Home audio & video: Should I buy HDTV now or wait a year?
Why HDTV?
by mightyfee - 5/13/05 8:25 AM In reply to: Should I buy HDTV now or wait a year? by amanettiWhy must you buy HDTV at all? What is so compelling in either network or cable programming that would warrant this type of exorbitant expenditure? Why would someone willing shell out this type of cash to be even more effectively brainwashed?
I suggest you reevaluate your value system, my friend. NOBODY "has to have" HDTV.
I also considered these issues when I decided what to buy
by jeroethel - 5/13/05 8:34 AM In reply to: Should I buy HDTV now or wait a year? by amanettiDo you just watch TV or do you have an Xbox or PS2 or do you watch DVD's or do you hook you digital camera to your RV or do you want to use your TV display as a computer monitor and/or do you Tivo or use a DVR? I'm not into high quality audio, but if you are, then you need to consider HDMI vs. DVI.
These were all considerations to me since I needed to count inputs and outputs. My cable service (Cox) offers a HD-DVR so that takes a DVI connection. Xbox works fine with a component video. Digital camera doesn't need component video, but does also need an audio input on the front of the TV for ease of connection.
I am going to 60" display -- no need for computer monitor use at that size -- and I have the room space for a RPTV so that will save me some money. I anticipate that most cable services will be cable card within a year, so I am getting a cable card slot to be prepared. As I understand the technology, the cable card will require an intergrated HDTV tuner (but I maybe wrong about this), but currently the HD cable box and/or the HD satellite electronics include the HDTV tuner so the integrated tuner is not necessary, although most of the newer sets seem to include this feature now.
I am leaning toward the SONY 60" since I have always been pleased with my previous Sony's. I realize there is a large group of Sony haters.
I encourage you to research HDTV's. I learned a lot at http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-8900_7-1016109.html
Or do a cnet search for HDTV buying guide.
Don't wait....the water's fine!
by ronwinship - 5/13/05 2:25 PM In reply to: Should I buy HDTV now or wait a year? by amanettiWe finally bit the bullet....but simply on the cheap..
and we couldn't be happier. We got Panasonic 32" HDTV
for $895 plus tax. We could have gotten the 36" for
$995 plus tax. At any rate, we have cable and had to
choke down the monthly HDTV charges to get the box to
make it all happen.
The Panosonic 42" however is the preferable choice for
two quit reasons: (1) It's the Flat Model and (2) it's
16X9 Screen. Our 32" and the 36" are both fat older
tech with 4X3 screen format - meaning that you get
black screen both on cable and on rental dvd's. You
lose alot of the big screen feel. At any rate, don't
be snowed by projection tech....ugly, with lot's of
upkeep! Windex in hand...with streaking! The plasma
stuff get's hot spots and melts down. The LCD Sony
or Panosonic 50" would be our dream sheet but you will
be looking at the high side of $4 grand.
If you have any doubts and want to creep into HDTV..
we have to give a solid 5 stars for our Panosonic 32".
Romeo Whiskey
I'm waiting
by SteveGauss - 5/13/05 3:01 PM In reply to: Should I buy HDTV now or wait a year? by amanettiTill the prices comes down substantially.
Steve Gauss
Here's a good reason to wait
by funkfeend - 5/13/05 3:33 PM In reply to: Should I buy HDTV now or wait a year? by amanettiSED technology is coming big time in 2006. It will have the speed, brighness and contrast ratio of a CRT but in a flat panel that uses a fraction of the energy and costs less to make!
http://www.canon.com/technology/detail/device/sed_display/
Lots of good input
by amanetti - 5/13/05 4:24 PM In reply to: Should I buy HDTV now or wait a year? by amanettiThanks for all the advice.
Although my current set has been repaired twice and seems to be on the verge of needing a third fix, I've decided to wait.
Antonio
To Amanetti
by networkboy - 5/13/05 4:37 PM In reply to: Lots of good input by amanettiemail me: tk8329@ameritech.net
HDTV
by Marie Buteau - 5/14/05 7:28 PM In reply to: Should I buy HDTV now or wait a year? by amanettiI had a 15 year old 31" Panasonic stereo as my main TV and brightness was starting to go. so I started looking a year ago for HDTV and being a Panasonic person checked them against others out there with most features I wanted, I did not get the one with the card slot, but got a 47" with 4 speakers surround sound for just over $1300.00. I feel I already have gotten my moneys worth. Larger were not much more but this is as big as my room will hold. Beautiful picture and sound. I never knew so many people on TV had so many pimples, bumps and wrinkles. Can't hide from HD.
HDTV purchase advice
by menunes - 5/15/05 9:16 AM In reply to: Should I buy HDTV now or wait a year? by amanettiWhat are your intended sources of High Def signal?
I went through this same evaluation recently and discovered that I'd have to upgrade my dish network package (dish, receiver, and subscription package) for significant cost just to get a reasonable amount of HD channels. Also, my current DVD player is not progressive scan - I'll need to get a new DVD player to take full advantage of a HDTV.
Then there is the cost of quality component video cables - these things are not cheap.
My conclusion - I'll wait a year. I hear 1080p units will be out by the Fall. I'm going to need a new AV receiver (I like to run all sources through one AV receiver and just use the TV as a monitor) a new DVD player and a new source of main programming; maybe even a shift from dish to cable. I'll get into my next house, then build all that stuff from scratch as part of the build phase.
Sources for HDTV
by amanetti - 5/17/05 4:28 PM In reply to: HDTV purchase advice by menunesThe condo I live in will be switching either to DishTV or Comcast.
Antonio
HDTV now or wait a year
by tompass - 5/16/05 6:26 PM In reply to: Should I buy HDTV now or wait a year? by amanettiI asked my TV repairman if i should wait till next yr re buying an HDTV and said to defintely wait till next yr when the he expects prices to drop to half what they are today.
Heh...
by _Chris_ - 5/16/05 9:44 PM In reply to: HDTV now or wait a year by tompassI would have to say your T.V. repairman doesn't have a whole lot of knowledge on the subject.
Of course prices will drop, and a year from now he'll probably say the same thing. Newer RPTV's will be being introduced, and the prices on them are really reasonable considering what you're getting. The big drop in price will be in the LCD panel technology, and plasma will follow suit simple to remain competitive.
Antonio's Dilema
by dbm12 - 5/18/05 1:26 PM In reply to: Heh... by _Chris_Having owned a HDTV for over 6 years, I paid just a hair over $7,000, buy now. Even though I can now buy the same set, only better, for $2,000, I have enjoyed 6 years of great viewing. ADVICE: Panasonic has a new price breakthrough with their TH-50PX50U plasma. It includes a ATSC tuner and a cable card slot + SD slot. I am buying one next week priced at $4,100 from an on-line retailer. Keep visiting C-NET
Dennis
SED Technology looks interesting...
by amanetti - 5/20/05 4:59 PM In reply to: Antonio's Dilema by dbm12....at least on paper. I'd like to see what the sets look like and they won't be in showrooms until sometime next year.
The downside of SED is that a purchase next year would put me on the bleeding edge of a technology that's just beginning deployment.
Antonio
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