high resolution televisions

[Son of Clyde]

Every person I visit these days has a high resolution television but are they really necessary?

I see prices on regular low resolution televisions dropping substantially so you can find a 32" screen for about $300.00 or less. Why spend $1,000+ for high resolution?

Is a high resolution television something that every household cannot be without?

I saw the Super Bowl on my old Sharp 19" television set. I don't even see Sharp televisions these days. I bought my stepson a Fisher 20" for about $137.00 which I thought was a great price and the tv is very nice.

[Rvrwind]

I think its more of a status thing Clyde.

I have been looking at big screen TV's lately as I am considering purchasing one & like you I see no real difference. Maybe I need new glasses but the picture looks the same to me.

I think for some it gives them an ego boost to have the best, most exspensive & uptodate electronic toys. Something like cell phones with a camera in them, Why? I don't particularly like plain cell phones & now they want people taking pictures with them & they are selling like hotcakes. Seems rediculous to me, but to each their own.

RVR-Canadian Cowboy/Agency Owner

[Admin]

I think its more of a status thing Clyde.

I have been looking at big screen TV's lately as I am considering purchasing one & like you I see no real difference. Maybe I need new glasses but the picture looks the same to me.

I think for some it gives them an ego boost to have the best, most exspensive & uptodate electronic toys. Something like cell phones with a camera in them, Why? I don't particularly like plain cell phones & now they want people taking pictures with them & they are selling like hotcakes. Seems rediculous to me, but to each their own.

RVR-Canadian Cowboy/Agency Owner

If you guys cannot see the different between HDTV and the regular version - you *NEED* to see the Optometrist - TODAY!

There is simply no comparison. HDTV is so vastly superior that, once you've seen it - there is no going back.

It is difficult, or impossible, to try to explain it - you have to personally SEE it by looking at a direct side-by-side comparison. Once you have done that - at a competent store where they are set-up to provide a comparison - you simply will not have any further questions.

One important note - HD signals provided by cable and satellite providers are downsampled and they lose significant amounts of resolution and clarity. The very best HD signals are the free ones you get OTA (over-the-air) from your local stations - IF they are now broadcasting in HD.

- Dan

[Goombah]

I agree with Dan, although I can give you an example:

Can you tell the difference between a movie played on a VCR and one played on a DVD?  That is the difference between normal and HDTV.

From a practicle perspective, IF you are going to have a large screen TV, then HD lets that TV perform well, without graineness.  When you blow a normal defintion image up to large screen size, it is very grainy.

I was pleased this weekend when I found the OTA channel carrying the superbowl - that signal was much better than the satellite one - although admittedly the satellite was normal definition vs. the OTA HD.  Fortunately, my HD satellite receiver also doubles as OTA HD receiver.

Kevin

[jb]

You don't need to run out and purchase a new TV right now, but there will come a time in the not too distant future when all broadcasts will, by law, be in HDTV (High Definition TV) here in the USA.  Japan is already there.  So, if you want to see everything, as it is telecast, you will eventually need a better TV receiver.  The industry recognizes that TVs last a long time, so the transition is geared to take place over several years.  Someone told me 2007 was the current target date for all programming to be in HDTV.   I'm sure there is a technocrat out there with the hard numbers, but I think I've got the gest of it right.

BTW, there is a middle priced system being peddled right now called "EDTV" (Enhanced Definition TV), which is close, but not the real deal.  If you go shopping, be sure you get the 1080p (pixels) for true HDTV. Predictions are that the 42in HDTV flat screen plasma TVs will cost about a grand sometime next year.   

I'm very happy with my wide screen Sony, but the only time it really shines is when I'm playing a digital DVD, the rest of the time, receiving regular cable broadcast, I can't really tell much difference, although the Superbowl was awsome.  If you didn't see Jessica Simpson in HDTV, you really missed the Superbowl.

[Son of Clyde]

My brother's HDTV sometimes has a distorted image that I know is adjustable.

