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Polls posts

Poll: What part of your home theater is getting upgraded this holiday season?

by Richard Lawler posted Oct 11th 2009 at 3:15PM


Blame Christmas Creep (© Tuesday Morning Quarterback), but we're already getting our Black Friday (R.I. P. KURO Friday) attack plan laid out. With prices diving and features spreading on Blu-ray players, receivers, LCDs and plasmas -- remember when a $1,000 42-inch 1024x768 plasma was a big deal? -- we figure you must have an idea of a big ticket item getting replaced in the next few months. Poll choices are for which component is getting added/swapped out sooner rather than later, let us know what product you're waiting for a price drop on in the comments.

What part of the home theater is getting upgraded this holiday season?

Poll: Would you rather see live 1080p or high quality 3D from your cable / satellite provider?

by Richard Lawler posted Oct 4th 2009 at 2:45PM


The technology exists, or will soon, the only question is how or if it should be used. We know it won't require a huge stretch for your provider to deliver 1080p broadcasts, and CableLabs is right in step with others trying to figure out how to bring 3D home, but as a viewer which one would you rather see? As always, write-in votes are allowed so don't be afraid of the comments section.

Poll: Would you rather see live 1080p or high quality 3D from your cable / satellite provider?

Poll: Will you buy a PS3 Slim to use as a Blu-ray player?

by Richard Lawler posted Aug 29th 2009 at 12:00PM


Finally, it's official and in our hands for a review. Now you decide, with the addition of HDMI-CEC, bitstreaming for the latest codecs, and in a quieter smaller case (although it might be a little slower loading, for now) the PlayStation 3 Slim is better and cheaper than ever for your home theater. So let us know, is that enough to get you to purchase one?

PS3 Slim as a Blu-ray player....you getting one?

Poll: What's the worst mistake HD channels make?

by Richard Lawler posted Aug 9th 2009 at 12:00PM


We've discussed it again and again, the ills done by so-called HD channels against perfectly good content, whether it's passing off SD as high definition with Fox Widescreen, vomit-inducing stretching on TNT & TBS or the inexcusable cropping, zooming and pan & scanning of movies broadcast on AMC and HBO. But which one is the worst? Let your voice be heard, and if we forgot anything drop us a line in the comments.

What's the worst mistake HD channels make?

Poll: Do you / will you use Windows Media Center in your home theater?

by Richard Lawler posted Aug 1st 2009 at 3:30PM


Now that we've gone in depth with Windows 7 Media Center, with enough pictures, videos and explanations to make your head spin, if you haven't already made the jump are you considering making it a part of your home theater? Talking about it on the podcast this week, cost was a big reason why not, but moving beyond that the benefits of customization, integration, multiroom and everything else it can do are very compelling. Let us know if you've tried it out and how you're feeling about the latest iteration of Media Center.

Do you / will you use Windows Media Center in your home theater?

Poll: So how do YOU think Blu-ray is doing?

by Richard Lawler posted Jun 27th 2009 at 2:15PM


Why leave it to analysts and other, much less reliable, polls to gauge the impact of Blu-ray after a couple of year's on the market and where it's headed? We're taking it to the people, let us know what you think of Blu-ray so far. Still on track for mass market dominance and successfully supplanting DVD sales within a couple of years, or a doomed vestige of a bygone age that's just not convincing people to upgrade?

What do you think of Blu-ray's impact on the marketplace so far?

Poll: 1080p streaming video vs. Blu-ray

by Richard Lawler posted Jun 7th 2009 at 3:45PM


Real simple question. Internet video delivery has been promising to kill disc for about as long as this site has been around, and Microsoft's E3 announcement of 1080p instant streaming with surround sound and even social watching features is merely the latest shot across the bow. So tell us, when it launches this fall will that be enough for you to consider internet video as an alternative to Blu-ray when deciding how to watch a new movie?

Is 1080p streaming a viable alternative to Blu-ray for you?

