David Hingtgen

I have spent many hours staring at both 720p and 1080p TV's. At 32in sizes, I do not see a difference, except for angled segments of static letters in large fonts--they are slightly less jaggy. Admittedly, BestBuy and Sears are not feeding their demo TV's the best source material. However, I plan for this TV to spend 70%+ of its time getting 720p stuff from my 360. Price is not really an issue---I've stated many times before I am buying the TV I think looks best, regardless of price. I still think that Samsung makes the best-looking 32in TV's period. Though it will be a couple of weeks until I get my money----if the 32A550 actually comes out somewhere, I'll certainly consider it. (Though I'd have to wait for another paycheck after that to afford it). (The 32A550 is basically a 1080p version of the A450 from what I can tell----only it's not listed at Samsung's site at all, and no physical retailer has any--seems to be online only, with no reviews)

Yeah, I wondered if they based it on the Energon mold, or it was simply "coincidence"---but the way the legs/feet are...

I don't know what the new one is. Doesn't strike me as being especially C-130-ish as often reported. The original art made him CLEARLY an A-10: http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e219/Foo...23/DSC00033.jpg But note that the photo next to that art is entirely different--an A400M (with altered tailplane location). Was he changed at some point? Jetfire replacing him?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...d=1202648740213 http://www.samsung.com/us/consumer/detail/...&fullspec=F A few months ago, the Samsung 3253 had the overall best picture IMHO. But, that particular model had several issues--notably, tearing via component inputs, audio sync/dropouts, and "corner pixel" issues. Plus it had a glossy black frame. My "alternate" was the Sony 32S3000. Almost as good a picture, no real issues. But cost more. But now, Samsung has come out with their 2008 models (and changed the numbering system). The 3253's replacement is the 32A450. It's better in every way than the 3253 picture-wise (contrast, response time, handling of SD sources), and has no known issues. (Asides from an occasional audio glitch from HD cable TV--and Samsung's pretty good about releasing updated firmware to fix audio issues). It still has a glossy black frame, but it's "not as bad" as last year's model. So, being 200 bucks cheaper than the Sony, and having a "2 steps better" overall picture, it's definitely the one to get. There is no such thing as a "perfect" HDTV with no flaws/issues at all. They're much like Yamato valks---99% of posts about them are complaining about their problems. PS---shopping at BestBuy? Go to the post office. Pick up the "change of address" packet. Inside is a coupon from BestBuy for 10% off any TV over 400 bucks. 10% off coupons for HDTV's at BB are pretty common, but you never have one when you need it. Good until May 31st. (but the packet's only going to be available until the end of April it seems)

He's a passenger jet with a hump. That narrows it down a LOT.

Yeah, I plan on getting those too. (I'm going to make a pretty big order from them soon--those, the Movie Ironhide set, some Cobra sigils, Decepticon and miniature insignia, maybe anime Onslaught) Unrelated rant: Why does everywhere say G1 Octane is a 767? He's not. At all. He's a twin-engined 747. Much like a Cobra Rattler is a three-engined A-10. May not exist in real-life, but that's certainly what they are.

I think everyone who's ever read this thread will buy the M+ ones.

I'm actually going to buy my HDTV soon (I've got it picked out and am literally waiting for my next paycheck) but have a quick question: Best calibration disc out there? I probably won't be getting a PS3 for at least a few more months (but who knows, maybe BestBuy will have a good combo deal in the next few weeks), so I'll need a DVD-based one. Or--are they even really worth it? Many negative reviews of DVE stating lack of explanation. Is it really that much better over simply running the THX optimizer? I find that my "by eye" calibrations are usually dead-on to the THX ones, for brightness/contrast/sharpness at least. But color is something so difficult to do--mainly because every source and channel is so different. IMHO--why even calibrate the TV's color to a standard, when no source will be outputting/matching it? Example: Match NBC. Make things look normal/nice. Then ABC will be REALLY off. And vice-versa. (ABC is pale/desaturated, NBC is very saturated and red---CNN has the best color IMHO) Wouldn't it make more sense to calibrate the TV so that say, my fave channel and 360 look "right", rather than to some fairly arbitrary standard that maybe, just maybe, some channel will match up with and look right?