The images look scrunched to fit the screen. It is hard to watch.

Why would anyone want a less than perfect image?

[Bruno]

I have been looking at big screen TV's lately as I am considering purchasing one & like you I see no real difference. Maybe I need new glasses but the picture looks the same to me.

If you guys cannot see the different between HDTV and the regular version - you *NEED* to see the Optometrist - TODAY!

There is simply no comparison. HDTV is so vastly superior that, once you've seen it - there is no going back.
[/quote]
Big screen TV don't mean HDTV... HDTV is fully digital with a resolution of 1920x1080...

A good LCD screem from computer with a good graphics card can support so resolution... if you have a good screen with your computer, make the test... play a usual DVD, after download ( around 21 Gb for a film in HDTV ) and play the film... The difference are stunning... same on little screen ( 19" )...

The OTA HD signal is not specialy perfect since they use 4:2:0 YUV chroma with 8 bits sample for reduce the bandwitch... pure HD signal use 4:2:2 YUV chroma with 10 bits sample... HD DVD double layer will support the second norm with AC3 5.1 audio channel... The first HDTV title is planned by Warner Bros the 28 March 2006... For now, only illegal film in HDTV exist  on P2P system like torrent site...

[Admin]

[user=130]Son of Clyde[/user] wrote:

My brother's HDTV sometimes has a distorted image that I know is adjustable.

The images look scrunched to fit the screen. It is hard to watch.

Why would anyone want a less than perfect image?

You are confusing the aspect ratio with HDTV.

Old TV's broadcast in a 4:3 aspect ratio. HDTV typically broadcasts in widescreen format with an aspect ratio of 16:9.

Here is a more complete definition:
http://www.digitalconnection.com/FAQ/HDTV_7.asp

Suggest you spend some time with Google reading about these topics. It will educate you on the differences.

- Dan

[Son of Clyde]

Dan, I agree with you but maybe there is a problem with certain formats of DVD if they are not specifically widescreen formatted it may affect the aspect ratio. 

I know he has HDTV but he may not be able to see every DVD with the same aspect ratio.

I will read your link, thank you.

[Admin]

[user=130]Son of Clyde[/user] wrote:

Dan, I agree with you but maybe there is a problem with certain formats of DVD if they are not specifically widescreen formatted it may affect the aspect ratio.

I know he has HDTV but he may not be able to see every DVD with the same aspect ratio.

I will read your link, thank you.

DVD's are NOT utilizing HDTV. DVD's come in formats called 'WideScreen' or 'Standard' - which correspond to the aspect ratios mentioned earlier.

However, DVD technology TODAY is using an IMPROVED resolution that falls FAR SHORT of full HD standard.

- Dan

[Bruno]

Code: [Select]

Digital TV Standard
Resolution
Ratio

D-1 NTSC
720×486
4:3 (non-square pixels)

D-1 NTSC (square pixels)
720×540
4:3

D-1 PAL
720×576
4:3 (non-square pixels)

HDTV 1080p
1920×1080
16:9

HDTV 1080i
1920×1080
16:9

HDTV 720p
1280×720
16:9

EDTV 480p
640×480, 704×480 or 852×480
4:3 or 16:9

DVD NTSC
720×480
4:3 or 16:9 (non-square pixels)

DVD PAL
720×576
4:3 or 16:9 (non-square pixels)

VCD NTSC
352×240
4:3 (non-square pixels)

VCD PAL
352×288
4:3 (non-square pixels) 

[KenC]

[user=130]Son of Clyde[/user] wrote:

Every person I visit these days has a high resolution television but are they really necessary?

Necessary? No, but then color TV's are really not necessary either.

I see prices on regular low resolution televisions dropping substantially so you can find a 32" screen for about $300.00 or less. Why spend $1,000+ for high resolution?

The reason you can find cheap TV's without HD is because they will soon be obsolete.  Most people would consider them obsolete now.

Is a high resolution television something that every household cannot be without?

