-HOOOO:yeahsmile:.........:cool:

OUT FREAKIN' STANDING!!

:thumb::thumb:



now you can comment on my boob tube watching/not riding habits with credibility...

:D

The only things that gets guys all atwitter more than motorcycles or cars is electronic gadgets. ;-D I can at least identify with the excitement over motorcycles or cars but the electronic gagetry not so much.

;)I may be mistaken but it would appear to me that the "V" is even better looking with me sitting on it..........;) Dam thing's moving when it's standing still. OK, I 'm in love...and I haven't even been down the street on it yet. LOL
Thanks for the welcome folks.
Peace.
Aerodynamicly yours,
CB:D

I'll never watch standard def TV again!!

Back to the TV, I agree with that statement, only reluctantly do I go in the Standard Digital TV channels and only because I don't really want to pay for all the Digital channels, but now that winter is almost here I may just have to do it.

Sports and such are awesome on HD, and all the movies I buy from now will be Blu-ray.

Back to the TV, I agree with that statement, only reluctantly do I go in the Standard Digital TV channels and only because I don't really want to pay for all the Digital channels, but now that winter is almost here I may just have to do it.

Sports and such are awesome on HD, and all the movies I buy from now will be Blu-ray.


Haven't done the Blu-Ray thing yet. That'll come later. One thing I've realized though, a lot of the HD channels play repeat shows & repeat episodes over & over & over again. My son made the comment the other day, all these new HD channels & STILL nothing on...

:D

I don't have them at the moment but the really awesome channels where some of the travel and nature channels like National Geographic HD, and in Canada Oasis HD etc. The aerial shots of European shores were amazing, and other natures stuff as well. Only A&E and such do a lot of repeats.

I just wanted to say, I still LOVE my new TV. I'm watching the Bengals-Jets game & the picture is superb!!!!

I paid 600 for my 40 inch dynex 1080p tv on BF. After calibrating the color and contrast it looks great. Watching the eagles game right now.

Just a side note, dynex is made by LG.

I paid 600 for my 40 inch dynex 1080p tv on BF. After calibrating the color and contrast it looks great. Watching the eagles game right now.

Just a side note, dynex is made by LG.


You mean the Cowboys game. I don't think the Eagles showed up today...

If Dynex is made by LG, it should be a good one. We were debating between the LG & the Samsung.

LOL ya that was a bad game oh well. Ya I love mine even m friend says it looks good.

Ok, time for an update. My cable company pissed me off for the last time so I switched to Dish Network. They installed it Saturday. I have to say the picture quality is even better than Time Warner Cable!! I didn't think it could get any better. WOW!!!

Now a few things about this TV. First, I still love it! The picture is OUTSTANDING! And I mean OUTSTANDING!! But there are a few negatives as well.

-First off, the built in speakers are really terrible. Sounds like the audio is being played through a cardboard tube, like a paper towel roll. So I have a nice 2.1 speaker set for a computer. They sound great. I connect them to the TV (have to use an adapter, different plugs, no biggie!), but the TV audio output is fixed! I can't control the volume with the TV remote! How F*cking stupid is that!? Typical engineering, they think they know better than the end user. Grrr!! Give ME the choice as to whether to have the audio output fixed or variable.

So to solve this, I connect the speakers to TWC box, and use that remote. Works great! Except for a small audio/video sync issue. Sometimes they don't sync up. Another irritation. But I don't think that's the TV, I think that's due to either HD or HDMI. Anyway, I can live with it for now.

-Second, There is a little artifacting going on here & there. I've played with different settings to try to fix this, but can't get it to duplicate frequently enough or with any consistency to know what settings are affecting it & what don't. Very small annoyance, doesn't happen often, so I can live with this too. The picture is just too good to let this bother me. You guys just gotta see this thing! Anyway, getting side tracked...

-Third, hmmm... I know there is something else... What was it.... Well, I can't think of it right this moment, so moving on....

Did I mention the picture quality on this TV is OUT-freakin-STANDING!??

Now, the differences between Dish & TWC.

I like the TWC cable box better. I like seeing the time on the front of my cable box, and what channel I'm watching. The Dish box has no display on the front, only a couple of lights.

The TWC box also had a power outlet that I could set to either switched or unswitched. Since I am using PC speakers that aren't remote control, this was sweet. I had the TWC box power outlet set to switched & plugged my speakers there, so when I turned on the box with the remote, my speakers came on. And, I could adjust the volume with the remote. The TWC box allowed me to set the audio output volume to fixed or variable. YAY!

