kde Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 Is HDTV worth the extra cost? Can you really tell a difference in the picture and what effect, if any, does it have on watching DVDs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WS65711 Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 Is it worth the cost? Only you can answer that question. Does it make a difference? Absolutely. The larger the screen size, the more significant the difference. On my 65" RPTV with OTA broadcast material (shows like CSI, Numbers, Cold Case, American Idol, etc.) are nothing short of amazing. Go to www.antennaweb.org to get an idea of what you may be able to receive OTA (over the air) with rabbit ears or an outside antenna at your location. What about DVD's? DVD's will display a 480p on an HDTV or an EDTV. The image is considerably better better than 480i (standard TV), but not as good as 720p or 1080i (HDTV). High definition DVD players and DVD's should be available within the next 6 months or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 High-definition television looks terrific compared to analog TV, experts certainly agree on that. While analog broadcasts are delivered in 480i resolution (that means 480 lines of information are displayed on your screen), high-definition TV arrives in either 1080i or 720p, both offering an image far sharper and more detailed than analog. By comparison, DVD movies have 480p resolution (which creates a smoother picture than 480i), so high-def television can surpass even the superior images you get from DVD. However, it's important to note that not all digital TV is HDTV. High-definition television broadcasting, which experts agree looks vastly better than regular television, is just one of sixteen digital formats allowed by the FCC. Some experts speculate that even after the 2007 cutoff (which will probably be extended to 2010), many stations will still limit HDTV to movies, prime time and special events; that's because high-definition uses more of a network's resources than other digital and analog formats. Even if you do own an HD-capable television, you may not actually receive much HD programming. It all depends on what's offered by your cable or satellite provider. Right now, the major networks broadcast much of their prime time programming in HD, and there are a handful of all-high-def cable networks, but nearly everything else is still in analog or lower-resolution non-HD digital. http://www.consumersearch.com/www/electronics/hdtvs/index.html Samsung Consumer (DVD/TV/Etc) TXM2798HFX 27" Flat HDTV $233.00 - SHENTECH.COM: OF AMERICA 27" Tantus DynaFlat HDTV Monitor with Neo Slim-Width Design TV/VIDEO FEATURES- * 4:3 DynaFlat HDTV Anti-Distortion/Anti-Glare CRT * Digital TV High ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelerFan Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 You betcha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 Yes. But keepin mind that the source of the program means everything. Meaning that an old 1920's movie on an HD channel still looks like an old 1920's movie. It doesn't do a thing to improve the quality of what is fed to it. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAmtnbikr Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 HDTV = the best thing since sliced bread..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Ears Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 I got my HDTV a few days before the Super Bowl. The game was so clear, you could see the blades of grass or little pieces of paper on the field. I notice the difference most with sports programs; Boxing, Basketball, Tennis, Horse Racing all look amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hurd Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 Is it worth the extra cost? To some people, other people could not care about PQ, much like people rave about low bitrate MP3's that "sound exactly like the original cd". Can you tell the difference in picture quality? Absolutely, it is like looking through a freshly washed window. But, don't let us tell you, get to a retailer and see the difference for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WMcD Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 I'm saving my pennies. A buddy has a Samsung DLP. Regular old DVD's look terrific. Off the cable HDTV is impressive too. My conclusion is that the new monitors make the best presentation of any source, just like good speakers. Gil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmesa Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 honestly, 720 sucks, but 1080 is amazing! its like a PC screen. ESPN does 1080 and its worth watching thoes game in hidef Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAR69 Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 Blackmesa - actually ESPN broadcasts in 720P. TNT broadcasts in 1080i. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunt Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 Absolutely worth every penny. It's like listening to your first CD, and then not being able to listen to your albums again. (If you are old enough to remember albums). Once you see HD, you will never want to watch analog again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael hurd Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 IMO, I will not buy one until the satelite companies and cable companies here carry many different channels, they seem to be really missing the boat in Canada. On most HDTV's that I have seen, the hi-def picture looks amazing, while the SD picture is so-so. In Canada, Bell has 26? HD channels, and Starchoice has 9, with expansion plans. If you took away the time shifted channels that Bell has, and the french, in reality they only have 14. Cable? Umm, no, not here. Hi-def OTA, sorry not close enough to the us border to pick any up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ygmn Posted June 1, 2005 Share Posted June 1, 2005 ---------------- On 6/1/2005 6:58:31 PM Big Ears wrote: I got my HDTV a few days before the Super Bowl. The game was so clear, you could see the blades of grass or little pieces of paper on the field. I notice the difference most with sports programs; Boxing, Basketball, Tennis, Horse Racing all look amazing. ---------------- EXACTLy....does great for sports... Alos you get more definition in people's faces...IE..harder for makeup to hide their flaws..hehehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formica Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 The format is great... I feel it's more of a question is the programming available interests you. ---------------- On 6/1/2005 10:33:51 PM michael hurd wrote: IMO, I will not buy one until the satelite companies and cable companies here carry many different channels, they seem to be really missing the boat in Canada. ---------------- Your right... and I didn't take it when I switched providers recently either. It's a question of supply and demand. I think this is the year we will see alot of movement in HDTV. As it gains popularity in the US, more shows are becoming available and this will attract more viewers to the format. I already noticed increased promotion (esp by expressview) here in Canada... and adoption is inevitable... it's just a question of when.... Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonfyr Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 ---------------- On 6/2/2005 12:38:14 AM formica wrote: The format is great... I feel it's more of a question is the programming available interests you. ---------------- On 6/1/2005 10:33:51 PM michael hurd wrote: IMO, I will not buy one until the satelite companies and cable companies here carry many different channels, they seem to be really missing the boat in Canada. ---------------- Your right... and I didn't take it when I switched providers recently either. It's a question of supply and demand. I think this is the year we will see alot of movement in HDTV. As it gains popularity in the US, more shows are becoming available and this will attract more viewers to the format. I already noticed increased promotion (esp by expressview) here in Canada... and adoption is inevitable... it's just a question of when.... Rob ---------------- I think the primary movement has been due to the perception that they must move toward it! It has not been a grass roots movement to run out and spend ~$2000+ on a TV simply to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jerry Springer, nor even for a football game, despite being able to see every blade of (all too often plastic fake) grass. Unfortunately, we have had a few politicians decide that it is the goverment's primary responsibility to decide what TV format we will watch rather then allowing the free market to dictate the format! And I personally do not see a compelling reason to spend that kind of money on a TV nor to subscribe to ~$100+ a month cable or satellite to watch 26 feeds of HBO showing the same limited crap programming over and over. And I don't care how many inane obnoxious movies Adam Sandler makes! Personally I prefer many of the older classic movies, and HDTV (which few actually receive on their whiz bang evolving standards sets) adds little to this. So I am content to watch DVDs when I choose and to put my money towards audio and anything else that I choose! (...To think that I have the nerve to do such a thing!) But I am sure that some folks will feel the necessity to watch "As the stomach turns" and "Whose Baby is this" in hi def! Personally, I would simply like to make the decision MYSELF due to real compelling reasons sufficient for ME, rather then having a government decide that I must. And unfortunately, as the majority in both parties in the US have decided that they will simply push for their own respective social engineering platforms, one from the left and the other from the social right, it leaves those of us who are fiscally conservative, yet support a limited and strictly defined role of government and who believe that each individual has the right and the responsibility to make their own educated decisions free from government coercion, alienated both from one party who has traditionally presented their elitist "we know better" left wing socialist position on the rest of us, while the current party in power has decided that their primary focus is not fundamental government reform, but simply to worry (ney, pander) about our spiritual 'well-being' and thus seek to legislate 'personal' values on us in the name of freedom (all the while they increase overall federal spending by 28.8% and NON_DEFENSE discretionary spending by 35.7%- the largest rate of federal government growth since Johnson and Nixon!). So the social right are simply right wing liberals who favor a right wing imposed socially engineered system as opposed to the left wing socialists. Neither in which I have any interest. And to compound this, the government has no legitimate purpose in attempting to dictate TV formats! It is not a decision that the government needs to be dictating, despite issues of regulating the broadcast frequency spectrum. It is a decision that should be dictated by market demand and by the market offering a compelling reason to make me Want to switch. To date, this has NOT happened. And thus far, the majority of the viewing public has not been convinced either, despite the 'glowing' prospect of watching Regis Dustbin, Ompah, and the Scrimpsons on 'high definition' (which standard have you chosen this week???) television! So, it would be nice to see the market place drive the switch for a change! And if such is the case, no government interference is necessary to drive the transition! ...Such a radical, and all too rare, idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IAmtnbikr Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 " It has not been a grass roots movement to run out and spend ~$2000+ on a TV simply to watch Wheel of Fortune and Jerry Springer, nor even for a football game, despite being able to see every blade of grass" I am guessing this is with some sarcasm! Prices are dropping like flies on HD stuff like any other technology after being around a while. I have seen some 27" HD sets going for around $700, which is not bad IMO..... If anyone was on the fence.....all they had to do was watch the Eagles Farewell Tour 1 last night on NBC...... HD plus Dolby sound on a Klispch system...unbeatable! This will be a DVD to be added to my collection on June 14th! As to football, there was one Monday Night game where you could read the playlist the coach was holding up in front of his face.....unreal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kde Posted June 2, 2005 Author Share Posted June 2, 2005 So, once the decision to proceed with HDTV is made - what is needed to make my system HDTV ready? Upon purchase of the HDTV (along with DirecTv HDTV DVR and HDTV programming) - what else is needed to make everything sync? Optical cables, etc??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WS65711 Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 If you live in (or within range of) an urban area, all you need is to get a set with an integrated ATSC (HDTV) tuner, or an HD capable set with an external tuner. If you have the internal tuner, basically all you need to do is hook up the antenna and turn it on. Again, look at www.antennaweb.org to determine you options. If you want HD from satellite, you'll need to hook up the satellite tuner equipment to your HD capable set. I have no experience with this option, so I won't try to offer any other advice. If you want HD from cable, you'll probably need to hook up HD Cable tuner equipment to your HD capable set. Most sets with a built-in HDTV tuner also have a QAM (HD Cable) tuner, but it seems most cable companies scramble all the HD material, rendering the QAM tuner useless. Again, I'm not using the cable option. I get 7 channels that carry HDTV programming OTA at my house, and so far that's enough for me. The optical (or digital coax) cable you mentioned is only used for 5.1 audio feed to your 5.1 audio equipment. Where you go with that is a "whole nother question". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb in SC Posted June 2, 2005 Share Posted June 2, 2005 I have had my Toshiba 57H94 for a few weeks now receiving HD signals via chimney mounted antenna. I get about 9 HD channels, and the picture (and sound) is great. DVD viewing at 480p is also awesome. If you can receive any HD signals, I highly recommend it. Even if all you do is watch a bunch of DVD's, the larger screen (and better picture) make it worth it also. The picture quality on standard def signals is not great, but it is still enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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