Home audio & video: What's the point of HD TV?
Can I Nominate This For The "Dumbest Post Of The Year" Award
by Psych Doc - 2/11/06 5:36 PM In reply to: What's the point of HD TV? by Fredrick_NP....It sure does deserve it.
First off, there's plenty of good HD programming already available and there's lots more to come.
Secondly, Blu-Ray will probably win that war hands down and both current DVD's and Blu-Ray will play back perfectly on any of today's HD sets.
Why get an 8 MP digital camera when you can get one with .4 MP?
I think the answer could best be summed up by saying "DUH!"
You are missing the point
by Fredrick_NP - 2/11/06 7:35 PM In reply to: Can I Nominate This For The "Dumbest Post Of The Year" Award by Psych DocDuh.
Should we even answer questions like this??
by techfiend - 2/12/06 6:14 PM In reply to: Can I Nominate This For The "Dumbest Post Of The Year" Award by Psych DocI mean we all have different opinions, on our gear/set-up/wires/etc.
But HD???
How did this guy even find this forum, on his tandy?
Im pretty sure every guy on this forum owns or is looking to own an HDTV.
I wont even go into the advantages if this guy cant see them
LOL...Truly One Of The Quintessential "Short Bus" Questions.
by Psych Doc - 2/12/06 7:16 PM In reply to: Should we even answer questions like this?? by techfiend...I've ever seen on an "A-V" Forum.
Like I said to this genius, his question is akin to asking why you need a BMW when you have a perfectly good skateboard to get you from place to place.
DUH!!!
;~)
Come on now..
by septic22 - 3/21/06 7:41 AM In reply to: LOL...Truly One Of The Quintessential "Short Bus" Questions. by Psych DocA lot of people come here to learn and get their questions answered. So this guy might not be up the technology as undoubdtedly most here are. No need to insult the guy, just put him right, consider your good deed done for the day and move on.
HDTV
by artanbea - 2/11/06 6:09 PM In reply to: What's the point of HD TV? by Fredrick_NPI have to agree about the HDTV craze. My wife and I have been looking since the Den is done. And I am having the same problem. Spending $5,000.00 for a T.V. that has a worse picture than my 9 year old Sony. I just don't get it??? There just is no HD programing out there to make it worth it, at least not to me, not yet.
$5000?? Why spend so much?
by deirdrew - 2/11/06 6:52 PM In reply to: HDTV by artanbeaConsidering the improvements and price drops in the future, many of us are perfectly happy to spend a grand or less for a nice HDTV ready 32" LCD, and upgrade later when things are cheaper and even more advanced.
I get local OTA HD broadcasts that are 40 miles away in great with a $20 indoor antenna. Most of my sports and prime time shows are HD, my DVDs look great, and I have no problem watching non-HD broadcasts as it looks fine in Panorama 16:9. So without breaking the bank, I am happy for a few years and not having to miss out on HD.
WHO SAYS THERE IS VERY LITTLE H.D. PROGRAMMING
by stewart norrie - 2/11/06 7:12 PM In reply to: $5000?? Why spend so much? by deirdrewI have 28 channels of awsome hi-def channels. also 90% of my viewing is hi-def. I just dont know why someone would buy a hi-def t.v. then complain about spending $15.00 extra for hi-def programming. it makes no sense
What I don't understand is
by deirdrew - 2/12/06 6:42 AM In reply to: WHO SAYS THERE IS VERY LITTLE H.D. PROGRAMMING by stewart norriewhy you didn't post your reply TO the person who
"would buy a hi-def t.v. then complain about spending $15.00 extra for hi-def programming" ...??
ok..
by masterying01 - 2/11/06 10:55 PM In reply to: What's the point of HD TV? by Fredrick_NP1.) for the people that says there arent enough programming. what exactly do you watch? there are 200+ channels on most service providers. you dont watch 200 channels at the same time. prime time shows are hd. sports are hd. movie channels are hd. learning channels like discovery are in hd. late night talk shows are in hd. most news are in hd. a lot of sitcoms and soap opera's now are broadcasting in both hd, and DIGITAL.
the only thing thats not in hd are cartoons(the simpsons, bugs bunny), infomercials, foreign channels, and home shopping networks.
so what exactly do you watch?
2.) get a NICE non-$50 dvd player, hook it up with component cables, and it WILL look better on hd tv's then on old SD tubes.
3.) in the future, SD tv' with NTSC tuners will require some type of a box to downconvert the signals. Walmart actually has a RCA tv out right now...with that box built in. so save some money now, so you have to pay money in the future to downgrade a picture?
