HD or not?

[Tbirdkid]

If your even thinking about purchasing a new tv, you should know this. A tv is alot like pc hardware... you get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap, low cost tv, there is a reason it was low cost. Where if you buy a little bit more expensive tv, with obviously better components, you will have an awesome experience.
I almost bought a rca widescreen projection tv until i saw my hitachi. It was incredible the difference between them. Also, if you are watching 90% of sd channels... i would say you may be a bit disappointed by an hdtv because most of the channels are still sd. So you will have to watch them in 4:3 format or have the bars on the sides. However, if you watch the local news channels, espn, discovery, tnt, etc you will be amazed.
To me, i love my hdtv. I would recommend it to everyone that will use it. If you dont, you should still future proof. Maybe not spend the 1000 on a tv, get a 32 or so, so that when everything goes to the hd, you will have a set, but you can still upgrade.

 

[Ornery]

...quality shows like desperate housewives?

OMG, this explains SO MUCH!

My serious TV viewing is relegated to DVD movies on Friday, and maybe Saturday nights. I don't own HD, but will buy one when my 36" WEGA dies... should I click answer # 1, or #2? Actually EVERYBODY will be buying HD eventually, so you might as well remove the first question.

 

[CHfan4ever]

Originally posted by: Blayze
I'm also debating the move to HDTV. Honestly right now I don't know if it would be wise for me to. I watch 90% SDTV, the other 10% is DVDs. Spending $1000 + on a TV where the main thing I watch would look horrible doesn't sound like a good ideal. Sure I could add on HD though the sat (Dish Network), but only a few of those channels I would even watch and most of them would require me to install a 2nd Dish. HD Cable is not a option where I am, and the only HD OTA locals we can get here are NBC and PBS.

Unless I just get a great deal on a HDTV, I'll probably stay with my old SD sets for awhile. I know people say you will watch HD no matter what you have, but I just can't see watching a program I have no interest in just because its in HD.

Trust me.If you watch mostly SD like i do, there is no point moving for a HD set.

Yes, i will probably buy a HD set in 4 years like.But i really regret purchasing one a year ago, cause imo.I didnt got enough for the money i invest.

I watch a good hockey game tonight, and i didnt whine about the poor picture quality of my display!

I knew the little risk to get a HD tv ( knowing my SD content will nto look as good as it is) and regret of taking that decision.

 

[eplebnista]

I dont have a HD set and i dont plan to purchase one

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: spidey07
Again...

scanlines do not equal quality.

But neither does watching SD on a HD set. I hate watching SD on my projector. I agree with the OP when he says there isn't enough HD content. There isn't!!! The OP mentioned the Sunday Ticket, so I'm pretty sure he has Directv like I do. Their HD package is abysmal right now. It includes ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD, Discovery HD Theater?, HDNet, HDNet Movies and Universal HD, and HBO and Showtime if you subscribe. You can get the Sunday Ticket in HD, but they had the audacity to charge extra for it. I wasn't, so I called and complained, and they gave it to me for free. Many other must of done the same, because they cut the price in half. YES also shows the Yankees games in HD. Go Yankees!!! YEAH!!!

I live in the NY market, and all of the local channels broadcast in HD. DTV only shows the top 3 plus FOX in HD though. I only live about 15 miles from NY, so I pull in the others OTA. But many of my friends can't do OTA without putting antennas outside, or in the attic. Even cable is not an option for them, because their cable company still doesn't offer HD.

Would I go back to an SD set??? Heck no!!! Don't be silly.

Things are improving at a decent pace. Directv is very close to moving to MPEG4, which will mean I'll be getting all my locals through them, and more. Someone mentioned MTV, so they might like to know that they are launching a new HD channel.FOX will be adding FOX HD and National GeographicEven Penthouse wants in. Imagine pr0n in HD?!?:shocked:

I can't forget Blu- ray and HDDVD. Once these are out HDTV will really kick into high gear. And lets not forget the Xbox 360. Tell me you don't want one!! Those games will in true HD quality, and should blow your old Xbox games away.

Ok how about that rumor about networks who will broadcast exclusivly in HD in 4 years...do you really beleive it is true????

Yes it's going to happen, count on it!! The US government wants that bandwidth now, and is tired of waiting. Some want the date moved up. from 2009.

The age of HD is now OP!!!!! You should be embracing it instead of running from it.

 

[olds]

<--- I have a HD set but im dissapointed in the content, etc. But i will live with it.

 

[Ornery]

Things are improving at a decent pace.

I can't forget Blu- ray and HDDVD

Can you imagine how much cheaper HD will be, by the time this comes to pass? By that time, I will not have had to suffer with the problems experienced by the OP and others, and will be buying state of the art HD for a fraction of what early adopters paid!

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Things are improving at a decent pace.

