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Originally posted by lord of the mark
IIUC soon all broadast TV in the US will be digital. This means we need a digital TV, right? It means you will need a digital terminal or receiver, you can use any TV you want with it. It doesnt mean we need a HD one though, does it? Does SD mean standard def digital? You do not need HD. SD means standard def, not necessarily digital or analog. We dont have a console, and dont have any desire to get an HD dvd player. We havent gotten cable in the past, but might get some flavor of basic cable in the future. You can get over-the-air TV (even HDTV) for free. I understand you want either 720 P (progressive scan) or 1080 I (interlaced) All LCDs are natively progressive. The important feature isn't 720p/1080i (I'm sure 100% of them support both as inputs), but the resolution. Unless you're going upwards of 40", 720p native is fine (1280x720). Most TVs in that range are some weird resolution, though. We definitely dont want a CRT. To conserve space, make easier to move, we want a flat panel (the flat panel PC monitor has worked out well) LCD preferred? For your desired size, there's no other choice. |
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The transition to digital broadcast television in the US is mandated to occur no later than Feb. 17, 2009. The frequency bands have already been reallocated and the broadcast technology agreed upon.
Because you watch over-the-air local stations, LotM, you are among those most affected. Your new TV purchase should be a set with an on-board digital tuner. If you buy a traditional analog set, you will need to add a set-top decoder box when the transition occurs. (These will likely cost $50 to $75, and the US govt will be offering two $40 coupons per household toward them; availability 010108.) People who subscribe to cable, satellite, etc, have no worries, as their providers will handle the technical issues for them. Still, the smart thing to do when purchasing today is to get a TV with a digital tuner. While HD is certainly not a necessity, broadcasters a quickly ramping up to do most of their production in HD with 5.1 sound. Hi-def sets are coming down in cost, but are still several levels above SDTV. Go out and take a look to see if the cost differential is worth it to you. My guess, based on your posts here, is that you'll be best served by waiting until your next purchase. But a lot of folks are blown away by HD and can't wait to have it. There's no need to worry about playing HD content on an SD set. Downconversion is relatively trivial and should be transparent to the SD home viewer. Here's a site with some basic details: http://www.dtvtransition.org/ |
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[QUOTE] Originally posted by Verto
You are Jewish. It then follows that you are a Zionist. While thats not always the case, I am indeed a Zionist. That wasnt what inspired my response. You refuse to recognize and embrace the beauty and art of HD. You are a philistine. Ah, thats it. Perhaps you could discourse more fully on the art of HD? ![]() |
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Originally posted by -Jrabbit
This is very reminiscent of all the people who figured they wouldn't need: --a cassette deck, since they were happy with vinyl discs --a CD player, since they were happy with cassettes --a digital music player, since they were happy with CDs and Walkmans --a DVD player, since they were happy with VHS tapes. We've been watching in the (fundamentally flawed) NTSC format forever. The last truly notable improvement in broadcast video was, um, color TV. That was about 1962 (The Flintones and The Jetsons) for home viewers. HD is coming, and it will inevitably become omnipresent. ![]() 1. I bought cassetes for my little tape recorder, before I had a stereo system. When I did have a stereo system, I also bought a tape deck, for my existing collection of tapes 2. We've never really gotten a proper CD player, since we sort of let our main audio system age and die. We got a clock-radio-CD player, but the CD player part broke. We finally got a "boom box" that plays CDs and tapes I am looking to get a more modern audio system, but its not high on the list. 3. We still dont have a digital music player, other than our PC's. POTM wants one, and its on our list. 4. We inherited my parents old VCR player. It broke, but we accumulated several VHS tapes anyway (personal ones made by friends, etc) We finally got a combo DVD/VCR player, for less than a DVD player cost a couple of years earlier. And of course we recently bought two PCs, almost 10 years after buying our last one, for less than one PC with far worse specs would have cost just a few years ago. And yeah, I owned my first color TV in 1991. We've done ok being late adopters, skipping gens of technology, etc. Call us "semi-luddites" if you will. I dont doubt we will get HD SOMEDAY. |
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My wife and I will be getting a new TV soon, so this thread helps me too
![]() A friend here at work tells me a LCD rear-projection TV may be right for me. We don't want to mount the TV on a wall. I have a nice big TV stand and I intend to use it. I'd like to spend $1500 or less. Speak unto me, those who are wise in the ways of technology... -Arrian |
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Originally posted by Arrian
My wife and I will be getting a new TV soon, so this thread helps me too ![]() A friend here at work tells me a LCD rear-projection TV may be right for me. We don't want to mount the TV on a wall. I have a nice big TV stand and I intend to use it. I'd like to spend $1500 or less. Speak unto me, those who are wise in the ways of technology... -Arrian Why bother with a rear projection? |
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