Nick

I complained about glare on tubes. I absolutely couldn't stand it. I'd board up the entire room in order to watch something with no glare. Hell...I still have a problem with too much light when I'm viewing. I'd hate having a glossy screen. It looks good if you have a room with no windows or light. I hardly think it is just something hyped up by salespeople. Unlike matte screens, glossy screens don't show "true" colors...granted, I suppose that argument is better suited if you're using the TV as a computer monitor and editing with it, rather than using that argument from a media viewing standpoint in which case, one may appreciate the added contrast and saturation provided by a glossy screen. I've always been annoyed with the "double-image" that seems quite common on glossy screens...most noticeable on larger TV's from a less than dead-on viewing angle. You end up seeing the image reflected on the glossy screen (in some cases...not all...I have seen glossy screens which are executed better and don't offer up so much space to create this effect. Either way, the argument is meaningless when you compare two TV's side by side, one with glossy, the other with matte, and it is in such an environment that the only way you can tell which is which is by the glare of a light bouncing off the glossy one. The matte TV hardly appears to be displaying images through a "cloudy plastic mesh." In the end, I found the XBR5 to have much smoother motion, a much sharper image, and more natural, yet still vibrant color reproductions. I wish they were on display next to each other in the Magnolia center. I may go back and look at some of the screens in there later...it is a much more controlled environment...and they have those sexy Elites.

Yes. That's another thing...the glossy screens are nice, but in the lighting conditions I deal with, I much prefer the matte screens. No glare. The Sony was a KDL-52XBR5 The Samsung was a LN-T5281f I believe

Slightly NWS...

While at Best Buy earlier this evening I was eyeing a Samsung LCD placed right next to its Sony equivalent. Both provided excellent pictures. It seemed as if the settings were very closely calibrated on each (so it wasn't like the saturation and brightness and other such adjustments were clearly different on one from the other...they were obviously set up for comparison.) I stood in front of them for about 10 to 15 minutes, effectively blocking the aisle, just staring at both screens and really scrutinizing their pictures. While the Sony was a bit more expensive, it did have a better picture. The differences were somewhat obvious (granted, both looked great,) but I wouldn't say the differences between the two are things that can be evened out just with settings adjustments...the Sony just reproduced the better picture. I think the last gen Aquos were up there closer with the competition in comparison to the newer gens which seemed to have stepped back a bit. Still decent screens though, and they are a bit more reasonable than the competition. In regards to plasma...I'm not a fan of plasma too much, but those Pioneer Elite sets are just awesome...expensive, but awesome.

Sony Bravia XBR line. Sharp Aquos line. Can't go wrong with either. Personally, I prefer the XBR's. I have a 46" XBR3. Looking to possibly pick up a 52" XBR5.

Back when I did a lot of it I liked to use the PLT and just made very small selections (utilizing ctrl/alt methods.) The pen tool is definitely superior, though it comes with a much steeper learning curve. I started to learn it, then I lost interest in photoshop for a while. With the selections I made, I would often change colors by overlaying other colors in such a way that would preserve reflections.

Anyone else notice the colored badges? :AH-HA_wink:

Even the rear... It looks exactly as expected...If anything it even exceeds expectations in terms of going from concept to reality (and 2-door to 4-door)...

So...would somebody like to explain to me why this received so much praise upon its debut... ...but this hasn't? It is identical in every way (save for the colors and lack of nav on the production shots...I'm sure the nav will look exactly like the concept's.) Like I said before, I did not care for the concept's interior at all. I never understood the praise it received...I find it ironic how it is being dismissed now...

OMG BESTESTxINFINITI

I don't even think the buttons are an issue. The layout and design just blows. I can't believe I am saying this, but I think I'd prefer the $h!ty corporate unit over this one...

I really like Tomahawk...Such a shame it is most likely still owned by Dodge. Chances are good my lone submission would never get noticed (if any of these submissions are actually getting noticed...)

Wow...that thing is hot! A bit gaudy in certain shots, but still pretty attractive nonetheless... Definitely looks sweet towing that tank. I don't know why, but I have always taken an attraction to the road presence of the Volvo VN's and VT's. They can look kinda goofy in pictures, but driving around one is a different story in my opinion.

I'm not surprised one bit in regards to how it looks. Just as I expected. Even the interior...I didn't understand the praise the interior of the concept received. I thought it was nothing special. I actually think the production interior looks better (except for the tiny screen...hope it comes with nav) which isn't saying much anyway because I still don't think the interior is that great. The exterior is just...blah...It has nice features, but unfortunately those features were executed in a poor manner in my opinion. The side profile just ruins it for me with the front overhang. I could go on, but this car just does nothing for me even when it comes to giving it criticism...It's no better or worse than any other generic car out there, be it the Malibu, Camry, Accord, whatever....It doesn't appeal to me. Be that as it may, it will probably do very well, as that seems to be the case among cars like this.

Meh...

I'd like to know what they were thinking...or rather, what they were on...

lesions

Personally, I feel Nissan is a great brand. They definitely have much more appealing products compared to Honda and Toyota in my opinion. Granted, they have some real fuglies as well. (I really hate the design of the new Murano.) The G, M, and FX ranges are all pretty nice. The X-Terra and Frontier are great trucks (never liked the Titan.) The 350Z is a great car (though it is in need of an update...), the Maxima and Altima are nice cars, and the GT-R is possibly the best performance vehicle at any price (and although it is ugly, it should really light a fire under cars like the corvette and the 911 when it comes to the future of performance...they really pushed the envelope with the GT-R...because of it I foresee some great things in the future...even more so than what we could've imagined without the GT-R. Though, I am very excited to see the ZR1 in action. I can't wait to see how it will blow everything away. :AH-HA_wink: )

Now this is a truck!

Yeah, there are several different models of SMG across the BMW lineup. SSG (sports sequential gearbox) is what goes into the Z4 and other "non-///M" cars that have that tranny option available. It pretty much blows, through from what I understand the newer version is a bit better. SMGI was available in the euro e36 M3. SSG is more or less a refreshed version of SMGI. SMGII is what is in the e46 M3. SMGIII is the 7-speed SMG available in the M5, M6, and M3.

I live in SoCal. It has been that way my entire life so far, and I plan to keep it that way. I live in Westlake Village/Thousand Oaks which is basically right on the border of LA county and Ventura county. Best way to describe the location would be to say I am adjacent to Malibu.

Oh wow, I remember talk of the manual coming over for the M5, but I never really saw anything come from that. I have still yet to see a manual M5, but it is good to know they are available. As for the 3er, it seems after the coupe arrived more manuals started to show up. It appears to be a fairly popular option, especially on the 335. I wish manuals were more prevalent and available across the entire lineup, but I suppose it all comes down to demand... Still nothing quite as cool as a supercharged, 6-speed swapped e38 740i a guy made on the forums.

Damn it...I was truly hoping it wasn't real.