The Dish box doesn't have an extra power outlet. Dammit. Now I have to plug my speakers into the power strip & turn them on/off manually (read, get up off my fat ass & do it myself). Also, the Dish box audio output is fixed. What in the bloody hell is up with this??? Why in the world would you set a volume output to fixed. I just can't grasp this. So not only do I have to get up to turn them on or off, but I have to get up to adjust the volume.

Now before you guys chastise me for being whiny & lazy, imagine every time a commercial is way louder than the program you're watching comes on, and this happens frequently here, you either live with it, or have to get up, walk over, turn the volume down a bit, wait for the commercial to be over, turn the volume back.... Also, any time you're phone rings, or someone wants to talk for a minute, well you get the picture. Manual volume control sucks!! Fixed audio output sucks!!

The menus are way faster on the Dish box, and I think they're easier to read. Might be colors, or font, who knows. But the TWC box is better for DVR actions. Way better.

The TWC box has a sleep timer. Great for me, I like to set it & fall asleep with the TV on. Dish? Yep you guessed it, no sleep timer. It does have a timer for inactivity, which puts the box in standby, but the shortest time you can set it to is 4 hours. Again, WTF!?

Man I'm rambling... :D

Both services are slow when trying to channel surf the old fashioned way, by pushing the "up" button on the remote. I like surfing. So sue me! Not a big fan of surfing using the menus, or "guide", but I've gotten used to it. Too slow the other way. I guess that's the way it is these days. Grumble grumble....

Some of you guys might be wondering why I bother to put this up, but these are the things I look for when shopping for this stuff. You don't get info like this from the manufacturers site. Besides, I needed to rant & rave...



Did I mention the AWESOME picture???

:D



Ok, g'night everybody... I need to sleep....

:thumb:

"Now before you guys chastise me for being whiny & lazy, imagine every time a commercial is way louder than the program you're watching comes on, and this happens frequently here, you either live with it, or have to get up, walk over, turn the volume down a bit, wait for the commercial to be over, turn the volume back.... Also, any time you're phone rings, or someone wants to talk for a minute, well you get the picture. Manual volume control sucks!! Fixed audio output sucks!!"Quote from Bear on a Bicycle

I had the same problem, can,t control the volume with Decoder's remote control, but can do with the TV remote control.
Now I have to sit with 2 remote controls, one for surfing the channel, my favourite past time hobby and one for controlling the volume.
Don't watch TV too much as it is also know as THE IDIOT'S BOX.:D

I am to stingy much to my boys disgust to have paid sat T.V but have a free version on sat TV but have to buy a decoder per TV

"Now before you guys chastise me for being whiny & lazy, imagine every time a commercial is way louder than the program you're watching comes on, and this happens frequently here, you either live with it, or have to get up, walk over, turn the volume down a bit, wait for the commercial to be over, turn the volume back.... Also, any time you're phone rings, or someone wants to talk for a minute, well you get the picture. Manual volume control sucks!! Fixed audio output sucks!!"Quote from Bear on a Bicycle

I had the same problem, can,t control the volume with Decoder's remote control, but can do with the TV remote control.
Now I have to sit with 2 remote controls, one for surfing the channel, my favourite past time hobby and one for controlling the volume.
Don't watch TV too much as it is also know as THE IDIOT'S BOX.:D

I use a home theater receiver and route everything through it. It controls the volume, and I can select cable, DVD, and VHS inputs from my chair. 5.1 audio is great. The TV audio system isn't used at all.

I also use a Logitech Harmony remote to operate everything. It's programmed by going to their website and inputting the model numbers of the TV, receiver, cable or satellite box, and all the other units. The remote is then plugged in to a USB port and the website programs it. It's then the only remote required. It has rechargeable batteries and a charging cradle.

I use a home theater receiver and route everything through it. It controls the volume, and I can select cable, DVD, and VHS inputs from my chair. 5.1 audio is great. The TV audio system isn't used at all.

I also use a Logitech Harmony remote to operate everything. It's programmed by going to their website and inputting the model numbers of the TV, receiver, cable or satellite box, and all the other units. The remote is then plugged in to a USB port and the website programs it. It's then the only remote required. It has rechargeable batteries and a charging cradle.

I'm heading that way, just not in the budget right now. Thinking about putting it on my credit card, but I really hate too. I also hate not being able to control my volume. Trying to SAVE money & get OUT of debt, but seems like every payday or two, something expensive pops up.


