No... this person was just a tool who probably should have had it installed by professionals. I've installed 5 HDTV's for both myself, friends and family over the last couple of years, and if anything it's gotten easier thanks to HDMI and newer sets with smart configure tools built in. Frankly, it takes longer just to get the damn set out of it's cardboard and styrofoam coffin then to actually hook it up and configure it. Usually, fine tuning the set is as easy as following the steps in the manual, or the onscreen setup guide that walks you though the more difficult tasks. Some models even come with a DVD that explains everything with video and pictures.
The only HDTV I've had a hard time installing was a plasma set because there was just no way to orientate it so the glare coming off the lights in the room didn't wash out the picture. After trying for close to an hour, I told my brother in law to take the damn thing back and get an LCD model. After he did that, it was smooth sailing and he couldn't be happier with his setup.
I think you just unknowingly hit the whole point of this story. You said you setup 5 tvs including ones for friends and family. The question behind this post is not how hard it is for people who know tech to setup an HDTV set but how long it would take the average person to set one up. How many of your friends and family would have had their HDTV running in less than an hour if it weren't for you setting them up?
Honestly it took me more time to mount my tv on the wall than it did to set it up. Actually 5-7 minutes to do the wiring for a PS3, xbox 360 and Directv HD DVR. 25 minutes to mount the tv. 10 minutes to get the tools and put them back.
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No... this person was just a tool who probably should have had it installed by professionals. I've installed 5 HDTV's for both myself, friends and family over the last couple of years, and if anything it's gotten easier thanks to HDMI and newer sets with smart configure tools built in. Frankly, it takes longer just to get the damn set out of it's cardboard and styrofoam coffin then to actually hook it up and configure it. Usually, fine tuning the set is as easy as following the steps in the manual, or the onscreen setup guide that walks you though the more difficult tasks. Some models even come with a DVD that explains everything with video and pictures.
The only HDTV I've had a hard time installing was a plasma set because there was just no way to orientate it so the glare coming off the lights in the room didn't wash out the picture. After trying for close to an hour, I told my brother in law to take the damn thing back and get an LCD model. After he did that, it was smooth sailing and he couldn't be happier with his setup.
I think you just unknowingly hit the whole point of this story. You said you setup 5 tvs including ones for friends and family. The question behind this post is not how hard it is for people who know tech to setup an HDTV set but how long it would take the average person to set one up. How many of your friends and family would have had their HDTV running in less than an hour if it weren't for you setting them up?
Honestly it took me more time to mount my tv on the wall than it did to set it up. Actually 5-7 minutes to do the wiring for a PS3, xbox 360 and Directv HD DVR. 25 minutes to mount the tv. 10 minutes to get the tools and put them back.