4.) biggiest non-hd tv out now are low end front projectors (which most people dont really want), 36 inch tubes (which are heavy, bulky, and kinda small if you're sitting 14+feet away), and really really old crt rear projections which will most likely break in a year because of its age. you can't buy a NEW in a box NON-HD tv that is bigger then 40 inches now.
5.) a 35mm slr will ALWAYS give you a better picture then a $600 8megapixel point and shoot digital camera. why do so many people use digital camera's then?
just my 2 cents.
Timing Is Everything
by danalmasy - 2/12/06 4:02 PM In reply to: What's the point of HD TV? by Fredrick_NPI think the reason HDTV hasn't really shot through the roof is that:
1. It's confusing to your average consumer - My mom will NEVER understand what it is, or why it's better, or more importantly, why she needs it, and many other people feel the same way.
2. Limited Programming - I'm glad that alot people are happy with their 28 HD channels and services, but let's be honest, until there are 100+ HD channels offered though Cable, and Satellite, it's still pretty limited... even though we don't watch any of the 300 we have now.
3. Media - Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are wonderful and everything, but I think this is really going to continue to shy everyday consumers away from making the jump to HD. They want to know "Which is better?" "Which costs more?" "Will I have to get a new TV to use it?" By the time a winner is declared we'll probably seeing new TV's with Ultra-Mega-Hi-HD.
My point is, if you're an early adopter and you want to make a future-proof purchase, a shiny new HDTV is for you. If you think it's cool but don't really see a need for it in your life yet, wait for it... they'll still be around, and probably cheaper to boot.
(And just to clarify; the FCC mandated switch to DTV by 2009 doesn't really have anything to do with HDTV. The tuners found in televisions made after 1998 should be compatible with the change. I'm pretty sure you'll only need a converter box if you have a TV with VHF/UHF and rabbit ears. Please correct me if I've misunderstood how this works.)
No, timing is not everything, cost is!
by deecee - 3/17/06 1:41 PM In reply to: Timing Is Everything by danalmasyAll the points you quoted in your original message means nothing if cost is low enough for adoption. If a 40 inch HDTV can be had for $300, confusing spec, lack of programming and the next-gen DVD war don't mean jack to the average consumer!! Most people don't want to spend thousands on their TV even if there're tons of HD programming, a clearly defined HDTV spec and next generation DVD spec. Take a look at the cell phone industry, there're many conpeting cell phone technology from many carriers, and cell phone contracts are confusing as heck, but almost everyone has a cell phone these days because the cost is tolerable for most people. Simple economics!!
Not so confusing!
by adonn78 - 3/20/06 7:49 PM In reply to: Timing Is Everything by danalmasyHDTV is not that confusing. Not everyone is ignorant or as confused as you think. Some people just don;t want to take the plunge due to lack of programing and the high price of Tv's. My local cable company only offers 19 channels in HD. With a few of the local channels simulcasting HD on 3 or 4 of the local channels during primetime tv events.
THIS WHOLE SUBJET IS STUPID
by stewart norrie - 3/17/06 1:53 PM In reply to: What's the point of HD TV? by Fredrick_NPJust look back ten years, For $1000 you could buy an anolog t.v in a huge cabinit with a tiny 25" screen and a horrible picture with all those scanning lines the only thing watchable was the news Now for the same amount of money and shopping rite you can have a nice little home theater in your home And fact is right now its not going to get any cheaper If some of you dont think hi-def is a thing of the future your wrong sorry stewart
Let's think forward, not backwards
by Dan Filice - 3/17/06 5:43 PM In reply to: What's the point of HD TV? by Fredrick_NPYes, there are, and will continue to be, growing pains with HD. But, we can't stand still and force TV manufacturers to build nothing but standard-def TVs just because standard-def looks like crud on a new HDTV. HD is the wave of the future and it't coming on strong. Although I owned two HD sets (because I watch DVDs in 16:9, not 4:3), I was hesitant about upgrading my cable service to digital and HD. Now that I have, the whole family always gravitates to the HD channels first. Nothing can compare to NBA or NFL in HD. DiscoveryHD Theater is stunning, especially with shows like "Buggin with Rudd" or "Equator." HD is an immresive experience. Yes, most TV broadcasting is still in SD 4:3, but when I watch it I wish for HD. I DON'T watch SD 4:3 and question the merits of HD programming and HDTV. To me, that's backwards thinking.
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