Poll: Is Star Trek better at an IMAX or a DLP theater?

by Ben Drawbaugh posted May 10th 2009 at 1:05PM


With all the buzz about the new Star Trek movie -- IMDB of 8.2 and at #82 of all time already -- we might actually head to the theater to check it out instead of just waiting and enjoying it on our HDTV at home. So we're wondering: Which is the better movie going experience, IMAX or DLP, for an HD Snob? Now there is little doubt that DLP is the way to go when a movie is created with a digital camera like the RED, but Star Trek was filmed the old fashioned way with Kodak 35mm film (Kodak Vision2 100T 5212, Vision2 500T 5218 to be exact). At the same time IMAX is a no brainer when there are IMAX filmed sequences in the movie like in the case of The Dark Knight. So considering that to present Star Trek on either IMAX and DLP requires some sort of conversion, we wonder which is the best way to go?

Is Star Trek better at an IMAX or a DLP theater?

Poll: Waiting for new display tech, or more of the same?

by Richard Lawler posted May 9th 2009 at 12:00PM


With the news that OLED will finally be arriving in decent sizes as soon as next year, but is anyone still waiting? When you think about your next TV, are you planning on purchasing a bigger/faster/cheaper version of the same old LCD/Plasma, or still looking forward to the promise of tomorrow, whether it's SED, OLED or something else?

For my next HDTV? I'm planning on buying

Poll: Is anyone still watching SDTV?

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 25th 2009 at 1:00PM


It's been nearly a year since we last asked the question, and we'll drop it in again: Is anyone out there still watching SDTV? Flight of the Conchords, Glenn Beck, Jimmy Kimmel, the WNBA Draft, The Simpsons and more have all made the shift to HDTV since then, so what's that last standard def show you're still hanging on to, or is it more than one?

Do you still watch standard definition television?

Poll: Will Netflix's new Blu-ray rates cause a change in your subscription?

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 1st 2009 at 12:00PM


One only has to look at Netflix's recent growth to see how successful it's been while branching out onto new disc formats and digital delivery. Still, the news that the $1 Blu-ray surcharge is kicking upwards next month based on how many discs you can have out at once is making many previously happy (or not-so-happy) customers rethink their status. Still, Blu-ray discs are more expensive and if you've been happy with Netflix's service so far, maybe it remains a good deal. After a couple days to let the news settle in pick one, and let us know why in the comments.

How will Netflix's new Blu-ray surcharges affect you?

Poll: Have you talked anyone into going Blu?

by Darren Murph posted Mar 28th 2009 at 12:00PM


Remember those goofy "Switcher" Mac commercials? Don't ask us why we had one in particular on our mind, but it got us wondering -- how many of you have been advocates for Blu-ray? Have you invited a pal over to see the wonders of BD? Have you lobbied the benefits of 1080p films in an effort to get your best bud off of DVD and onto the real deal? Or are all your so-called "friends" just using you for your home theater? Bottom line: we're interested in knowing just how much the Blu-ray Disc Association owes you in sales royalties.

Have you talked anyone into going Blu?

Poll: Are you still buying DVDs?

by Darren Murph posted Mar 21st 2009 at 12:00PM


This week's poll question is pretty simple, really. Even if you've taken the Blu-ray dive, are you still spending your hard-earned cash on DVDs? Are you still forking out for DVDs instead of making the switch to Blu-ray? Discuss the pros and cons below if you'd like, and remember, upscaling really is all that's needed for some people. Okay, videophiles?

Are you still buying DVDs?

Poll: Have you seen a movie in 3D?

by Darren Murph posted Mar 14th 2009 at 12:00PM


Considering that we just gave away 25 pairs of tickets to a 3D screening, we're expecting some serious responses to this one. With 3D doing its best to come storming back into relevancy, we've seen studio after studio commit to pumping out flicks in 3D. All the while, cinemas have been transitioning just as quickly, giving viewers the option to catch new films in 3D so long as they're kosher with rockin' the shades. So, have you checked out a theater screening in 3D? How was it? Do you plan to go again? Avoid 3D at all costs?

Have you seen a movie in 3D?

Poll: Do you watch internet-based TV?

by Darren Murph posted Mar 7th 2009 at 12:00PM


With all the crazy Hulu / boxee happenings this week, it got us thinking -- how many of you out there are really into web-based content? By and large, most of what's on the tubes isn't available in "real" HD (read: broadcast quality), but we get the feeling that the convenience factor may still be drawing some of you in. Is this the case? Are you sold on internet TV? The pay-TV providers sure believe that you are, regardless.

Do you watch internet-based TV?





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