Talk about a bait and switch title on a post. I was looking forward to some serious discussion about Transvestites when instead it is a thread on oversized idiots lanterns

You don't live somewhere cold and dark 8 months a year. If it wasn't for a healthy dvd collection, and Playstation online I woulda swallowed a .45 a long time ago.

Make sure you have the proper condiments on hand. The overpowering taste of gun grease can really ruin a meal.

Karl,

I live at 63deg north, on the north side of a mountain. We dont even see the sun for two months during winter unless we go around the montain between 1000-1400 hours. I guess Gato in Finland is much the same since he possibly lives even closer to the polar circle? Neither he or I watch much TV. There is just so much interesting and fun stuff to do that there is no time for the TV.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_circle

Flumpmaster,

"idiots lantern".. Nice term.

I had this delivered to me yesterday: Networked Media Tank HDX1000 (a bargain at €179).
These days I download most TV series I like instead of waiting for them to come along on TV, and having to sit through those horrible commercials.
It can read all movie formats available and access the files which are stored on my PC
(although I also installed a 1TB drive I had laying around so it can download and store movies all by itself).
For an LCD-TV you just cant beat the Sony Bravia line (40").

And Karl: If you need a 73" TV, you are compensating for something!

(this message was typed while waiting for family to bring me my house key 'cause I locked myself out ).

"Idiot lantern" factor?

Hmm, that media tank box comes without a disc reader. Looks like CDs/DVDs/Blue Ray is going to die rather soon..

I guess it's true, what they say about Texas.

<****. First person shooters suck butt on a small TV. I also rarely go to see movies at the theatre anymore. Too fricken expensive. I'm positive my home theatre has saved me money.

Rolf- I don't know what kind of temperatures you get, but my Norwegian blood isn't doing much for me here. We spent a few weeks in the -30*C range, almost a full week it was close to -40*C. Plus all the frigid crap that leads up and follow's it. As an added bonus I live in a weird spot that never seems to get snow. North gets snow, south gets snow, we get a barren cold butt nothing to do climate for 7 months a year. Then throw in living on the plains and you get the joy of it being windier than hell, pushing that frigid cold, already dangerous temperature into deadly cold. Continentality sucks. I went 9 months with out wearing shorts and a t-shirt! There is nothing interesting to do here in the winter but drink and screw.

Awesome in the summer though, but not worth it.

So move somewhere warmer. It's not that hard. Pack all your crap up and get in your truck and move.

<****.

The Z model looks pretty good.

Consumer reports recently (4th qtr 2008) listed some HD projectors as their best buy - most were under $3,000.

I would definitely go that route (if I had somewhere big enough to project an image that big), and have seen some pimped out systems where the projector retracts into the ceiling when not in use (as does the screen)

I can only imagine a 5-person shooter game on a 5' x 10' screen

Two years ago, I bought a projector that does 1080i, projector mount, 20' HDMI cable, screen, upscaling DVD player and some other misc stuff for less than $2K.

Looks great even with lights on in the room. I think the same projector today that now does 1080p is less than $2500.

If you have the room, the only downside of projectors is the bulbs go out after about 3,000 hours.

That's all the owner's manual on my LCD 32" TV says the bulb is good for.... and less with lots of on/off cycles...

Get one of these. You will not out live the screen. LOL

http://www.samsung.com/us/productsubtype/led/?cid=ppc_hdt_yah_LED_LED+General_LED+TVs

Doug