When it does, you have to say that the PS3, with its Blu-Ray player, PVR, ability to play .avi files and IP-based catch-up programming will look a lot more attractive than TiVo.

What doesn't? Nobody is buying those things even now.

but even at "high quality" the full screen image was pretty ropey

We only have a 32" 720p Sony TV, but I've thought the quality was pretty exceptional. Clutching at straws, but I guess either the smaller screen, or maybe the 9600 GT?

Nobody is buying those things even now.

Indeed. Years too late. I might have considered getting one after seeing Miranda's on SATC, but how many years ago was that? I tired of that show what seems like forever ago.
What I want is 4 tuners, 3+ TB of storage, and?

I watched about 10 min of a show (ok I admit it, it was Master Chief)

Normally I like to leave obvious typos alone, but this is just SO COOL.

Normally I like to leave obvious typos alone, but this is just SO COOL.

I spell checked it and everything! How stupid is my spell check that it didn't know I meant Chef. Still, Master Chief could be a great show... hunting bison, peace pipe preperation, teepee erecting.

The test I did re the web player on the PS3 was at least 6 months ago though.

Master Chief

I thought it was a PS3-inspired gaming reference

People, I wouldn't get my hopes up too high about the PlayTV — I bought one a couple of weeks ago from two guys working out of a garage in Penrose and so far the experience?

And set in the Waikato to boot.

Then, Miserable Chief(s) might be more appropriate. The only teepee I have seen around any parts is the one perched on a hillside in Upper Takaka, Golden Bay.

Master Chief could be a great show... hunting bison, peace pipe preperation, teepee erecting.

Signing the UN Declaration on the Symbolic Aspirations of Indigenous Peoples....

Signing the UN Declaration on the Symbolic Aspirations of Indigenous Peoples....

ssshhh, that's a secret part of the show

I don't know jack beyond CRTs, really, so need some help on specs to look for. Cheers.

Can anyone point me to a good webpage on how to buy a TV in the 2010s?

I've allways found these two sites handy for that sort of thing.
PC World and C Net. (relevant pages)
Of course it depends if you're buying new or second?

Can anyone point me to a good webpage on how to buy a TV in the 2010s?

A good starting place:

Wired HDTV guide

HD Guru 10 best This is based in the States, so you might have to do some googling to figure out what the NZ version of?

... if yer flush with cash...

Steve, you know I'm not ;) (It's not for me, anyway; it's for my mum.)

DON'T get sucked into buying expensive HDMI cables or power boards at the shop!

Hey, I'm not that stupid, Kit. ;)

Thank you both for the tips.

*I just heard yesterday that there's digital or analogue Freeview. I?

Oh, and TVNZ on demand, why bother? What's the point of
"I Demand Crap Right Now"?

The various bloggers at PA who have TVNZ shows are no doubt not offended at all.

*I just heard yesterday that there's digital or analogue Freeview. I had no idea!

Nah, there's Satellite (SD) or terrestrial (HD). It's all digital.

Look for a set with a built-in Freeview tuner — and for a bargain. Places like the Appliance Shed outlet store can save you 20-30% off?

Nah, there's Satellite (SD) or terrestrial (HD). It's all digital.

That's what I meant. (God, I'm struggling.) Thanks for the advice, but...

inbuilt Freeview means you can't record it, right?

inbuilt Freeview means you can't record it, right?

Yes, and this is definitely something to watch out for. To be fair, though – it's not the TV's fault that your video/DVD recorder doesn't have a Freeview tuner in it. We ended up buying a cheap HD tuner box to go?

I dont think I can record (in HD) from my set-top freeview box can I? (which is implied by answering yes to the earlier question)

See, I thought "inbuilt freeview" meant you didnt need a set-top box.

I should clarify: you don't need a separate box to watch TV.

The thing is – 20 years ago your TV would have a tuner in it and your VCR had a tuner in it. You often linked?

I dont think I can record (in HD) from my set-top freeview box can I? (which is implied by answering yes to the earlier question)

Technically no, you're not supposed to be able to record in high def from the Freeview approved products. As I understand it, their agreement with?

Our household hasn't been hooked up to free TV or Sky for many many months now. Makes life a whole lot better and avoids all the cr*p about what to buy as a bonus. We wonder why more people don't do it.

P.
who will re-lurk

I have Sky – because that's the only way I can get Maori TV on my part of the Coast.

My Mum is getting Sky for the first time because she thinks that late TV is mostly shite. She is biting the bullet to just "do it". She wants a?

I have Sky – because that's the only way I can get Maori TV on my part of the Coast.

I'd be surprised if you could not also get it using the same dish on your roof plugged into a satellite freeview decoder...

Only ~10 channels instead of ~50, but?

I'd be surprised if you could not also get it using the same dish on your roof plugged into a satellite freeview decoder...

That's what the TV technician did when my partner got him around to look at our terrible aerial reception – sold her a freeview decoder and plugged?

Terrestrial freeview – if you can receive it – is still better – higher quality signals than from the?

because she thinks that late TV is mostly shite

What, compared with the gems of the early eve?

double mouse

Sorry, I thought knew most geeky stuff, but what's a double mouse?

Sorry, I thought knew most geeky stuff, but what's a double mouse?

It's having two mice. So I don't have to keep swapping them round when I want to use my right hand for, say, writing or drawing on paper, or operating the numeric keypad, or holding the phone. It's?

It's having two mice.

OIC. Interesting – I've never seen that, but it makes sense.

I've never seen that, but it makes sense.

Mostly, it's there because I often work with someone at my side. But since it's there, I have got into the habit of using it. It does give your dominant hand a rest, particularly if all you're doing is scrolling through something?

At least one friend has found the player crashing, but it's working fine for me.

I've had nothing but bad experiences with the PS3 browser! It's slow and crashes often. The first attempt to watch a show with Ondemand crashed! If only I could install Firefox.

even a boat

Does your office flood?

You can, in fact, use the dish for both at the same time. Just make sure you use a splitter on the cable and pass the "powered" side of your splitter to the Sky box.

Unless something's changed, we didn't even need to do that. We ran the coax in?

Does your office flood?

I'm not waiting until it does.

I'm finding the intetrface extremely frustrating, they really don't seem to have got the browser integration working properly, it doesn't seem ready for primetime.

– repeatedly locking up for no apparent reason
– slow, low quality even?

Has anyone else had a go using at the PS3/TVNZ on Demand ?

I'm finding the intetrface extremely frustrating, they really don't seem to have got the browser integration working properly, it doesn't seem ready for primetime.

Are you navigating to ondemand via the browser, or using the icon on?

- slow, low quality even when I clik the *High Quality* button

I don't have PS3, but I'd guess that you'd get better playback if you go for the low quality option, if it's a bandwidth issue. Not as good a picture, but less likely to have pauses to cache?

Are you navigating to ondemand via the browser, or using the icon on the XMB? I'm wondering if there's a difference.

I'm using the XMB, I'll try the Browser and see if it's any diff.

At one stage it actually appeared to display the basic TVNZ site within the browser?