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'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 6:14 pm
by toprob
My old CRT TV didn't survive the 2011 earthquake, and since then I've sat in front of my 23in monitor to watch live TV, Youtube, Netflix etc. The older I get the less comfortable it gets sitting at my desk to relax... not to mention my poor failing eyes. So I've been looking at actually buying a TV, but since I'm constantly broke, I couldn't really afford a nice one. I did look at the cheap Warehouse ones over the sale period, but beside the good TVs they looks a bit rubbishy. So this week I saw a 40in Panasonic advertised at Harvey Normans, so I hopped on the bus to take a look at it. Really, though, I wasn't impressed with the blacks, compared to the more expensive one. The salesman -- very good as his job, I will say -- pointed out their own crappy brand 4K model on clearance. I had seen the reviews, which basically said 'don't touch it with a barge pole', but it did look nice compared to the dearer but still budget Panasonic.
So I put a deposit down to hold it, and went home to mull it over. Today I went back and picked it up. I wasn't expecting miracles for a <$500 4K TV, but so far I'm thrilled. I plugged in the Chromecast Ultra, which lets me stream 4K, and it really was jaw-dropping. I've been watching Prepar3d and Aerofly 4k videos on Youtube, and it really is a different world. I may try connecting the PC at some stage, but really I need to update the GPU.
Everything works so far, Netflix looks great, although only HD for the moment, I might spring for the UHD plan, but I'm happy with what I'm seeing at the moment.
So now I can sit in my lounge and watch live TV, Netflix, Youtube, OnDemand, in comfort. Yes, I'm getting old, so I deserve it.
I asked my son to hurry up and let me have a 4K video showing his recent NZ holiday drone footage. Can't wait....

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 7:46 pm
by Dinga
Wow I imagine going from 23" to 40"4K is a big improvement.TV tech now days is really moving ahead and I am looking forward to replacing my Panasonic Plasma TV soon.Still has a good picture quality, no 4K of course.

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:04 pm
by Fozzer
I'm sitting here, in front of my 21 inch Alba TV watching all that Freeview throws at me (for free).

21 inch is OK. Anything larger, which won't fit into my Backpack on my Motorcycle to take home, is a def no-no!

A new 3-seater Settee is def out of the question!.... :unsure: ....!

One of my Lads has an 80 inch? TV in his living room and it makes my neck hurt trying to scan over the whole of the display!

...I miss all the stuff displayed around the edges!

Far too big!.... :blink: ....!

I use Google "Chromecast" to display Youtube from my Gaming Computer to my TV.
..the snag is, it can only be controlled from the Computer (start/stop, etc) not the TV remote control!

It can be really cosy, sitting 2 feet away from a 21 inch TV.....trust me!.... :lol: ....!

Paul.... :D ....!

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:15 pm
by toprob
The 40in is about the smallest size these days, Paul, all the friends I've visited lately seem to have huge screens mounted on walls constantly playing music videos.

Now I need a new phone as well, you are really meant to control the Chromecast with your Android or iPhone, so my Windows phone doesn't cut it. It means I have to watch things all the way through, to save the bother of getting up and going to the PC to pause something.

I mentioned to a friend that I was getting a new TV, she has a 14in old CRT which she insists is big enough for her! Come to think of it, you and her would make a good team...

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:30 pm
by Fozzer
toprob wrote:The 40in is about the smallest size these days, Paul, all the friends I've visited lately seem to have huge screens mounted on walls constantly playing music videos.

Now I need a new phone as well, you are really meant to control the Chromecast with your Android or iPhone, so my Windows phone doesn't cut it. It means I have to watch things all the way through, to save the bother of getting up and going to the PC to pause something.

I mentioned to a friend that I was getting a new TV, she has a 14in old CRT which she insists is big enough for her! Come to think of it, you and her would make a good team...


I think you are right there Rob, with the Android/Phone control!... :rolleyes: .....

I've got a 7 inch (I love "inches") Google Android Tablet which will control Chromecast....'trubble is, it makes the batteries go flat on my Tablet!

...and as for the CRT TV, (and the lovely lady), it's only a couple of years ago that I put my 14 inch CRT TV up into the spare bedroom and replaced it with my new 21 inch Alba TV which my lovely Sister bought for me....'cos she felt sorry for me!

Sisters come in handy sometimes!.... :wink2: .... :wink2: ....!

Paul...Feet and inches...Farenheit...and Miles...and Queen Victoria...:lol: ...!

P.S... I wonder if the lovely lady would fit into my spare bedroom?.... :drool: ...!

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 6:11 am
by johnkiwi
We use a wireless mouse, so we can sit on the couch and pause using that. Still have to get up if you want to type a search command, as we only have a wireless keyboard on one PC

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:03 am
by toprob
Fozzer wrote:Paul...Feet and inches...Farenheit...and Miles...and Queen Victoria...


It's funny, here only two things are measured in feet/inches -- TVs and people... although New Zealanders took well to metric, I still noticed that when my family got together over the new year there was a lengthy 'imperial' discussion comparing heights. I'll always be 5'7", never 170cm. (Although I haven't given up on getting taller.)

We use a wireless mouse, so we can sit on the couch and pause using that.


I do have a very nice tool on my phone to control the PC, and I even figured out a way to use one of the many different media controller's pause button, but now I've forgotten where I found it. I am very much aware that I really need to go well over my $500 budget to get something useful set up. Already there's the Chromecast, plus I have borrowed my coffee table to put the TV on, I desperately need a nice TV table, I'd rather give up an arm than my coffee table...
I also have a wireless mouse, come to think of it, I'll give it a go.

