Can you do without color?

[zenith2134]

Was wondering how many of us use a b&w set as a daily watching tv?

I personally can do without color tv, but I switch it up and favor color sets primarily. I know some AKers probably favor their B&W sets though....Am I right?

[Fisher-Dave]

Originally Posted by zenith2134

Was wondering how many of us use a b&w set as a daily watching tv?

I personally can do without color tv, but I switch it up and favor color sets primarily. I know some AKers probably favor their B&W sets though....Am I right?

I don't have a B&W TV but still enjoy watching old shows in B&W. I could do without color ok.

[MRX37]

I can't stand not having color. I have a Silvertone TV sitting in my garage that I won't bother with because it's black and white.

With a color picture, there's more information in the image and it looks more realistic.

[eberts]

I hate B&W tv.

I like my13" color TV I bought at best buy for $59
2 years ago.
I only watch the news, weather, star base atlantis, and "the Shield" TV shows.
I never had a VCR.

[wa2ise]

I want a B&W HDTV set!

[zenith2134]

TV does suck these days, and man a b&w HDTV would be pretty neat!

Remember that junky '78 Magnavox b&w I posted about...I have a DTV converter hooked up to it and I'm letting it run the "City Drive Live" traffic camera channel 24/7 in my garage...just want to see how long it can go for. (Yes, I am nuts, since I was a kid I did things like this) Anyways, back to the original topic...

[Pete Deksnis]

Originally Posted by wa2ise

I want a B&W HDTV set!

[peverett]

I watch a lot of history shows and also the late night shows. As the history shows contain mostly B&W pictures and the late night shows(Leno and such) always have the same background, watching B&W is not an issue for me. I do it all the time my old TVs.

However, I do not have a desire for B&W HDTV-that would seem to somewhat defeat the purpose.

[ChrisW6ATV]

Originally Posted by wa2ise

I want a B&W HDTV set!

I have the closest thing available. Casablanca and other classic movies on HD DVD.

When the story in a movie (or TV show) is compelling enough, you don't even think about whether it is in B&W or color.

[dr.ido]

Originally Posted by wa2ise

I want a B&W HDTV set!

I've though about building a HD B&W set before. High resolution B&W CRT monitors are out there and are still used for Medical imaging applications. Megascan, Dataray, Cornerstone, Siemens and others made them in resolutions of up to 8 megapixels (3200x2560).

The earlier 1.3 or 2 megapixel models should scan low enough to sync to either 1080p or 720p, so driving them with a HD set top box should be doable (and as this is B&W is doesn't even need to be one with a VGA output, the Y output will do).

Then add some amplified speakers for sound and build a suitable looking cabinet to house it all (this is where I'd probably fail).

Finding the monitor would be the hardest part now. I let the last one I had go when I sold the VAXstation system it came with.

[Phil Nelson]

I agree with retrohacker that the absence of color doesn't detract from most TV programs. If you're watching a talk show or a rerun of Friends or Cheers, they're not doing anything creative with color. You're focusing on the dialogue and the action (if any). Who cares whether Rachel's throw rug is azure or maroon?

I wish that more new movies were made in B/W. Good Night and Good Luck, for instance, was beautiful to watch, and I never heard anyone complain that it wasn't in color.

I think we have lost some things since color took over. If you watch a classic B/W movie, such as a Hitchcock or Orson Welles feature, the composition and lighting, etc., for every scene is breathtaking. Those movies actually look worse when they are "colorized."

In the post-MTV age, many movies and TV programs rely on a machine-gun pace and the shaky camera style. Much less interesting, visually. There is more to cinematography than jogging around with a digital camera on your shoulder. Name one contemporary director who could remake a classic Bergman film in B/W.

Anyway, to answer the original post, I do watch my bigger-screen B/W sets regularly (the Predicta and the 16" Zenith tabletop). Those with 7" and 8" screens don't get much use -- just enough to keep them healthy. Fun to restore, but not practical for daily use.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[Tubejunke]

Originally Posted by Phil Nelson

I agree with retrohacker that the absence of color doesn't detract from most TV programs. If you're watching a talk show or a rerun of Friends or Cheers, they're not doing anything creative with color. You're focusing on the dialogue and the action (if any). Who cares whether Rachel's throw rug is azure or maroon?

This quote pretty much sums up my opinion of color television and I have said it for years. I can't believe that most people I have told it to look at me as if I'm crazy. Of course these folks usually of the mindset of not watching tv at all if it werent color AND remote control. God forbid having to move a body part to adjust a television set!

I don't remember it being a big deal to get up and change the channel back when it was the more or less the norm. Of course we didn't have 200 channels. Now THAT could be a work out! Hey maybe thats why we need all of the abdominal workout info-mercials these days and the kids are pudgy....

[Duane]

Originally Posted by wa2ise

I want a B&W HDTV set!

There will still be digital artifacts.....

[Eric H]

The answer is NO!
I went the first 20 years of my life without a color set, I'll be darned if I'm going to give it up now!

[compucat]

The only time not having color is a problem is when color is used to define something such as in a news program or documentary. For example "The red line on the graph indicates.... and the blue line is...., other than that, I can live without it. It is nice to watch my favorite shows in color such as Lost and House MD.