A dumb question about televisions

[Brendan]

When you talk about the size of a television ie 26? or 46? does that refer to the length of the screen or the diagonal measurement from corner to corner?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Diagonal.

[Cassius]

And why is it still in imperial (even on the continent)?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Because Britannia rules the waves.

[*Bob*]

Diagonal..

Diagonal..

However, if its widecreen, one should allow for this (ie a new 32" widescreen will look smaller than your old 32" 4/3 ratio telly.

If you're buying an old-stylee cathode ray tube telly, they often measure the whole tube, up to the rounded edges - which means they often include part of the tube you can't even see because it's hidden by the front fascia of the set. This is not the case with plasmas and LCDs. Sometimes a seperate measurement is given for 'visible area' in such cases. Always good to check if you're cashing in on the last of the CRT bargains.

So a 32" LCD or plasma widescreen will probably give you a considerably larger viewing screen than a 32" CRT set.

I think I've just bored myself to tears. I may have to open a bottle of wine.

[david_carnell]

In the days of square tv's this measurement was a bit of a problem when you got to really big sizes. With widescreen the difference in width to diagonal is less pronounced so you don't lose too much from the figure quoted.

If your asking because you are thinking about buying try the following calculation for deciding how big you need (sometimes there is such a thing as too big):

Antenna

Multiply the number of feet between you and the screen by 4 inches.

DVD/Satellite

Multiply the number of feet between you and the screen by 6 inches.

HDTV

Multiply the number of feet between you and the screen by 7 inches.

No idea why it's still in inches.

[*Bob*]

The only rule you need to remember is that anything over 32" needs its own viewing room.

Putting anything larger in your front room is in very poor taste.

[SeanMacGabhann]

true.. but I couldn't help myself

[Ladygooner]

With so many knowledgeable people on here, and to save me starting a new threat, does anyone know what thingy/adaptor I need to buy to get Sky in another room - can be the same channel - just want to avoid buying a new digital tv for the bedroom?

[*Bob*]

SeanMacGabhann Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> true.. but I couldn't help myself

Please don't tell me it's over the fireplace. Anything but that.. anything..

[*Bob*]

Ladygooner,

You can buy one of those 'wireless watch tv in another room' things. They even have a remote control relay thing so you can use the remote control for your Sky box in the room you're transmitting to and change the channel without having to leave the room.

The cheap ones are shite though.

[Brendan]

I?m looking for a LCD or plasma and one that is smallish. I?m thinking 26? or 32?. At the moment I have a giganormous LCD thing and I am sick of a telly being the prominent feature in the room.

The telly is about 6 feet away so I think 26? should be ok.

I really should just go to a shop and not do this online but I can?t face it. Curries or the like on a Saturday makes me seriously think about rearranging my moral values so as to somehow fit genocide into the list of ?things this world would benefit from?. So I think it is better for my immortal soul if I just do it all online.

[SeanMacGabhann]

no it's not - I promise

[Brendan]

Does it have one of those fireplace screensavers Sean?

[*Bob*]

Sean's got those ornamental VHS cassette boxes which are done-up to look like books.

(Not the pornos though - they're hidden in a shoe box at the bottom of his wardrobe)

[mockney piers]

I've a 32" for about 12'. Does the job fine, as you say, too big and it becomes the prominent feature of the room.

Unlike MacGabhann's where the room is a feature of his telly ;-)

Best game of Guitar Hero EVARR though!!

[citizenED]

My wall mounted 48" Plasma screen is B/W. It confuses the style police.

[lozzyloz]

If you need any help installing a new flat screen TV just give us a shout.

I'm better than a kwikfitfitter