Curved TV's, what's the point?

[98elise]

I'm in the market for a new TV, probably a Samsung 55-60 inch.

In my local store they have the new curved screens in, which to me seem pointless unless you're sitting at the centre of the radius.

We have two sofa's at right angles, and the TV sits in the corner of the room opposite opposite the right angle. If the TV is curved then anyone sitting on the far ends of the sofas will see part of the screen face on, but part will be at an angle.

To me it seems they've run out of new idea's, and are trying to find the next must have feature. Have I missed anything?

[probedb]

Most things are setup for a single viewer, even home cinema setup caters primarily for the main listening position.

IMAX screens are curved too. I suppose technically a curved screen means if you're in the ideal viewing position then it wraps around you like IMAX so maybe a more consistent image?

But I agree, at the moment I see no use in a curved screen at home, especially if you have people sitting at various angles to the screen

[brianb]

For people with a dedicated setup

I'd love one for my cinema room, just can't justify the price at the min

[Stu R]

It has it's uses with projected images in theaters etc, on TV's though I'm yet to hear a solid case for them that doesn't sound like marketing knobbery.

The *only* thing I found having had a good stare at one in the flesh is they cut down on the reflections considerably. I suppose if you sit with your nose pressed against the screen they could be considered a bit more immersive, but again, unconvinced.

[mattdaniels]

They are supposed to reduce eye strain because the image is equidistant from the eye no matter which part of the screen you are focusing on but like you say unless you have a dedicated home cinema room layout it's pretty pointless for your average living room tv.

[talkssense]

mattdaniels said:

They are supposed to reduce eye strain.

So is a frame around the image, to help your brain differentiate between what's on the screen and your trendy patterned wall paper. That all went out the window when some marketing genius decided people needed pictures that go right to the edge, joe public liked it, and then all manufactures had to follow.

I don't get the curbed screen thing unless you are talking about a huge screen in a dedicated room with one central seating position. It's just more marketing bks like 3d was

[mrmr96]

I saw an awful (IMO) piece on these on the gadget show; they were claiming that having a concave curve meant that the picture was easier to view from more angles.... Nope, no idea why they could conclude that.

Skip to 3m 26s for the start of the TVs review.
http://gadgetshow.channel5.com/gadget-show/videos/...

[gizlaroc]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The opposite side, but they can see even less now on the side they are nearer to.

On an LCD it is the last thing you want, the colour shift from poor viewing angles is bad enough, it now does it even when sitting directly in front.


It is something new to help sell a TV. To idiots.

The fact is TVs reached their peak 5 years ago, the Pioneer Kuro was as good as it gets, some are getting close but not as good still.
OLED is still too expensive as they are no mass producing it, but it doesn't matter as people are happy with issues and buy lcd.
The 4k sets all have backlight issues yet people lap them up.

We have sidelit panels, and that is a thoroughly crap design for a TV, but we do it so it is only 20mm thin instead of 30mm.
Who cares how thing it is, you still have to put cables in and how looks behind anyway?
So crap picture for design that is pointless. Great!

LCD could be OK if they used direct backlighting with local dimming on an IPS panel, Panny AS802 has done that, but £1800 for a 47", and £3000 for the 50". Getting close to OLED prices. As it stands LCD is flawed, it is crap, but, it looks sexier than plasma when hung on the wall, and looks better in store under fluorescent lighting, so it sells more.



PS, before anyone get upset I have a crap Sony W905 LCD that has replaced my Pioneer Kuro that is bordering on perfect because 'it looks neater in the front room.'
No, it is because we are now in a room with 7m wide, 2.5m high windows and during the day we need the light output of an LCD.
But considering this was Sonys £1800 flagship 46" LCD that everyone raves about it seriously lags behind 5 year plasma tech.
Oh, if anyone wants a reference Pioneer 5090 for £500 I have one boxed sitting in the garage.