Feb
08

Question of the Week: Have You Replaced Your Old TV with a Flat Screen?

I'm going to be honest: I have not.  While I may not be a good example of someone who keeps up with the latest in electronic gadgets, I am certainly concerned with all things home, so it strikes me as odd that I've not jumped on the flat screen bandwagon.

We never really minded our '90s SONY suitcase of a TV, so much so that we built our wall unit to accommodate its ample girth.  When everyone was gushing about the flat screen revolution, my husband and I sat contently in front of our flickering bulbous tube, not knowing what all the fuss was about.  

We are still sitting in front of it, but I've the feeling we look much like Bugs Bunny did when he refused to give up his rabbit hole to make way for a growing metropolis.  It grew around him in a U shape, as he stubbornly munched that same old carrot.

Are we stubbornly munching that same old carrot?  I just don't feel I'm missing anything in my life by not having a flat screen TV.  Why should I spend hundreds on a new one when the old SONY works just fine?  Plus, am I the only one who thinks flat screens look awkward and unfinished strung up on a wall like a jelly fish with a wire tale hanging down?  You end up having to design around them with expensive wall casings just to make them look like they belong.  My old cone-back SONY snuggles nicely into the corner of our living room -- a flat screen wouldn't fit nearly as nicely, and then what would we do?

PLUS, I'll say it once and for all: I really don't like the look of Blue Ray DVDs!  They don't look like film to me, but like soaps.  So I'm certainly not missing out on the latest in picture 'advancements'.  

Have you made the switch? Do you have a zillion displaced cube TVs you've been shuffling around the house and your family's houses?  Where do you stand on the fast-paced world of the mutating TV set?

Take a Poll!

 

 

Related:

 

Comments:

no we really need one though

February 8, 2010 9:30 PM

 

I ended up replacing it after my second last move. I had a 14" Panasonic TV from when I was in University, so it made sense to switch. But I didn't get the full HD or anything too big (it's a 37").

February 8, 2010 9:50 PM

 

We are replacing ours this week!

February 8, 2010 10:00 PM

 

The tube went on my 4 yr old 27" box tv, so I splurged and got a 37" LCD for my apartment. I LOVE IT! It's right where my old tube was and the room feels so much bigger without that giant box. Just a tip, if you have the right picture settings Bluray looks like being at the movies, not like soaps!

February 8, 2010 10:39 PM

 

YES ....my old 49 inch projection tv died....so i replaced it with a 52 inch LCD. I had it wall mounted....LOVE IT

February 8, 2010 10:42 PM

 

I'm so outnumbered!  Ok... I'm listening.

February 8, 2010 11:08 PM

 

We bought a 42" Sharp LCD and a Sony Blue-Ray player...Blue-Ray movies are a thing a beauty.

February 9, 2010 9:10 AM

 

OK..I meant to say "a thing OF beauty". Sorry.

February 9, 2010 9:14 AM

 

would like a flat but can`t afford it right now

February 9, 2010 9:54 AM

 

Yes they are a must, they look a lot sexier plus you have many more options as far as placing them or hidiing them. It shouldn't stop there though, I hooked mine up to my PC and watch TV online....

February 9, 2010 10:41 AM

 

Are they in every way superior to the picture tube? Yes.

Am I going to buy one when my 27" picture tube works completely fine? No.

Am I praying for my picture tube to be destroyed by an act of God? Yes.

February 9, 2010 2:15 PM

 

Yes, we just got a flat screen 52" awesome TV. We also got the apple TV and the PS3 so we can play blue ray discs. Our old TV is almost 17 years old so it was time ...

February 9, 2010 2:18 PM

 

My old one is still really clear and working well.  When I get a new entertainment/shelf unit for my bedroom, I'll replace it with one that fits.

February 9, 2010 5:10 PM

 

I'm waiting for OLED to come down in cost.  That should be good for a 5 year wait!

February 9, 2010 10:17 PM

 

Dear Elana- have no fear girl!  You have another girl that is still living in the past.  Once my TV breaks down I will be getting a new flat screen, but am holdin out for the LED version.  I like the idea of the thinnest screen you can get.  Too cool!

February 9, 2010 10:34 PM

 

@Pamela, thank you. Nice to feel like I'm not alone. @PKitty, I want Apple TV SOOOO Bad!  Isn't it the greatest? I've a thtree-year-old and she's crazy about Disney, and I just don't want all those awful DVDs eating up shelf space...  Apple TV may be the biggest pro for a new TV.

February 10, 2010 10:45 AM

 

p.s. just noticed your comment about blueray! I agree! I told my husband it looks like video, not film.

February 11, 2010 1:38 PM

 

Yay! I'm so happy I'm not the only one who thinks HD/Blu-ray feels like watching a soap! My husband looked insulted when I suggested as much once we hooked up our new flat screen. My 3 year old son loves it ("Mummy! It's so beautiful! This is better!")

On the wires running down the wall, we have yet to do this, but you can get it professionally mounted, which involves drilling 2 holes into the wall so that the wires & cables run inside the wall and out near the baseboard, nixing the dangling wire issue. You just have to be really sure that's where you want your TV. It's also a better fix if you have young kids -- falling flat screens have injured quite a few kids because they tip a lot easier than old TVs and are seriously heavy.

February 11, 2010 3:26 PM

 

We bought one and now my husband spends hours in front of the tv, headphones on, ignoring the rest of us.  He's always been a tv watcher and the 46" flatscreen has made this habit worse.  

February 11, 2010 3:35 PM

 

We bought a HD flat screen for the upstairs living room.  I never expected to see the difference between the regular tv and the HD, but I did.  We hardly use the old tv now.

February 13, 2010 10:26 PM

 

it's a pure "want", not even a little bit of a "need". especially for a me as a person who's total TV time is just a few hrs/month. ...not worth the hundreds of $$$ just to show off...at least not yet.

February 14, 2010 8:58 AM

 

We still have our small Sony from 18 years ago.  Works only when VCR is on (like a monitor).  Still waiting for it to completely breakdown.  New one will be a flat screen that will hide in our armoire.  Can't stand the look of flat screens mounted on walls or sitting oversized in front of windows.  I'm with you all the way, Elana.  

February 14, 2010 11:01 AM

 

I have two TV's one Sharp I bought about 8 years ago and a Zenith I picked up at an auction sale. Once they both die then I'll go for a flat screen. My Dad bought one and I'm not thrilled with the look, maybe its the shape....

February 14, 2010 7:57 PM

 
Comments for this entry are now closed.

Back to Top