The onslaught of marketing this time of year is unsurprising, but no less unpleasant. Advertising of products can be a useful tool, informing the public of the latest and greatest.
Where it becomes offensive is when it includes blatant lies, misleading truths, or perpetrates a myth.
Don't be fooled by these deceptive practices, in this (admittedly first) edition of Myths, Marketing, and Misdirection, the HDTV edition.… Read more
Don't listen to the hype. Ignore the commercials. Leer skeptically at the salesman. There is no such thing as an LED TV, and "LED" doesn't mean it's any better than other TVs.
LED is just a type of LCD, with strengths and weaknesses that make it better in some ways, worse in others, and rarely worth its price premium over other technologies. … Read more
Lots of great choices for new AV gear this year, but it's also easy to get suckered into getting more than you need.
Check out these tips and tricks to save yourself some big money this holiday season.… Read more
CNET Reader Name Withheld writes:
Hi, I own a Sony 46-inch TV connected to a receiver and cable box with HDMI. I've always thought the picture just didn't look as good as it did in the store...which I chalked this up to lack of bright store lighting/never calibrating the TV. I'm in the process of moving, so I'm running the cable box directly to the TV, and it now it looks WAY better. What's going on? Should I ditch the receiver? I really don't want to go back to switching inputs on the TV.
Thanks for your help.
Well, Mr. Withheld, interesting question.
If you read my "Buying an HDTV: Online or in-store" article, you'd have found the clear(ish) winner was buying online. The selection and prices pretty much can't be beat.
But as I mentioned in that article, not all online stores are created equal. There are many important factors to look out for when buying online that go far beyond price.
Buyer beware, as they say, as you'll see.… Read more
Every year there are fewer "brick-and-mortar" retailers. Not coincidentally, there are ever more online retailers.
The question is: where's the best place to buy an HDTV? … Read more
Every year, retailers tempt consumers with too-good-to-be-true deals designed to tempt them into the stores and buy...something else.
Chances are, these deals are too good to be true. Before you head out to join the mad rush, here are some so-called "deals" to avoid.… Read more
If you want the most features for your TV buck, look no further than Vizio's E3D0VX series.
It's the least expensive 1080p 3D TV on the market--yeah, entry-level 720p 3D plasmas from Samsung and LG cost less but don't include active glasses, while Sony's PlayStation TV is just 24 inches.
The Vizio also sports a well-equipped Internet package, complete with content galore, built-in Wi-Fi, and, yes, a remote equipped with a QWERTY keyboard on the flip side. About the only thing missing is an LED backlight.
The downside is that the Vizio's disappointing 2D picture can't match that of many basic-featured competitors that cost less. If you can overlook that significant flaw and actually want 3D, you'll find Vizio's E3D0VX plenty appealing.
CNET reader Steven U. asks:
I bought a 240 Hz LED LCD, and if I press the "Info" button, all I ever see is 1080p/60. Does this mean I'm only getting 60 Hz? Is there something wrong with my TV? Do I need a special HDMI cable? Your question is a pretty common one, actually.… Read moreA few months ago, I wrote the provocatively titled "Why all HDMI cables are the same."
There was a ruckus. Which I expected.
But the post also generated some great questions. Which I hadn't. So let's take a look at some of the more common and persisting questions from my article, and flush some more of the myths surrounding the decidedly-not-magic HDMI down the drain.… Read more
Technically Incorrect
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Christina Milian and the gadgets she loves
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