So I'm shopping for a Samsung 1080p 43 inch - 50 inch TV... store suggestions you guys?
TheSource
Visions
Best Buy
Memory Express
Walmart
The Brick
Any others you can think of? I want a website to do price comparing (will use Amazon for reviews to look out for lemons etc.) and ideally a store I can walk in to.
Found some sweet deals for older models @ TheSource.ca but of course they are all sold out, ditto for some on Visions.ca -- in both cases we're talking $500 or $600 for a 46" or 50". So I have now accepted I'm looking at around $699.95 for what I want. Just gotta make sure there's nobody I am missing from the list of candidate stores to take my money...
Costco maybe?
MemEx the least hassle and the best service all in one
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Quote from: Melbosa on October 27, 2015, 01:10:22 PM
Costco maybe?
I walked through there last night and the selection was pretty limited, and no big price slashings that I could see.
Also I don't currently have a membership, so unless there was at least $60 in savings vs. somewhere else I wouldn't buy from there anyway.
MemEx also seems to have less selection than Best Buy or Visions, and the latter 2 seem to have identical prices for certain models (sometimes MemEx seems $5-$25 more than those two for the same one, strangely).
Dang I sure wish the sweet deals I found online weren't sold out...
Quote from: Darren Dirt on October 27, 2015, 01:18:08 PM
Dang I sure wish the sweet deals I found online weren't sold out...
Unless they are within Canada they aren't really deals, import tax on electronics is redonculous
Also the conversion sux at the moment so...?
Anything else you're interested in besides 1080p? Like, 3d, smart, 120hz, etc?
Also, damn prices have come down. I recently found my receipt for my 50" 720p plasma - $1400 plus tax... Although that's been, like, seven years or so.
Hell even 4K is getting to that reachable zone for larger displays
I bought mine at costco using a friend's membership ;D i don't know if i got the best deal, but it was pretty decent at the time, and it is an absolutely awesome panel. Basic semi-smart Samsung 55". I compared all of the larger tv's they had there, and it was between this and an LG. The LG was "smarter" and a couple hundred $$$ cheaper but this samsung looked way better. I went with quality over quantity...
My 55" was like $1300 or so about 4 years ago. Prices are much lower now.
Why Samsung specifically?
You might want to checkout Vizio as well. Bestbuy stocks them... Tend to have WAY more features for the $ than Samsung.
I've heard Samsung aren't quite as good as they were in the past. I don't know if that's still the case, but that's what people were saying a couple/few years ago. They did what any company does when they "win" a market. They got lazy.
I'm using a non-smart LG and love it myself, but I wasn't interested in the smart features as my XBone does it all already. I bought mine from Costco in March.
Quote from: Melbosa on October 27, 2015, 03:46:48 PM
I'm using a non-smart LG and love it myself, but I wasn't interested in the smart features as my XBone does it all already. I bought mine from Costco in March.
That's the way to be, chances are you'll link your own device up anyway rather than using whatever built-in client apps it has
Dumb TV + smart devices is the way to go
Quote from: Mr. Analog on October 27, 2015, 03:53:27 PM
Quote from: Melbosa on October 27, 2015, 03:46:48 PM
I'm using a non-smart LG and love it myself, but I wasn't interested in the smart features as my XBone does it all already. I bought mine from Costco in March.
That's the way to be, chances are you'll link your own device up anyway rather than using whatever built-in client apps it has
Dumb TV + smart devices is the way to go
Yup. It's too likely that services get updated, and the TV won't be. Like Youtube dropping its older API ceremonially, causing many devices to stop working with youtube.
Quote from: Tom on October 27, 2015, 03:57:05 PM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on October 27, 2015, 03:53:27 PM
Quote from: Melbosa on October 27, 2015, 03:46:48 PM
I'm using a non-smart LG and love it myself, but I wasn't interested in the smart features as my XBone does it all already. I bought mine from Costco in March.
