MojoLists

HDTVs are becoming a commodity again, much like the lackluster sets of the 90s, when prices fell to a level that CRT sets above 30 inches became the norm. Like then, it signals an end of an era where the quality of the picture, features and innovation stood still.

Pioneer announced last week that it will be discontinuing its line of plasma and LCD televisions and this saddens me greatly. While I was never in a position to afford one of Pioneer’s Kuro sets, they were the standard in the industry, a high standard that guaranteed the best of the best.

Television prices have fallen to the point that no company can create a great product and make money. Once again, the market has spoken and dictated that price is the only consideration. I agree that budget minded televisions are needed but companies need to set realistic prices that allow them to build quality while maintaining a reasonable profit. Yes the market has spoken loudly and it has simply repeated exactly what the electronics companies have trained us to believe, price is the end all, be all.

When it comes to buying many of the available TV on DVD collections, I just don’t get it. I have a few TV shows on DVD and for the most part I have been happy with them. What I don’t get is the need to watch Sanford and Son again and that is one of the better shows available today.

If it was ever on the small screen it is most likely available on DVD and now many are making their way to Blu-Ray. Has no one ever heard of Tivo? These show are available out there, I have seen them in my Sat guide. As a serious collector of movie media I understand the collectors bug, perhaps it's the cost of sets that puts me off. I can justify the cost of the Sopranos and many of my favorite Sci-fi shows, to a point.

I am a big fan of the Stargate  franchise, both SG-1 and Atlantis, but even my serious collectoritis hasn’t convinced me to buy these. I probably just lost most of you but I do like my Sci-fi and it is one of the few things I can still get my 15 year old son to watch with me. I won’t be buying these anytime soon however because they are on TV, all the time.

I did a cost analysis of lowering my DirecTV subscription to the minimum and starting to purchase the shows we watch on DVD or Blu-Ray. It didn’t pan out however as the cost of these TV sets is high, besides, it is pretty tough to avoid spoilers until the set comes out.

I hang my head in shame when I admit to owning all 5 seasons of Andromeda, a series that forced its writers to work with a special effects budget of about $75 an episode. It is one of my guilty pleasures though so I will accept the ridicule now. I guess I do in fact understand the desire to own many of these shows, at least if you really loved a series but is there really any joy at all in watching Survivor again?

Amazon has always been a leader in offering great deals on media and these Blu-Ray discs for less than $10 sale is no exception. Of course, there is a catch, as always, in this case, you have to buy multiple discs, and the more you buy the more you save.

Just choose discs from the generous selection. Buy three and save an additional 30%, buy six and save an additional 40%, or buy ten and save an additional 50%. Pretty simple and it appears that Amazon hasn’t raised the normal price of the discs for the sale.

I picked up Death Proof and Planet Terror, both of which have greatly improved picture and sound compared to their DVD release. In addition, I grabbed the first season of The Universe, a favorite of mine along with three other picks and received the full 40% off. I couldn’t find ten discs I wanted but the choices in this sale are pretty good, I highly recommend checking them out.