Quote:
Originally posted by Steve D.
I dug a little deeper into the "Zenith Electronics Corp." site, (not LG). Zenith lists several analog sets, in various screen sizes, in their current? lineup. Including 2 large "wood" consoles in traditional cabinet style. It seems strange, and 60's like, seeing these large oak sets with speakers behind sculptured cutouts on each side of the pix tube. I wonder if the remotes say "Space Command" on em?
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Answering your question about the remotes first, no, I don't think so. Zenith quit using the Space Command designation for its remote control TVs some years ago; the new remotes, at least the ones I've seen recently, do not have the slogan printed anywhere on them. However, about five years ago, I saw a Zenith TV with a remote control known as the "Concierge series"; the name was probably, even likely, just an advertising gimmick as the remote was just your basic color-TV remote hand unit, nothing more and nothing less. These remotes were used with Zenith's hotel/motel TVs.
As to the console TVs in Zenith's 2004 product line, I agree with you. It
does seem strange that any TV manufacturer would still be making console sets in fine wood cabinets (RCA has, or at least had, one console model in its product line a few years ago, and may still have it today). But Zenith and RCA may still be trying to convince consumers that they can build good sets, although I cannot help but wonder if those nice Zenith console cabinets have the same troublesome Goldstar chassis and CRTs in them.
The new sets in black plastic or silver-color cabinets aren't that bad looking; in fact, I think RCA/Thomson's new sets in their "diamond mist" silver color cabinets look as if they would fit in just perfectly with the decor of today's living/family rooms, and the earlier ebony-gray cabinets look fairly nice with most decors, IMO, as well. However, these sets can always be put in or on a wood entertainment center or TV stand if the appearance of the cabinet by itself is bothersome. I put my 1999 RCA XL-100 19" set on the top shelf of a modified oak utility cart, with the VCR and cable box directly below; I use the storage area at the bottom of the cabinet for storage of video tapes and such.
BTW, another poster mentioned that he doesn't need stereo sound or high-definition to watch the low-class stuff on most broadcast and cable networks. I agree. I am in no hurry whatsoever to get a high-definition TV and will not even consider it until the day comes when the local cable company has all seven Cleveland TV stations in HD (right now it only has two), the programming gets a lot better than it is now, and my old reliable CRT sets no longer work well, not necessarily in that order.
As to stereo sound: Most TVs with so-called stereo sound have two small transistor radio quality speakers at either side of or below the CRT; the sets are mostly table models, which are not nearly wide enough to provide good stereo separation--even most console "stereo" TV cabinets are not wide enough to separate the speakers enough for good stereo quality. I think the whole idea of stereo television was just an advertising gimmick to sell the then-new technology; the broadcasters, and eventually the cable networks, jumped on the bandwagon immediately, with the result that most U.S. TV networks and local affiliate stations, and almost all cable networks, now transmit MTS stereo sound.
But who's listening? I would say not very many people. Stereo television sound is a frill most viewers, except those of us with fancy-dancy home theater systems, are living without these days, and will continue to live without for years to come. The current MTS system does have its uses, however; consider the SAP system. This permits viewers to hear certain programs in Spanish. ABC telecasts its "World News Tonight" in Spanish on the SAP channel, while NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" may be heard in Spanish via this subchannel as well; the other networks may have news and other programs available in Spanish as well over the SAP subchannel--in fact, I think NBC telecasts its "Nightly News" in Spanish on this subcarrier and CBS may have one or more shows in Spanish via this service too.