It will be true soon enough.

I saw the Super Bowl on my old Sharp 19" television set. I don't even see Sharp televisions these days. I bought my stepson a Fisher 20" for about $137.00 which I thought was a great price and the tv is very nice.

You can also get some smoking hot deals on VCR's now too.  It just means they are outdated and obsolete.  Watching the Super Bowl on an old 19" Sharp is like listening to a good concert through a tin can on a string.

KenC

[Jack]

HDTV is the future. And it is the very reason why these large 30 inch TV's and the big screen non HDTV's price's are going lower and lower. Their will be a time when the big TV's that we bought today because they were so cheap will not be able to pick up too many shows. I know of one TV show that will be airing soon that will have interest to many guys pursuing a Russian bride but if they don't have HDTV, they can't see it!  The big 30 inch TV for $300, the big screen TV for $500, forget it. If you don't have HDTV, some shows you will not be able to see.

[Ste]

Here in UK, Sky TV (satellite) are about to commence HDTV broadcasts in April I think. In fact (I have Sky) the HD channels have already appeared in the Planner.

I first saw HDTV is the US two years ago and I couldn't tell the difference! Mind you not wanting to start a TV standard flame war but I found US telly to be very yellow and full of colour bleed, although thats purely subjective I feel.

Also I tend to watch DVD's on my puter (Apple with 20" WS LCD) and although I can see it's much better, watching the same on TV doesn't faze me, so maybe I'm one guy it's gonna be wasted on. Especially cos it's not just a new telly needed, it's a satellite reciever and DVD player as well.....

I did download a copy of the Fifth Element in HD-DVD format - whatever that is although it was actually a 4.3gb wma file. Guess what - it wouldn't play on my Mac, nor would it play on any Windows PC I could get access too except one but with no sound.

Theres no way I'm gonna be buying 21gb DVD type disks if they can't come up with a way to stop the kids scratching them.....

Bruno: point me to one of these 21gb yins, I got 10mb cable and some spare disk space, QT7 will play HDTV although this PowerMac G5 chokes on a HDTV sample of Narnia, it can't be too slow can it!!!

Ste

[Bruno]

http://static.thepiratebay.org/downloadtorrent/3360258.torrent/spiderman.2.1080i.dd5.1.hdtv.nfn.3360258.TPB.torrent

Spiderman 2

Resolution..............: 1920 X 1080i
Sound...................: AC3 Dolby Digital 5.1
Source..................: 16x9
Original Format.........: NTSC
Runtime.................: 127 min 
Size....................: 12.25GB

[/url]

[ConnerVT]

 Watching the Super Bowl on an old 19" Sharp is like listening to a good concert through a tin can on a string.

Ah, but I still remember watching Red Sox games on a battery operated 12" B&W TV, sitting in the cockpit of my old 26' Grampian sailboat, with a nice late July breeze blowing across Lake Champlain.  Heaven...  :cool:

Can anyone say Cabin Fever? 

[KenC]

 Watching the Super Bowl on an old 19" Sharp is like listening to a good concert through a tin can on a string.

Ah, but I still remember watching Red Sox games on a battery operated 12" B&W TV, sitting in the cockpit of my old 26' Grampian sailboat, with a nice late July breeze blowing across Lake Champlain.  Heaven...  :cool:

Can anyone say Cabin Fever? 
[/quote]
I can also recall watching the Tigers win the Series back in '68 on a small black & white TV at my job, but that was then and this is now.