That's the way to be, chances are you'll link your own device up anyway rather than using whatever built-in client apps it has
Dumb TV + smart devices is the way to go
Yup. It's too likely that services get updated, and the TV won't be. Like Youtube dropping its older API ceremonially, causing many devices to stop working with youtube.
Absolutely, or a change in licensing which means a software update modifies a feature so that it's no longer useful
Only thing that has me a bit miffed is that Vimeo app on Samsung TVs is up-to-date but still no Vimeo release on XBone (but there is a 360 version). I've tried to work around it with a Channel in Plex, but it won't load my VOD from Vimeo that way. The only workaround right now is Vimeo Website Couch Mode using the XBone IE. But I think once the uniform update comes out making the Windows 10 interface changes across all Microsoft devices the same, the Vimeo App in the Windows 10 store will probably show up on my XBone as well (/crossfinders).
Haven't heard anymore from you, Darren, hopefully you got the answers you wanted?
Costco's selection is smaller but they typically get the higher quality TVs and the price for the features is pretty good.
Is it just not available in Canada or something else? There's a Vimeo app on the Windows AppStore I'm surprised it's not also available for the XBONE
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Quote from: Mr. Analog on October 27, 2015, 04:52:09 PM
Is it just not available in Canada or something else? There's a Vimeo app on the Windows AppStore I'm surprised it's not also available for the XBONE
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From Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/forums/topic:111852
From XBone: https://xbox.uservoice.com/forums/251646-apps/suggestions/6033199-vimeo-on-xbox-one
Nothing Yet.
WOW, thanks for all the responses guys... Been a busy day for me, did not expect this much convo to happen!
Quote from: Mr. Analog on October 27, 2015, 01:55:37 PM
Quote from: Darren Dirt on October 27, 2015, 01:18:08 PM
Dang I sure wish the sweet deals I found online weren't sold out...
Unless they are within Canada they aren't really deals, import tax on electronics is redonculous
Also the conversion sux at the moment so...?
The ".ca" websites for TheSource and Visions = where I saw the really good prices on an older model (i.e. ones you will not see in stores right now) but unforunately the "check how many are available at stores in this or that city" feature gave me the bad news, outta stock, done, never to return. :(
I don't want to order online and have it shipped, too many other variables come into the mix, soe of which you pointed out. Definitely want to walk out of a physical store with my new toy.
I don't want 3D -- which is kinda fading from the marketplace anyway, unless you want 4K -- and even the 120Hz adds a bit too much to the cost to be justified for my needs.
I plan on pretty much HDMI'ing from my laptop (and in the future from my Nintendo WiiU, or NX if I am patient ;) ) so the "Smart" features are not needed -- hence my willingness to get a model from 2013 or 2012 that lacked all of those goodies. "Non-Smart" can save a lot of $, and that matters to me more than getting features I don't presently need nor am I likely to need in the distant future. Cancelled cable, no XBox/PS to hook up to it, no Blu-Ray player! Simplified life, and staying that way! 8)
Basically the ideal for me would be spending only around $500 for a 46-48 inch 60Hz 1080p that has no Smart apps/interface, just a glorified monitor for my occasional multimedia entertainment.
But now I see that might not happen, so might end up smaller -- even a 40 inch is quite a huge boost from my 13 inch laptop screen right now :) So I'm now wondering if maybe I should settle for 40-43 inch instead, save myself a hundo or two.
And I really like the crispness of Samsung's LED (OLED?) displays, on my phone of course but also what I've seen in stores running demo discs. The Sony models are ok too but imo nothing hugely awesomer than Samsung, and they are often more pricey. The LGs are not much cheaper than Samsung, and don't really wow me as much for some reason. Just a personal preference I have arbitrarily decided to stick to I guess :)
...but as Lazy points out, maybe for now just cheaping out and getting a "Vizio" (or similar) for a LOT less cash might not be as bad as I fear, I mean how bad quality can a non-plasma TV be nowadays right? I just don't want to get stuck with fuzzy or dull picture I guess.
