Hi folks,

We've had our 26" CRT TV for 15-18 years now (no joke), and it still works fine, but we're wanting to purchase a new one without paying too much. We need your advice regarding one of them!

Here is what seems to be a good one that i've found at a low price. It's a Toshiba 27" 27D47 FST CRT. It has been unbelievably difficult to find detailed specs on it, but this page seems to list most of them:
http://electronics.pricegrabber.com/televisions-tube/m/34453795/details/

Unfortunately i'm still rather confused. Here is one question that has come up regarding this television:
-Is this truly a flat screen CRT as it relates to improved picture quality vs a round one? It's designated as a 'FST Black Tube' on most sites, including the one above. However, I looked at one in a store which appeared to be the same model and it appeared that the screen was still quite curved, so i'm very confused.

The HD situation has also befuddled me. For specs relating to this TV's HD capabilities, see the above link.
This site says that the TV is HD compatible. It also says it has an HDTV Built-in Tuner. It also says it supports 1080i (HDTV) and 720p (HDTV) broadcast formats.
YET... it also says:
High Definition: 480p (EDTV)
Broadcast Format Displayed: 480p (EDTV)

How can this be an HDTV television when it only displays a picture in the standard resolution (480)? What purpose does the HDTV tuner serve in this case - will it improve the picture quality in some way for HD video (and maybe non-HD)? Or is it a gimmick?

Finally, do you folks think that this will be a good TV as far as picture quality, and suitable for my purposes? We intend to use it for basic cable broadcasts, PS2 gaming, and non-HD DVD movies. In a year or two I might also buy a PS3 to use with it, which does have HD capability.
-Thanks.

Wrong forum. You want the Direct View (single tube) CRT Displays forum.

It says it supports HD resolutions, therefore it is an HD tv. There's no rule that says it has to be 16:9. A high-def set must support multiple formats, including SD. The odd thing is that it doesn't have an HDMI input, so that will be a problem unless you're happy with component.

Criminy, a 27" set with these specs and at that price would have been a miracle just a few years ago.

It only suports 480p thats not high deff. look at the samsung crt 30 ince set for about 500 at best buy.

Athanasios

Oops, sorry about the wrong forum.

But the reason I am asking regarding the flat screen is that i'm getting radically different information depending on the store website I look at. For instance, if I visit Amazon and look up this item, it clearly states that this is a 'Non-flat SD' TV. Added in with my experience at a local store where the one they had on shelf appeared to have quite a round screen, i'm very confused about this. Other websites state that this TV definitely is a flat screen. Even the manufacturer (Toshiba's) website says that that this model has a FST Black Tube screen. I can only assume that FST means it is flat? Who to believe? Hmm...

Hi folks,

We've had our 26" CRT TV for 15-18 years now (no joke), and it still works fine, but we're wanting to purchase a new one without paying too much. We need your advice regarding one of them!

Here is what seems to be a good one that i've found at a low price. It's a Toshiba 27" 27D47 FST CRT. It has been unbelievably difficult to find detailed specs on it, but this page seems to list most of them:
http://electronics.pricegrabber.com/televisions-tube/m/34453795/details/

Unfortunately i'm still rather confused. Here is one question that has come up regarding this television:
-Is this truly a flat screen CRT as it relates to improved picture quality vs a round one? It's designated as a 'FST Black Tube' on most sites, including the one above. However, I looked at one in a store which appeared to be the same model and it appeared that the screen was still quite curved, so i'm very confused.

The HD situation has also befuddled me. For specs relating to this TV's HD capabilities, see the above link.
This site says that the TV is HD compatible. It also says it has an HDTV Built-in Tuner. It also says it supports 1080i (HDTV) and 720p (HDTV) broadcast formats.
YET... it also says:
High Definition: 480p (EDTV)
Broadcast Format Displayed: 480p (EDTV)

How can this be an HDTV television when it only displays a picture in the standard resolution (480)? What purpose does the HDTV tuner serve in this case - will it improve the picture quality in some way for HD video (and maybe non-HD)? Or is it a gimmick?
The picture is EDTV (480p) NOT HDTV (720p or 1080i)

Standard (SDTV) resolution is 480i. This set is EDTV (Extended Definition) 480P.
No gimmick. They are being truthful. Not to mention it is pretty nice that it includes a QAM tuner for unscrambled cable QAM (digital) channels (usually the local networks).

Finally, do you folks think that this will be a good TV as far as picture quality, and suitable for my purposes? We intend to use it for basic cable broadcasts, PS2 gaming, and non-HD DVD movies. In a year or two I might also buy a PS3 to use with it, which does have HD capability.
-Thanks.
I have owned a Toshiba floor model 32" for 9 years and love it. I also own a Toshiba floor model 51" CRT RPTV for 3+ years and love it. I have bought Toshiba products since they made microwave ovens back in the '80s...Highly recommended Toshiba for quality products at a fair price.

BTW...FST = FAST START TUBE and has nothing to do with Flat Screen Television.

Hi Splicer, thanks for the reply and info.

I don't want to second guess, (as I obviously know almost nothing about these TVs), but are you sure that is what FST means in this TV's specs? I ask because I did a lot of googling on the term earlier to try an understand it, and I noticed that every hit I came up with by entering in 'FST TV' variations in google is accompanied by a flat screen description. However, instead of many saying 'FST Black Tube', most say 'FST Pure.'

Answers.com, for what its worth, describes a flat CRT as: "A TV picture tube (CRT) that has a flatter viewing surface than the traditional rounder tube. Up to 30% more glass is used to make the screen flatter. Also known as a "flat screen," "flat face CRT" or "flat square tube (FST)", the flat CRT provides less distortion at the edges and is the preferred design."

I also just found a description on a separate TV while looking around, the 32A14, and its description reads: "It features Toshiba's FST Black picture tube, which delivers an increased viewing angle along with improved linearity compared with conventional tubes." Is this what flat screens are supposed to do?

This is very peculiar. I'm almost starting to wonder if Toshiba did not make two versions of this exact model that are virtually identical aside from the flat/curved screens.

You're reading far too much into manufacturer goobledygook FST= Effing Sheitty TV?

:)

To me, how flat the actual tube is is the least important spec to me. If indeed the set only does 480p, it's not HDTV ready and I'd pass on it unless you'll never get HDTV and it's for sale under $200 new in the box. I'm pretty sure it's fairly old stock at this point.

Back when I was repairing TVs in the 80s and 90s, Toshiba always seemed to fail due to a part overheating, unlike other brands of sets, but generally speaking anything name brand and Japanese should have a decent life span. (flame suit on!).

What I told people about buying TVs 30 years ago still holds true today: Go LOOK at the pictures of the sets, and shop that way. Once you like a set, then you can buy on price.

Sony Trinitron for the best PQ for me.