Size Does Matter
Written: Mar 22 '02
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Pros: Good picture and color. Pretty big. Inexpensive.
Cons: Inferior remote control and complicated and rather useless Guide.
The Bottom Line: This TV is perfect for those in the market for an inexpensive, larger TV and who prefer size over the quality of newer technology or sleek, modern-looking televisions.
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| urwiller's Full Review: RCA F32649 32 inch TV |
Well it's official! My old 25" Zenith TV bit the dust. What began as a sporadic picture impairment turned into a broken down, power-less black screen... robbing me of the prime (time shows) of my life. This cheap $300 purchase gave me a good 8 years so I can't complain. Instead of taking this one down to the local TV authorities, I decided to just break free and buy a new one. Landfills, hold your breath-- I'll probably get it repaired later down the road when I can qualify spending half the purchase price for restoration.
I planned on taking my time to choose a replacement but I only had a 13" to pacify me in the meantime. Well, that didn't quite work out the way it was supposed to. I felt like I was watching TV on my GameBoy... itty-bitty people-ants talking and little matchbox cars cruising around.
Size really is a spoiler. Doesn't matter what it is --TV, monitor, steak, what-have-you-- once you have a bigger one, the smaller one is inferior. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the motion of the ocean: size does matter. So, on day three, I hit the town and began my search for the new addition to the family.
Demands
First and foremost, I wanted something ample. Although a 25" screen was about the right size for my rectangular living room since the couch sits only 6 feet away from the entertainment center, I was hoping to get at least a 27" upgrade. Clearly, a big-screen was out of the question or I'd pay the consequences later with neck strain.
Secondly, I was hoping to get one of the flatter varieties. Maybe something similar and along the lines of a Sony Wega. Finally, I didn't really want to fork over more than $500 if it wasn't a big-screen. The last requirement was the stickler since I couldn't find any "flat" TVs for under $600. Well, there were a few... but they were only 20".
So I went for the super-size and I ended up coming home with this 32" RCA diagonal TV (model F32649). To be quite honest, there wasn't a lot of decision making involved in this purchase. I was mainly enticed by the price tag of $380, marked down from $450. It was the cheapest 32" I could find and the price difference between this one and a 27" was trivial. Comparatively, it looked taller than the other 32" TVs, but the width was about the same.
--The Goodies--
+Appearance
Unfortunately, the screen isn't flat-- it's slightly convex-- and the overall appearance is general run-of-the-mill 90's TV style. Let's be realistic: It's a big black box. The buttons on the front of the TV are really stiff and primitive. You have your basic volume, channel, menu and power buttons.
+Specs & Features
This sucker is heavy weighing in at 120 lbs. That's right- you're going to need at least two people to take this one on. It's girth (29" H, 30 1/8" W, 22 1/2" D) is fairly large by most standards and at first I wasn't sure it was going to fit into the entertainment center which supposedly could accommodate a 32". After removing the VCR shelf area from the entertainment center, it slid in effortlessly in the height and width departments... but I ended up having to cut out the back of the entertainment center to push the 32" in deeper since it seemed to overhang about ½ inch.
+G-Link™: About as Hopeless as the Elusive G-Spot
I skipped the foreplay with the manual and went straight for the power button. A guide popped onto the screen and began leading me through the programming. The guide visually diagrammed how to hook some cable up to the VCR and cable. Since I have a VCR, DVD, Digital Cable, and an amp all hooked up, I figured I might as well start out on the right foot- I better plug this cable in.
Let me just say this: What a crock! The F32649 comes with a cable called the G-Link™ connector which really only allows you to utilize the Guide insofar as the ability to schedule your VCR to record programs and tune directly to a cable station from the Guide listing. I'm not exactly sure how this G-Link connector is a good thing since it relies on little sensors positioned at the optical areas of your VCR and/or cable box. I had to fidget with it numerous times because the remote wouldn't sense anything. Besides, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most VCR's allow you to schedule to record programs? And tuning into a cable directly from the guide is inconsequential to me since my cable remote already does this, too (and without special G-Link connectors). Somebody, please explain these g-link connectors to me! Is this 1960's technology?