This seems like a deal that isn't Vizio if you don't like that brand: http://www.costco.ca/LG-49LF5400-49-in.-1080p-LED-TV.product.100177348.html, seems to rate well on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-49LB5550-49-Inch-1080p/dp/B00NIBWIS0. And hell it's Costco so if you don't like in a year, just take it back.
Quote from: Melbosa on October 27, 2015, 05:11:32 PM
And hell it's Costco so if you don't like in a year, just take it back.
The fine print seems to hint at 90 days, for a return. And Costco extends the warranty to 2 years automagically.
Plus getting a membership might encourage me to do better grocery shopping... Hmmm...
FYI, I bought the LG 60LB5200 from Costco for $700 on April 14, 2015 (so not March... my bad! Took a pic when I was researching and buying): http://www.lg.com/us/tvs/lg-60LB5200-led-tv
Quote from: Melbosa on October 27, 2015, 05:11:32 PM
This seems like a deal that isn't Vizio if you don't like that brand: http://www.costco.ca/LG-49LF5400-49-in.-1080p-LED-TV.product.100177348.html, seems to rate well on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-49LB5550-49-Inch-1080p/dp/B00NIBWIS0. And hell it's Costco so if you don't like in a year, just take it back.
From just a brief bit of poking around a lot of Vizio models are showing up on "best of" lists for 2015, might be worth looking into (like, literally, go to a store and check 'em out)
Quote from: Melbosa on October 27, 2015, 04:56:08 PM
From Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/forums/topic:111852
From XBone: https://xbox.uservoice.com/forums/251646-apps/suggestions/6033199-vimeo-on-xbox-one
Nothing Yet.
B'oh!
Well maybe it's for the best the Vimeo app is fairly low rated :/
Quote from: Darren Dirt on October 27, 2015, 05:15:12 PM
Quote from: Melbosa on October 27, 2015, 05:11:32 PM
And hell it's Costco so if you don't like in a year, just take it back.
The fine print seems to hint at 90 days, for a return. And Costco extends the warranty to 2 years automagically.
Plus getting a membership might encourage me to do better grocery shopping... Hmmm...
Or you could ask those of us whom have a membership to take you in to buy one :P
Costco tightened its electronics return policy a bit.
I am very happy with my Vizio.
Remember that anything you see on the Costco.ca site will not be available in stores. They specifically try to have different products on the site than in the store, so they don't cannibalize each other's sales.
$548 for 49 inch LG
http://www.costco.ca/LG-49LF5400-49-in.-1080p-LED-TV.product.100177348.html
http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-49LB5550-49-Inch-1080p/dp/B00NIBWIS0
vs.
$674 for 48 inch Samsung
http://www.visions.ca/catalogue/category/Details.aspx?categoryId=2&productId=28280&sku=UN48J5000
and some others I am considering...
(all these links are Samsung)
$698 for 50" http://www.visions.ca/Catalogue/Category/Details.aspx?categoryId=15&productId=24427&sku=UN50H5203
$798 for 50" http://www.visions.ca/Catalogue/Category/Details.aspx?categoryId=15&productId=28574&sku=UN50J5200
$748 for 48" http://www.visions.ca/Catalogue/Category/Details.aspx?categoryId=15&productId=28573&sku=UN48J5200
$698 for 43" http://www.visions.ca/catalogue/category/Details.aspx?categoryId=14&productId=28572&sku=UN43J5200
...hmmm...
Best buy has a one day sale on today:http://www.bestbuy.ca/Search/SearchResults.aspx?path=ca77b9b4beca91fe414314b86bb581f8en20&filter=category%3aTV+%26+Home+Theatre%3bcategory%3aTelevisions%3bcustom0bbyspecialevent2%3a%22One+Day+Sale%22
Quote from: Melbosa on October 28, 2015, 07:54:18 AM
Best buy has a one day sale on today:
http://www.bestbuy.ca/Search/SearchResults.aspx?type=product&filter=category%3ATV+%26+Home+Theatre%3Bcategory%3ATelevisions%3Bcustom0bbyspecialevent2%3A%22One+Day+Sale%22&page=1&sortBy=price&sortDir=asc
Thanks for that!