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:20 am
by Fozzer
....'trubble is....

I spend a lot of time on American Youtube Channels and American Flight Sim Forums where everything is measured in Queen Victoria (Imperial) measurements!

Altitude is always in Feet. Engine sizes are in Cubic Inches (I prefer cc), Spanners are in Inches. Distance is in Miles, Temperature is in Fahrenheit!
I am 5 feet 6/7 inches long when I lie down...on a good day!
My circumference is about 38 inches (when I breathe in).
Fahrenheit or Centigrade...I always feel cold!

...and the battery in a Wireless mouse will always be dead when you want to use it, and you wont have any spare batteries. Trust me! (Never throw away your wired Mouse...or your wired Keyboard)!

Paul.....My school teachers always taught me Imperial measurements, and I've got to love them.... (but only the measurements!).... :unsure: ...!

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 5:24 pm
by Charl
toprob wrote:It's funny, here only two things are measured in feet/inches -- TVs and people...

...never forgetting that this is a flightsim forum and guess what? they fly feet! :lol:
The SI system is so logical and easy to use, it's hard to see why some countries still hold out and base measure on some posthumous king's foot.
Actually perhaps you really need to get your measures totally screwed up before you capitulate, the French certainly got that right:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Units_of_ ... Revolution

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 8:29 pm
by emfrat
Aeroflot and others of that ilk always used metric. It was only in recent years they conformed to the ICAO standard, partly because they wanted to fly internationally and buy Boeings and Airbuses etc. I don't know what China does.
Too much danger of error, using a mixed system in the same airspace. "Continue descent, not below 3000" so one guy holds at 3000' and the other stays at 11000'" ? Not good.

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:59 pm
by Fozzer
The thing is....

...all we "Oldies" were taught Imperial Measurements at school, and even during the whole of my working life as an Electrical Engineer, and an Electrical Draughtsman, we only ever used Imperial Measurements....

...even now, my brain has never adjusted (I didn't want it to!) to The Metric System and I still visualise everything in Imperial!

My vegetables (the edible ones!), etc, are always in pounds and ounces...

My liquids are always in Pints (cheers!) and Gallons...

My travels are always in Feet and Miles...

....and 32F always sounds warmer than 0C.... :wink2: ...!

Sorry Chums....I am stuck in ancient measurement times.... :ph43r: ....

It always feels nice and warm and cosy!..... :bow: ....!

Paul....I like being warm and cosy!..... :D ....!

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:25 pm
by toprob
Sometimes I really feel my age -- six months ago was the 50th anniversary of New Zealand's switch to decimal currency, and I can still remember it like it was yesterday... at school, everyone was asked to draw their idea of what the new money would look like. and I can still remember that awful feeling of unfairness, when I was called into the headmaster's office and accused of cheating -- they insisting that somehow I'd seen the new notes, and copied them. Just one of those bizarre things which is best forgotten. Then there was that jingle....

https://youtu.be/zBR72_XijB0

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 11:38 pm
by Fozzer
..whatever happens....

...you will all be pleased to know that you NZ'ers, like we Brits, Aussies, Indians (not the red sort), and Japanese, and many others, still drive and ride on the right side of the road....

...the Left-Hand Side!.... :groupwave: ....!

"Metrification" did not prevent our ability to fight off all our enemies with our trusty swords, during our travels on the Kings/Queens Highway!

https://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/driving-on-the-left/

Paul....in most things, my brain tells me I am Right-Handed... :wink2: ...!

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:52 pm
by toprob
Today I got around to connecting the PC to the TV. This was super-easy, I just plugged it in and the second screen was just there. Running Prepar3d on the TV is as simple as choosing the new display in the P3D settings, I had to set the resolution the first time, but it worked without a hitch. I turned off AA, as with my eyes the higher resolution does everything that AA does, just without the overhead -- and flickery shadows.
It is certainly a new way to fly, I thought it would be a novelty, but I might be hooked.
The plan to connect the TV was really so that I could have some nice big reference photos off to the side when I'm 3D modelling. Chromecast could have done this, via Plex, but direct is much easier. I can use all the PC controls -- such as zooming in on a photo -- whereas with Plex I can just view full screen.
Anyway, speaking of 3D modelling, back to it....

EDIT: forgot to mention the No. 1 reason why I wanted a new TV now -- Shortland Street is back tonight!

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 6:44 pm
by Splitpin
"Shortland Street is back tonight!" Rob , Rob .... that's sad ^_^
You need to come back to ChCh ..... I may be able to squeeze you here ...

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:59 am
by cowpatz
toprob wrote:EDIT: forgot to mention the No. 1 reason why I wanted a new TV now -- Shortland Street is back tonight!


Terribly sad. :huh:

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:08 am
by toprob
Shorty plays a major part in my life balance -- as I've said, I get my entertainment at my desk, which is also where I work all day. So Shortland Street acts as a divider, meaning I have to quit work for the day. Sure, I could watch the news like most people, but that is almost invariably sad.

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:41 am
by cowpatz
Try Netflix and you will have trouble watching any local TV again......well except Country Calendar of course!

Re: 'Late adopter'

PostPosted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:11 am
by toprob
Probably 80% of what I watch is via Netflix. What's missing from that, though, is anything NZ. My 'hobby' is NZ, and I do aim for as much local content as I can get.
Lightbox (which I get for free with my broadband) was meant to have the best local stuff, but that doesn't really pan out in reality.
So a daily dose of kiwi accents and local culture suits me fine. Plus they play a lot of Hollie Smith as ambient music....