I see you "not really a redhead" Scarlett, and raise you "actually has really dark hair and looks hot with glasses" Gina Gatto as The Baroness:

I find it ironic that the one character who SHOULD have a black latex/leather outfit doesn't really look that "iconic", especially compared to all the fan cosplay of her etc.

Ok, that's weird, because prior to just a few days ago, it says he hadn't been here since 2006. Is he psychic and knew people were discussing this thread and came back? Or maybe the forum's just wrong.

Sorry, there's dozens.

Snake-Eyes looks way less cool in good lighting. Why? Because now you can tell he's wearing Dockers. His top half and bottom half just don't mesh. Should have done pure commando style, or pure "ninja".

On the various forums there's about 50 posts screaming that TFA Blitzwing is a Voyager and always has been, and another 50 screaming just as passionately that he's been downgraded to a deluxe. I'll wait until we get a Wal-Mart or Target price listing. Though if he has been downgraded, that'd both explain everything AND suck. We all know he needed just a little bit more to be awesome. ::edit:: New pics, less suck: http://www.actoys.net/bbs/read.php?tid-260118.html Plus, other known Voyagers for size comparison. Tank mode's definitely mis-TF'd. Does the owner not realize there are big hinges in the wings for a reason?

I thought "Flint" the moment I saw him, too. Anyways--I'm surprised/disappointed that I'm not liking the Baroness outfit that much. I actually think Scarlett's would work better for her. Finally--hard to say, but I think the X-Men ones were more "realistic". There's just something about them that says "costumey"---as in Halloween/fetish.

I'll wait for a properly transformed one. Compared to the rest of the line, I can't believe it "really" looks that off from the animation and early design art in jet mode. Especially for being a Voyager. I mean, seriously. G1 did it a lot better. (It helped that the MiG-25 itself is boxy as hell)

When footage of them flying in formation shows up on Youtube, you can bet a lot of USN people will still say "every Iranian Tomcat was rendered unflyable 20 years ago due to lack of tires".

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defen...mentId=blogDest Super Gripen's coming. Also, Iran has at least 6 Tomcats that are flightworthy, as of today.

Yeah. I mean, the animation has the entire front half of the plane (torso) only as long as the SHIN...

Even the X-Men movie costumes at least had each character's "traditional" color in SOME amount, as piping/seams. At this rate--what will Storm Shadow look like?

Nobody's interested because the only "movie" toys Hasbro seems to have produced in the last 6 months are: Guy not in the movie #1 Guy from Cybertron, repainted Guy not in the movie #2 Guy not in the movie #1, repaint Hasbro just totally dropped the ball for Christmas. They should have shipped entire cases of nothing but Bumblebee and Prime--would have sold tons. But they didn't, and now most kids just don't care. So instead Hasbro's trying to eke out the last few bucks from collectors who have to have every repaint and remold.

Top Gun deleted scene: (IMHO, it'd be even better if someone re-did this, but with Beaker)

Well, my car's available performance mods just went from "almost nothing" to "the only thing you'll need": http://www.pfyc.com/pc/WB3007/04NEW/Cartun...+V8+Engine.html Still, 600HP would blow apart the factory tranny and is more than I could handle I think. (part of the reason my next car will be RWD---no FWD transmission can handle the power, my car is notorious for having bone-stock cars blow their trans all the time at 10K miles or less--even upgraded trans tend to fail with only minor performance mods done)

Kinda late to reply though--Garoquel hasn't been seen on the forums for years.

Checked Target and Wal-Mart quick at lunch--found several IG Destro (snagged one, and his elbow joints are fine, thankfully), lots of Cobra Lackeys, a few CG's, a ton of Snow Jobs, a Duke, and a V1 Storm Shadow. (Got Storm Shadow, left the rest) (still waiting for a "fixed" Duke--but the upcoming one with the flag has the wrong coloring IMHO). Target also had another HISS in. Random annoyance: The new Roadblock with vest has the "cartoon" sticker/logo on it like the blue Baroness etc, yet it's totally NOT the cartoon colors. I'll wait for a "truly" cartoon colors Roadblock (maybe they'll call it movie colors)---a DARK green vest, etc. (I want movie Cobra Commander too---with cape and scepter) If you think about it, a movie-version Roadblock and CC 2-pack would be incredibly appropriate.