http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/toshiba-toshiba-40-1080p-hd-60hz-led-tv-40l310u-40l310u/10363057.aspx?path=563e598e5daebce4662200a4279348f9en02
On my Short List for sure. Thinking I really only need 40" and $339.95 is pretty tough to beat. Plus if I plug it in and realize I do indeed want bigger I am sure returning it ain't a problem since it's BB. I would then just get this 49 incher for $499. (http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/toshiba-toshiba-49-1080p-hd-led-tv-49l310u-49l310u/10373119.aspx?path=2d5b957ac6fa0b0ea28f3d19355dd9e9en02) #DecisionsDecisions
-------
-YIKES, since I am now considering dropping to just 40" i decided to re-check Visions.ca and wow:
http://www.visions.ca/Catalogue/Category/Details.aspx?categoryId=14&productId=25449&sku=UN40H5003
40incher for $384.00 -- and this baby IS a Samsung ( and Amazon reviews (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN40H5003-40-Inch-1080p-Model/product-reviews/B00MYBR75O/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewopt_srt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=helpful&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=1) don't cause me worry.) Think that's what I'll be grabbing.
Measure the outer dimensions and get the larger one if it is still well within budget.
Vizio has an augmented reality app to help you test different sizes out in your room.
You print out a paper marker then use the app. It renders a scaled tv onto the location of the marker
http://showroom.vizio.com
Regardless of brand this can help you get a feel how big a 40, 50, 60 will be in your room.
Quote from: Darren Dirt on October 28, 2015, 08:56:50 AM
-------
-YIKES, since I am now considering dropping to just 40" i decided to re-check Visions.ca and wow:
http://www.visions.ca/Catalogue/Category/Details.aspx?categoryId=14&productId=25449&sku=UN40H5003
40incher for $384.00 -- and this baby IS a Samsung ( and Amazon reviews (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN40H5003-40-Inch-1080p-Model/product-reviews/B00MYBR75O/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewopt_srt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=helpful&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=1) don't cause me worry.) Think that's what I'll be grabbing.
Got this one. Plugged in my HDMI cable and searched Youtube for "demo video" and watched a few 4K vids and looked pretty sweet after a few minor tweaks. I ended up boosting my Netflix quality to the highest, from the lowest, because the difference was now visibly noticeable 8)
Quote from: Darren Dirt on October 29, 2015, 01:24:02 PM
Quote from: Darren Dirt on October 28, 2015, 08:56:50 AM
-------
-YIKES, since I am now considering dropping to just 40" i decided to re-check Visions.ca and wow:
http://www.visions.ca/Catalogue/Category/Details.aspx?categoryId=14&productId=25449&sku=UN40H5003
40incher for $384.00 -- and this baby IS a Samsung ( and Amazon reviews (http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-UN40H5003-40-Inch-1080p-Model/product-reviews/B00MYBR75O/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewopt_srt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=helpful&reviewerType=all_reviews&pageNumber=1) don't cause me worry.) Think that's what I'll be grabbing.
Got this one. Plugged in my HDMI cable and searched Youtube for "demo video" and watched a few 4K vids and looked pretty sweet after a few minor tweaks. I ended up boosting my Netflix quality to the highest, from the lowest, because the difference was now visibly noticeable 8)
Awesome! Well if you want to borrow any Blu Ray let me know [emoji4]
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Hmm, about Netflix and max quality - remember that max quality is 3GB/hour of data usage. So watch your data usage for the month, if you're on Telus. If you're on Shaw, you might get a call if you leave Netflix running all day (but not extra charges).
Quote from: Thorin on October 29, 2015, 01:52:27 PM
Hmm, about Netflix and max quality - remember that max quality is 3GB/hour of data usage. So watch your data usage for the month, if you're on Telus. If you're on Shaw, you might get a call if you leave Netflix running all day (but not extra charges).