+Guide Plus+ Gold™: AKA Guide Minus- Channels
After going through all the motions and setting in all the codes to my corresponding devices for the universal remote, the guide was programmed and geared up. So, this is what the Guide Plus+ Gold was all about-- a silly guide to tell me what was on what channel when. RCA sure does go all out to point out that it's a free service (like I would pay for it).
Guide Plus+ Gold was difficult to manipulate and it did not display my entire channel lineup. It seemed to only go up to around channel 60. My cable goes all the way to channel 900+ (I only have approximately 120 channels, mind you) but Guide Plus+ Gold only displayed my network channels, a couple Discovery channels, only one HBO channel (I have 6), and a few others. Not only that, but some of the channels were indexed wrong as well. HBO was listed as channel sixty-something instead of 421. I tried to fix the programming but it doesn't allow you to search for other channels. Instead, it wants you to make sure that the cable box you listed is the cable box you have (which it was listed correctly). Even still, I tried to remedy this about 10 times to no avail.
In the end-- after an hour of messing with it-- I just decided to give up on the guide thing. Besides, my cable comes with a nicer guide that is much easier to navigate and lists shows and movies much more accurately and even gives description and ratings for everything.
It's a good thing I didn't buy this TV for Guide Plus+ Gold (it's primary feature, I suspect). If you just have network or maybe even regular old cable, the guide is probably a nifty feature. Maybe you're sick of the scrolling program guide on your cable guide channel-- in which case, this might be a bit better. Luckily, my cable company provides me with a non-scrolling guide.
+Restricted Remote
This TV comes with a Master Touch Universal Glo-In-The Dark Remote and since I'm too lazy to explain it, here's the description straight from RCA's mouth:
"Ergonomic design with glo-in-the-dark buttons provides complete TV operation plus control of the primary functions of virtually every brand of remote-controllable VCRs and cable boxes, and RCA®-DIRECTV™ Systems. Also controls most functions of RCA DVD Players and select functions of some brands of audio components. Frequently used buttons glow in the dark, making it easy to find the correct functions even at night."
That night I went channel surfing. Uh-oh... this remote can't even handle three digit channels. Maybe I'm jumping the gun. Maybe I'm doing something wrong. I don't really know but at this point, I don't care. It shouldn't be that difficult. To make a long story a little less long, the remote has been sentenced to life in prison (otherwise known as the junk drawer) amidst the other worthless remotes and that silly G-Link connector.
+Other Features
The F32649 has a ton of other features that I am either unable to explain due to the fact that I don't really comprehend them or haven't used them. You can view the full specs and features on this model from:
http://www.rca.com/content/productspecs/0,2810,PI45907-CI105,00.html?.
Some other novelties I feel worth mentioning are the V-Chip Parental Control (for blocking certain rated programs) and the Front Panel Lockout (for disabling the front controls to hinder toddlers from changing settings). Also, it is equipped with front A/V inputs (as most TVs are these days) and an S-Video input.
So Get To The Gist Of It Already...
Despite all the gripes I listed in the review so far, I can't deny that I'm lovin' the size of this TV. As far as picture quality, I'd rate it an 8 on a scale of 10. It's not perfect, but for the size, it's pretty good. The color has been vivid and never seems too dark or bright, but just right. The sound isn't impressive-- it's kind of quiet-- but that's what I have the stereo hooked up for.
The F32649 is a step up for me in the size line and at the price I got it for, I think it was worth it.
This TV is perfect for those in the market for a larger TV - but not a big-screen, those who are on a budget, and those who prefer size over the quality of newer technology like HDTV or sleek, modern-looking televisions.
Please, just don't buy this TV for the remote or guide options.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 380
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Epinions.com ID:
urwiller
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Reviews written: 8
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