Heh heh... And we all know how important home theater is...

Right!??


Back me up here, fellas....



:D

home theater, now we are talking, every bear needs a cave to retreat into

home theater, now we are talking, every bear needs a cave to retreat into

Yep!!

:D

Ok, any HT experts out there??

These are the two systems I'm considering:

http://www.jdoqocy.com/image-3515658-10521304Yamaha YHT-393BL (http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3515658-10521304?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2FProduct %2FProduct.aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16882115241)

and

http://www.jdoqocy.com/image-3515658-10521304Onkyo HT-S3300 (http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3515658-10521304?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2FProduct %2FProduct.aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16882120167)

I'm leaning heavily toward the Onkyo. Cheaper, looks better.

Any opinions?? Anybody actually have either of these units, or maybe an alternative I've over looked?

I'll probably pull the trigger tonight or tomorrow, unless I get an overwhelming case of responsibility & common sense between now & then.....

Ok, any HT experts out there??

These are the two systems I'm considering:

http://www.jdoqocy.com/image-3515658-10521304Yamaha YHT-393BL (http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3515658-10521304?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2FProduct %2FProduct.aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16882115241)

and

http://www.jdoqocy.com/image-3515658-10521304Onkyo HT-S3300 (http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3515658-10521304?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.newegg.com%2FProduct %2FProduct.aspx%3FItem%3DN82E16882120167)

I'm leaning heavily toward the Onkyo. Cheaper, looks better.

Any opinions?? Anybody actually have either of these units, or maybe an alternative I've over looked?

I'll probably pull the trigger tonight or tomorrow, unless I get an overwhelming case of responsibility & common sense between now & then.....

I don't know much about them, having bought mine a few years ago. There are some home theater forums online you might look at.

Skip the big box do-it-alls from Best Buy. To get the price point, they all skimp on something somewhere.

Check out HTPC's (Home Theatre PC's). These involve having a dedicated PC that not only interfaces with your individual components but can replace some peripherals such as BluRay players altogether. The BIG advantage is being able to also access online sources of movies, TV shows, as well as using your big 'ol 52 incher for a computer monitor.

Fer all you PC'er's, you can build a super one-box unit out of a Mac Mini for about $600 complete/new or build a glitchy PC one by scratch for $800. :D

Either way, check it out. (I, admittedly :( have a PC based unit that my son built for me for under $800 and uses a Playstation for the Blu Ray. It works OK, I guess...maybe...sometimes)

If you get nothing else, get a Harmony remote. Even the base model is excellent.

V-Zee

I bought my 46" Samsung LCD back in November 2007 and used it with my old 5.1 Sony A/V receiver but it did not have HDMI but did have optical audio, only not enough inputs to handle all of my stuff. Since Best Buy insists on giving me way too much credit and 18 months to pay for it interest free, I treated myself to a new Sony 7.1 receiver for Christmas 2009. It has 4 HDMI inputs so I can run the cable box, Bluray player, PS3, and even my new laptop has HDMI out and looks great on the big screen. I got the extra speakers too but have not hooked them up yet. I keep forgetting to buy some wire but even with 5.1 it sounds great and with everything on HDMI I don't have to swap cables anymore. Watching movies at home are so much better than going to a theater, in fact my brother wanted me to see the new Star Trek movie last year and the whole time I sat there bitching about the flickering screen. Apparently, they are so cheap they are using some old PC projectors and have the refresh rate set at only 60hz like an old CRT computer monitor. I guess I am weird because I can SEE the 60hz flickering and it's really annoying to sit through a movie like that. My setup at home blows away what they have at that theater. :D

Skip the big box do-it-alls from Best Buy. To get the price point, they all skimp on something somewhere.

Check out HTPC's (Home Theatre PC's). These involve having a dedicated PC that not only interfaces with your individual components but can replace some peripherals such as BluRay players altogether. The BIG advantage is being able to also access online sources of movies, TV shows, as well as using your big 'ol 52 incher for a computer monitor.

Fer all you PC'er's, you can build a super one-box unit out of a Mac Mini for about $600 complete/new or build a glitchy PC one by scratch for $800. :D

Either way, check it out. (I, admittedly :( have a PC based unit that my son built for me for under $800 and uses a Playstation for the Blu Ray. It works OK, I guess...maybe...sometimes)

If you get nothing else, get a Harmony remote. Even the base model is excellent.