That highest setting = 4k-capable so yes in theory 3GB for an hour of 4k ...but it's closer to 1GB for an hour 1080p.
I wish there was the ability to choose "1080p max" but unfortunately the middle-of-the-road quality setting is like 720p, it was barely better than the lowest and certainly noticeably worse than the highest. Why not make 4 quality settings, NF :(
Plus I watch maybe 100 hours per month on average I would guess; using up 100GB (or even 300GB) will certainly not flag me a super-heavy-volume user compared to typical media addicts... In fact I just checked and *300GB* is what I am given per month before I am even popping onto their radar!
Quote
Internet 30
Perfect if your household enjoys watching high-definition videos, makes frequent video calls, and plays games online using multiple devices, all at the same time.
Includes:
Up to 30 Mbps? download speed
300 GB/month data transfer
And thanks for the BR offer Mr. A -- right now I have no media PLAYING devices (not even a Roku!) other than my Lappy. Thinking of seeing how long I can stick to that kind of minimalism...
100 hours of Netflix plus some youtubing plus some getting stuck in Tv Tropes plus some emailing plus some connecting from work to home and you could get a ways over 300GB. You're right that you probably won't even got on the radar with Shaw. I thought you were on Telus, and Telus is enforcing their data caps (stupid Telus, it's why I won't even bother talking to your representatives that come to my door and ask me if I'm "the person in charge of financial matters in the house", like really, @%&# OFF TELUS).
Also, since you're 'flixing from your laptop, you could try the following to control data usage: https://www.reddit.com/r/netflix/comments/2fkylx/hidden_netflix_menu_to_set_quality_bonus_hidden/
Quote from: Thorin on October 29, 2015, 05:31:38 PM
Also, since you're 'flixing from your laptop, you could try the following to control data usage: https://www.reddit.com/r/netflix/comments/2fkylx/hidden_netflix_menu_to_set_quality_bonus_hidden/
I might try that tonight, although recently the "HTML5 or Silverlight" option seems to have vanished, so might not be able to work, and even if it does seems like too confusing what everything does...
BUT thanks to the list of topics @ reddit/netflix I found a few different suggestions about alternative ways of browsing all the titles (https://www.reddit.com/r/netflix/comments/3qd4nj/it_seems_like_about_95_of_all_content_can/), and heard out about InstantWatcher -- for me this should be useful: the following "search" should help to identify the "added to Netflix
a long time ago vs. really recently", so for me personally I should be better able to watch from my 150-film queue those most likely to vanish-with-no-warning before they vanish!
http://instantwatcher.com/ca/search?page=134&sort=available_from%20desc&view=synopsis&_pjax=%23filters-plus-results&content_type=1
(it is sorted by "Newest on streaming" and no way of reversing the sort, so the above just goes to the last page as of right now)
I was sad when Netflix took away the "Expiry Date" info from their API, but...
*Eureka! Looks there IS still a way to find out "videos about to expire"! YAY!
Quote from: https://www.facebook.com/unoglobalsearch/posts/1621993771396953
All, due to Netflix shaking things up with their API, expiry dates were missing until I resolved the issue... sorry about that...
http://unogs.com/countrydetail/#stats33 (Unofficial Netflix Online Global Search -- Canada)
and also, you can apparently get similar info from this site too: (but imo it's a slightly less useful interface)
http://www.moreflicks.com/search?query=&ccat=movies&ctg=expiring_soon^ time to compare your own Netflix "My List" with the above "expiring soon" list!
So I think tonight since I've gotta pick up my daughter at 9:30pm I'm just gonna stay home and *finally* getting around to watching
"The Rundown" (aka Welcome To The Jungle) (starring The Rock as a bounty hunter; IIRC it got surprisingly good critic reviews)
Yup, even Ebert enjoyed it to the tune of 88%:
http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-rundownSadly, between now and tomorrow evening I might not have time to also re-experience
this classic Coen Brothers "rom-com". ...Because
here is another classic oldie that I still have not seen!
Yeah, The Rundown was a fun little flick to watch.