I can't forget Blu- ray and HDDVD

Can you imagine how much cheaper HD will be, by the time this comes to pass? By that time, I will not have had to suffer with the problems experienced by the OP and others, and will be buying state of the art HD for a fraction of what early adopters paid!

Stop that!!!
The tv I bought was $5500 3 months ago. I just got it a couple of weeks ago for $3800.
Prices have to hold for a while so I don't feel too bad.
Also, the tv only does 720P, 1080P is just around the corner. But, I wanted the tv now.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Things are improving at a decent pace.

I can't forget Blu- ray and HDDVD

Can you imagine how much cheaper HD will be, by the time this comes to pass? By that time, I will not have had to suffer with the problems experienced by the OP and others, and will be buying state of the art HD for a fraction of what early adopters paid!

It depends on what you buy though. Yeah, 720p sets will be cheaper, but not by a hugh amount. I'd guess $200-$300 less at most. 1080p sets won't be much less than they are now. We're only talking about 6 months or so.

 

[Ornery]

We're only talking about 6 months or so.

6 months or so, before there's a decent library of HDDVD? Before HDTV is the norm? :laugh:

Do you know exactly how long I've been hearing about HDTV? :roll:

I'll happily wait, miss nothing, and save ton$

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: Ornery
We're only talking about 6 months or so.

6 months or so, before there's a decent library of HDDVD? Before HDTV is the norm? :laugh:

Do you know exactly how long I've been hearing about HDTV? :roll:

I'll happily wait, miss nothing, and save ton$

Same here. I'll wait until it matures and until then my money stays in my bank account.

 

[olds]

We watched a nature show on Discovery HD. It was about the Arctic. The pic was so sharp that you could see the flies buzzing the polar bears. I've never seen that before. Also this fox looked directly at the camera. I paused it and it looked incredible. Almost like a great photograph or painting. I am sold on HD, I just wish there was more programming. I also wish they didn't show SD programs on HD channels. It's like bait and switch.

 

[Ornery]

I was sold on it the first time I saw it, but there was no point buying it several years ago. I can't help but think of the people who bought the first generation stuff, paying out the ass, probably saw 10% or less HDTV programming on that equipment over its life, which is now about to die, if it hasn't already. Nope, not me...

 

[BoberFett]

I recently bought my first new TV in 12 years. My trusty old Mitsubishi 27" (the one with motorized swivel base, for you A/V nerds ) kicked the bucket. Between Xbox 360 going HD and the number of DVDs my wife and I watch, we decided it'd be a waste to get another SD set. We got a Sony 46" rear projection HDTV (the KP-46WT520) and I love it. DVDs look incredible, current Xbox games that support 480p or better look much better. And though I agree that there aren't enough channels, the ones that are there look incredible.

Through TimeWarner I get all the public/local stations in HD, plus TNT and Discovery. I opted not to get the HD package that includes HDNet, etc. because I looked at the lineup and the shows/movies looked really lame. I'm not going to watch TV just for the sake of watching something in HD. When the Cooking and Travel channels are in HD, then I'll be impressed with the state of HD content.

As for SD looking bad on an HD set, I don't have that problem. It looks just as good as it did on my old set, which isn't saying much.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: Ornery
We're only talking about 6 months or so.

6 months or so, before there's a decent library of HDDVD? Before HDTV is the norm? :laugh:

Do you know exactly how long I've been hearing about HDTV? :roll:

I'll happily wait, miss nothing, and save ton$

I guess your definition of decent differs from mine. There should be close to 100 titles available at the launch of HDDVD and Blu-ray. There weren't that many titles available when I got my PS2, which was my first DVD player. DVD players were out for a while then though.

As far as waiting until HDTV is the norm, you could be waiting decades. TV was out for over 20 years before 50% of US homes had a set. Just how long are you willing to wait?

As for missing nothing, please. The new TV season is here, and the only shows I watch at night that's aren't in HD are Survivor, and my local news. I'm watching the Vikings beat up on the Saints now, and plan on watching another game after that. If the Yanks make the playoffs, I'll be enjoying them play in HD. In 2 months I'll have my Xbox360 enjoying that in all it's HD glory.

Nothing??? Just keep telling yourself that.:roll:

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Ornery

I was sold on it the first time I saw it, but there was no point buying it several years ago. I can't help but think of the people who bought the first generation stuff, paying out the ass, probably saw 10% or less HDTV programming on that equipment over its life, which is now about to die, if it hasn't already. Nope, not me...

? people don' t watch 24/7. all the prime time shows eventually became hd. i consider those definetly worth watching and where hd is truely important. could care less if the home shopping network is ugly

 

[LtPage1]

who watches tv? it's for your dvds. get one.

 

[Ornery]

I don't watch sports, "Survivor" or "Desperate Housewives". I'd have to time shift any late night TV, which I don't bother to do now anyway. DVD rentals would be the deciding factor, and I just don't see that happening in 6 months.