V-Zee

Well, I would LOVE to build a nice system piece by piece, but money comes into play here. I think bang for my buck, the Onkyo is the system. I really don't need much, the 2.1 speakers on there now were only $50. If they were remotely controlled, I'd just leave them! They sound great! The little sub adds so much depth.

I don't know much about them, having bought mine a few years ago. There are some home theater forums online you might look at.

I've been there. That's how I wound up with these two. Of course, most lean toward the Yamaha, simply because of the sub woofer being powered & having one more HDMI input, neither of which are worth the extra $70 to me.

I bought my 46" Samsung LCD back in November 2007 and used it with my old 5.1 Sony A/V receiver but it did not have HDMI but did have optical audio, only not enough inputs to handle all of my stuff. Since Best Buy insists on giving me way too much credit and 18 months to pay for it interest free, I treated myself to a new Sony 7.1 receiver for Christmas 2009. It has 4 HDMI inputs so I can run the cable box, Bluray player, PS3, and even my new laptop has HDMI out and looks great on the big screen. I got the extra speakers too but have not hooked them up yet. I keep forgetting to buy some wire but even with 5.1 it sounds great and with everything on HDMI I don't have to swap cables anymore. Watching movies at home are so much better than going to a theater, in fact my brother wanted me to see the new Star Trek movie last year and the whole time I sat there bitching about the flickering screen. Apparently, they are so cheap they are using some old PC projectors and have the refresh rate set at only 60hz like an old CRT computer monitor. I guess I am weird because I can SEE the 60hz flickering and it's really annoying to sit through a movie like that. My setup at home blows away what they have at that theater. :D

Sears threw a similar deal my way, that's how I got the TV.

:D

Maybe Speedy can make a mount for your V Ha ha only kidding!:D

Well, I would LOVE to build a nice system piece by piece, but money comes into play here. I think bang for my buck, the Onkyo is the system. I really don't need much, the 2.1 speakers on there now were only $50. If they were remotely controlled, I'd just leave them! They sound great! The little sub adds so much depth.

I hear ya', just offering up options. Any of it is awesome, these new sets are incredible. Hell, my speakers are 30 years old and still sound great. I still only have two channel sound because I don't live in a theater, either. Funny, it took them 50 years to get to this point in entertainment, now after 60 years my vision is dimming and can't hear all that well, so it's not doing me much good anyway :D

V-Zee

I hear ya', just offering up options. Any of it is awesome, these new sets are incredible. Hell, my speakers are 30 years old and still sound great. I still only have two channel sound because I don't live in a theater, either. Funny, it took them 50 years to get to this point in entertainment, now after 60 years my vision is dimming and can't hear all that well, so it's not doing me much good anyway :D

V-Zee


Amen!! I hear ya!! Huh!?? What'd ya say!??

:D

Maybe Speedy can make a mount for your V Ha ha only kidding!:D


Hahaha!! Wouldn't that be great!!

Great, but how do you mount it on the V?

Amen!! I hear ya!! Huh!?? What'd ya say!??

:D

+!

Ya know the thing that REALLY ticks me off is that when I was young and dumb enough to really go fast, the bikes were more like high powered frickin' scooters. I'd have gladly given the left one for a bike like a Versys (much less a BMW S1000RR or a CBR1000RR) and be able to go this fast in the twisties with a full set of youthful reflexes. I'm just thankful to still be able to have this much fun at 62.

I digress, sorry, back on subject.

V-Zee

Best buy online -

Do not buy from them - they are not the same as the store. You CANNOT bring your TV back to Best Buy when ordering from BBonline.

I ordered a big screen for Xmas, was delivered broken. (screen had a white line across it) - it took them months to replace it. They lost my order. Promised it several times to no avail. Finally replaced it, then charged my twice.

I had some VP call me to apologize and offer me a $75 gift card - which never arrived.

Best buy online -

Do not buy from them - they are not the same as the store. You CANNOT bring your TV back to Best Buy when ordering from BBonline.

I ordered a big screen for Xmas, was delivered broken. (screen had a white line across it) - it took them months to replace it. They lost my order. Promised it several times to no avail. Finally replaced it, then charged my twice.

I had some VP call me to apologize and offer me a $75 gift card - which never arrived.

Thanks for the info!!

:thumb:

I bought a 42" plasma HD from Costco, and it developed 'burn-in' within a few months, so I took it back. No problem getting a refund. :thanx:

BTW - I'll NEVER buy plasma again.