Sony: Blu-Ray format can't be improved

electricpig.co.uk ^ | September 1, 2008 | James Holland

[river rat]

Wow! you’re really with the times and technology..

I’m STILL using a large Allied reel to reel, booming out of a large wood cabinet stereo system build by my fatherinlaw - in the 50’s! It’s hooked up to a Heathkit amplifier and speakers that fill both ends of the large cabinet..

It still sounds wonderful......

[SunkenCiv]

Sony says it'll be the last optical format, after which, we'll move way from shiny discs altogether...That suggests we'll move to a Flash-based medium, or maybe holographic storage, but Miyama's not giving anything away.

Density is climbing in flash RAM, and price is coming down. After 8GB chips get down to under $1 -- or are sufficiently cheap that the power and space savings over DVDs look more attractive -- we'll be looking at the beginning of the decline in optical storage. 8GB USB drives are under $40 and falling. 4GB (which can be argued as a feasible replacement for DVD storage) are under $30, certainly, and probably $20 or less (I haven't checked in a few weeks).

[TheRightGuy]

but does anyone know of a listing of available QAM tuner HDTVs?

I saw one 6-8 months ago at BestBuy. I want to think it was a Sharp or a Sammie ... small set, maybe 25-27".

They've pretty much disappeared from the marketplace since then ... a lot of pressure from the cable companies I was told.

[SampleMan]

When I first started flying in the S-3, it had a large drum memory unit about 14” in diameter and about the same in length. It spun at 6800 rpm and had about 65k of memory.

We kept making the argument that replacing the 1000 pound 1960’s tech computer with a new one wouldn't only save space, be far more reliable, and far more capable, but would also pay for itself in jet fuel in short order.

Of course it was the government, it took about ten years to get any action.

[Publius Valerius]

They've pretty much disappeared from the marketplace since then ... a lot of pressure from the cable companies I was told.

I'm not sure that's right. I just bought a 47" Sharp and it included a QAM tuner. In fact, that was a deal breaker for me; I didn't want a set-top box. Most of the sets that I looked at had QAM tuners.

A point of caution, though: they only received unscrambled signals, so, for instance, I don't receive ESPN's HD feed using the QAM tuner despite that I can get it with the set-top box I have in the other room.

But it's nice watching my neighbors' pay-per-view--which you can do with the QAM.

[Publius Valerius]

The problem in my area with QAM tuners in HDTVs is that my local cable company told me that using a cablecard is illegal

If you have a QAM tuner, you don't need a cable card. The QAM tuner receives the signals and puts them on your tv set. Plug in your TV and you're all set to watch digital, high-def programming.

[TheRightGuy]

I'm not sure that's right. I just bought a 47" Sharp and it included a QAM tuner. In fact, that was a deal breaker for me; I didn't want a set-top box. Most of the sets that I looked at had QAM tuners.

Where'd you find so many? I've already got cable box and HD setup for the home theater, but am looking to replace kitchen, bedroom, and patio sets with HD and don't want to have to hassle with (or pay for) additionl cable boxes.

[Publius Valerius]

I ordered my set from buy.com (with no trouble, incidentally).

If you are looking for TVs, I suggest that you look at www.dealnews.com daily.

Also, here’s a link to another set—a Sharp—with a QAM tuner included.

http://www.vanns.com/shop/servlet/item/features/462497633/sharp-lc-52d43u?v_c=PriceGrabber&srccode=cii_5784816&cpncode=19-10650807-2

[Publius Valerius]

Ok, here’s a list (by no means exhaustive) of TVs with QAM tuners.

http://www.nextag.com/Televisions—zzqam+tv+tunerz500014zB6z5-—html

[TheRightGuy]

many thanx

[ErnBatavia]

‘Cause these kinds of thread are generally fun, and sometimes even a little educational....that’s why, big fella.

[mowowie]

Warhawk is pretty cool, I bought it but barely play it though.
The problem I have is I can’t ever seem to be able to pull myself away from playing Battlefield 2142 on my PC to ever play PS3 games.
When My buddies come over though its Motorstorm, Burnout Paradise and GTA 4 craziness.

[Terpfen]

It’s still odd given your stated desire to not take advantage of the information.

[I Drive Too Fast]

When I was in the USAF, I bought my reel to reel in either 79 or 80 (I could look up the receipt because I kept all of my records). It is an AKAI 635-D paid $540.00 IIRC. I only have a few reels, several 7" ones and one 10" reel which holds 6 1/2 hours of music. Those blank tapes were quite expensive (I believe I paid over $20.00 for that 10" reel). I still listen to it from time to time.

If you want to know expensive, I paid up to $14.00 for 4 1/2 hour Beta tapes back then.

[Brett66]

I’m still hoping for solid state DVR that could hold my entire collection of DVD’s and still have room left over.

I’ll give it 10 years......

[SunkenCiv]

:’) Samsung announced a 128GB flash chip, probably still a little expensive though. Big flash drives have been used in lieu of hard drives in some computers (Asus I think, and the Mac Air, among probably others).