Finally getting 21st century entertainment gear
For the last several years I’ve not owned a TV, and the last gaming console I had was a SuperNES. I’ve been able to watch the shows I’m interested in on my computer, and I play games on my PC as well. However, lately I’ve had the urge for some casual gaming, but my Alienware laptop is too old (that is to say, 18 months old) to play modern games well, and I definitely don’t want to drop another $2k to upgrade. I’m also getting a little tired of not having a place where I can have ppl over to play or watch TV.
So, I finally decided to outfit my office with an HDTV and Xbox 360. After extensive research, I pulled the trigger on the Samsung LN40A550 40-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, and an XBOX 360 Pro. I plan to use TVersity on my Windows Media Center machine in my bedroom to stream (and transcode, if necessary) my video content to the TV. I suppose I can also watch OTA HD channels, but I hate network TV so I don’t see that happening too often. I still refuse to pay for cable and/or satellite TV.
After spending nearly $1500 on what for years I’ve regarded as pointless excess, I’m feeling like a bit of a sellout, but I have only to watch a couple of Gear of War or Lego Star Wars gameplay videos, and I’ll bounce right back.
One interesting note about the TV. I was originally planning to get the 37-inch 1080p Samsung LN37A550, which was priced within $50 of the 37-inch 720p model LN37A450, but suddenly this afternoon the 37-inch 1080p model jumped in price. As of this writing, the Amazon (not Amazon Marketplace) price for the 37-inch LN37A530 is $989.98 with free white-glove shipping. However, as you can see in the below screenshot I took on my laptop after I noticed the price jump on my desktop, earlier today it was available for $859.99!
I know Amazon fucks with prices all the time, but I felt pretty angry at this particular bait-and-switch. Despite this, I still ended up buying the 40 inch LN40A550 from Amazon, since their white-glove service and trustworthy customer support are worth the premium, plus the LN40A550 was only a few dollars more than the 37-inch LN37A550.
November 11th, 2008 - 02:08
pretty sweet, but if you put it in your office how are you planning on entertaining others. There isnt a whole lot of room in your office, with the majority of the floor space being covered with empty boxes, three year old mail, soft air gun pellets, root beer bottles and cat hair. Wouldnt it make more sense to have it downstairs in the place of the piano or above it where entertainment would be a bit easier. I mean shit, at least it would get you out of your office.
November 11th, 2008 - 04:18
Well, my office is tidied up since you saw it, and I’m thinking of taking out the recliner and putting in a small couch. The TV will go where my whiteboard is, and should be big enough to view comfortably from the other side of the room.