Hey world...I'm flatscreened!

The acquisition of a flatscreen TV has become a major societal accomplishment. According to the number and content of many big box electronics retailers' adverts, the latest ultimate "must-have" for any guy/family is a flatscreen TV. The moment of purchase is made out to a big event that neighbors enviably notice, the family rejoices in, and basically delivers happiness/assuredness in a box. It's positioned as if it's a "I've arrived" moment in life. Come on, how much different really is life post-flatscreen? It's an electronic device, that's it. Now, I'm not some cynical curmudgeon - I see how it could possibly lead to more social interaction, and for that I say woo-hoo:
> the flatscreen parties, super bowl with the neighbors, etc
> more time as a family unit - even the teens are willing to hang with the fam if a cool flatscreen's involved

In case you're still wondering, I've got nothing against the flatscreen TVs; they can go on a wall, and be used in ways displays haven't previously - they're awesome really from many perspectives. I merely wish marketers would push the american consumer toward making smarter purchases, based on real purpose and life enhancing value...not dumbing it down to "you better have this, or you're not cutting it, champ". It's hurting the overall social buying consciousness of what should be expected in making a large purchase decision. I likely don't need to point out the loose correlation to the consumer debt crisis in the US.

Speaking of the necessity of new equipment, just how many perfectly decent CRT TV's are sitting in a dump right now? Ironically some of these dumped boxes have a higher resolution capability than the flatscreen tv's replacing them. Yeah, that's right...find me some evidence that doesn't say that the best Cathode Ray displays aren't able to get to a higher resolution than even the best plasma/DLP/LCD/"insert latest 3 letter acronym here".

That brings us to the holiest of holy, High Definition. Better sit down...it's time to flatline the flatscreen HD hype. HD is definitely a step up from standard definition, but if some real money's on the line, does it really "look so real I could touch it", "seem like I'm actually there", or make sense that "a picture can't get better than this"? Find a large HD screen...actually find any HD screen, regardless of size, and get up close. Can you now see it's a bit blurry around the edges, and not as clear as 'reality'. No? put your glasses on, chief. Soon there will be HDD or SuperHD or whatever, and then something else in another 4 years, and on and on until the limits of 2D are truly found. That's the day I'll recant this blog. Look forward to April 10, 2029's post for that..provided I'm not busy that day celebrating "SuperUltraMega HHD TV homecoming day" at my house.