I also have a touch of cabin fever, so I guess I'll go for a swim!:toocool:

KenC

[ConnerVT]

(This reply is meant to annoy and/or harass, in violation of newly enacted Federal law)

Ken -- Bite me!  :X 

[KenC]

 Forecast

TUE

73°F 22°C
50°F 10°C
WED

77°F 25°C
51°F 10°C
THU

72°F 22°C
53°F 11°C
FRI

[latstaley]

I suppose I must be in the minority, but I don't see the necessity of a HD flat screen just yet. I saw an interesting example recently. A top of the line HD is costing around $5,000 right now. However, if you take that money and invest it in the market, it is going to be worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $80,000 within 30 years. What is that same state of the art TV going to be worth in the same period of time? I think they are going to drop quite a bit in price within the next few years, just like VCR's, DVD's, CD players, Ipods and personal computers have done in years past. Thanks, but I think I'll hang on to my money for just a little while longer. Some people are technophiles, though, and have to have the latest gadgets as soon as they come out.

[Admin]

I suppose I must be in the minority, but I don't see the necessity of a HD flat screen just yet. I saw an interesting example recently. A top of the line HD is costing around $5,000 right now. However, if you take that money and invest it in the market, it is going to be worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $80,000 within 30 years. What is that same state of the art TV going to be worth in the same period of time? I think they are going to drop quite a bit in price within the next few years, just like VCR's, DVD's, CD players, Ipodsand personal computers have done in years past. Thanks, but I think I'll hang on to my money for just a little while longer. Some people are technophiles, though, and have to have the latest gadgets as soon as they come out.

No reason to equate HDTV with Flat Screen.

There are plenty of VERY nice HDTV monitors employing rear-projection (older) technology - and they can be had for under $1500.

Flat screens are an interesting topic in themeselves - as you have multiple technologies to select from. Plasma, LCD, and DLP are all players.

FWIW

- Dan

[Son of Clyde]

Dan,

I have digital cable (with a black box) does this mean I am safe for when digital or HD television becomes mandatory? From what I hear, in 3 years all the older tv's will become worthless unless the owner purchases a black box.

Sorry, I am not very up on the latest in electronics technology, having always been the last in my group to purchase a vcr, cd and dvd player. Now in 3 years my television will become useless. 

[Admin]

[user=130]Son of Clyde[/user] wrote:

Dan,

I have digital cable (with a black box) does this mean I am safe for when digital or HD television becomes mandatory? From what I hear, in 3 years all the older tv'swill become worthless unless the owner purchases a black box.

Sorry, I am not very up on the latest in electronics technology, having always been the last in my group to purchase a vcr, cd and dvd player. Now in 3 years my television will become useless.

Any TV you purchase today will be usable in 3 years - or 13 years.

Just as today you have different standards - there are converter boxes to 'translate' from one to the other.

Don't be worried about it, there will not be a forced obsolescence - just a distinctive difference on the quality of the picture you are watching.

Today, the converter boxes take a lower resolution signal, and adjust it so that it is viewable on a higher-resolution display (TV). The quality of the image shown on the display is sort of OK - but nothing like a native high-definition signal.

In the future, the converter box will translate higher-resolution signals for display on older and less capable displays.

Not to worry.

- Dan

[Maxx]

I usually would steer clear of the rear projection TV's because they have a "sweet spot" and viewing them at any other angle makes for poor viewing. Especially if one has guests. However the new Sony rear projection models can be viewed up (I think) to 45 degrees off center and still show a very good picture. I like the 60 inch model they have and at $4200 (sale price) I hope to get one soon. Too bad the stand for it costs an extra $500. Then there is the surround sound systems to go with it. The State sales tax of 6 1/2 % and it gets pretty spendy fast.  

Now I got '2002 RCA HDTV 38 inch wide non flat screen TV. It weighs about one ton. IMO an 80 inch wide TV would be ideal. Just like going to the movies. HDTV rocks. Better than Root Beer which I voted "Yes" for. 

Maxx

[BillyB]

Sometime when Clinton was Prez, my dad said this new TV technology will take over completely in 2003 and I would need to throw away my TV's at that time. I'm still watching my old TV. Anyway, I don't believe all the crap that makes me go shopping as fast as I can for the latest technology. I'll wait till the inflated prices come down or buy an HDTV when my tube TV becomes an historic museum piece. I watch TV a few hours a week so it's not like I need a HDTV now.