Does anyone have an HDTV?

PseudoTrek said:

Just wondering if anyone on this board has an HDTV? If so, . . .

What make did you buy?
What size did you buy?
Why did you choose that one?

Anything else you'd like to add>>

Thanks!

HDTV has taken off big time in the US but not so here in the UK, its been around for a couple of years but people are not buying into it yet...i dont know why.

I dont have one....but i do want one.

MountainPro said:

HDTV has taken off big time in the US but not so here in the UK, its been around for a couple of years but people are not buying into it yet...i dont know why.

I dont have one....but i do want one.

Is that what we call plasma?

I'm not sure, Fred. It is an LCD screen.

FredC said:

Is that what we call plasma?

No Fred,

HDTV is more to do with the technology behind the plasma. HDTVs are usualy have plasma screens but not all plasma's utilise the High Definition TV standards.

To be honest it quite difficult to get one in this country.

MountainPro said:

No Fred,

HDTV is more to do with the technology behind the plasma. HDTVs are usualy have plasma screens but not all plasma's utilise the High Definition TV standards.

To be honest it quite difficult to get one in this country.

Well if they are those thin things that you can hang on the wall if you want. They are selling like hot cakes down here. Any size you want.

We have 2 HDTV's:
1. Phillips 60" (not a plasma), bought at Good Guys a few years ago

s. Panasonic 42" plasma flat screen.

Both TV's work great. Make sure your cable provider offers digital HDTV service and boxes. The picture on the HD look like a DVD. There are not that many HD channels out right now. Your major networks plus a few others. Don't be missled that just having the HDTV will have a better picture.

FredC said:

Well if they are those thin things that you can hang on the wall if you want. They are selling like hot cakes down here. Any size you want.

like i say, not all plasmas (thin things you hang on the wall) are HDTVs...plasmas and LCDs are selling like hot-cakes here too.

PseudoTrek said:

Just wondering if anyone on this board has an HDTV? If so, . . .

What make did you buy?
What size did you buy?
Why did you choose that one?

Anything else you'd like to add>>

Thanks!

Make Sony
Size 52"
Why? Bought it 2 years ago because the buzz was that ALL tv's were to be HD capable by 2006 as that was the deadline to become the standard In other words... All shows were going to be aired in HD format and if you didn't have one then you wouldn't be able to see any programming.....Now, I believe it has been extended to 2009 or so...Yep, We could have just waited I guess... Also, I believe that most HDTV's still need a converter box to see the programming in true HD...

zapper said:

Make Sony
Size 52"
...

Nice one, must have set you back a bit though, financially speaking...how much?

is the picture quailty worth the extra cost? There are no plans for a HDTV standard in the UK yet so we dont buy them much here.

MountainPro said:

Nice one, must have set you back a bit though, financially speaking...how much?

is the picture quailty worth the extra cost? There are no plans for a HDTV standard in the UK yet so we dont buy them much here.

No, not too bad...Keep in mind it is not a "plasma" but a flat screen 52" HDTV. St us back 2,800 us $'s...For us, that was more than we wanted to spend on a TV but in retrospect, we could have purchased the "non" HDTV capable version for about 6-800 less...

Does it have a great picture...yes. Am I receiving all the benefits of it being HD capable...NO, not until the cable company starts show ALL of it's programs in HD...So....by that time my TV will be 6 or 7 yrs old... 🙄

As a couple of you mentioned already, plasma and HD are unrelated issues in a TV. It is possible to have plasma that is HD and plasma that is not HD. It is also possible to have HD that is not plasma. HD only refers to the quality (and complexity) of the digital signal that feeds into the TV, be it plasma or not. In the US, the broadcast standard was set to be HD in 2006, but a few months back it was pushed back a few years. I think whoever said 2009 is probably correct, but I can't remember for sure. To get the HD signal, you have to have digital cable service (not basic cable) from your cable company OR satellite TV service. If you have the satellite service, you have to have a different converter than the normal satellite converter. Most satellite companies will make that upgrade for no extra cost, but will then charge you something like 10 extra dollars a month for the HD signal, which, like others have said, only covers a few channels. And sometimes some channels that are normally not HD will carry certain shows in HD anyway (major sporting events, the silly oscars, etc). The picture quality is pretty amazing (especially on the Discovery channel). Big difference. I have a 32" Phillips (not plasma), but I have not sprung for the extra 10 dollars a month to my satellite provider so I get zero benefit from the HD thing. I bought it because I expect to still have it around when they start offering more channels at the least and probably even when everything goes HD in a few years. I think my TV cost 350 us dollars more than a 32" flat screen "normal" TV. Everything I said of course applies to U.S. I'm not sure what is going on in Europe or elsewhere with this stuff.

zapper said:

No, not too bad...Keep in mind it is not a "plasma" but a flat screen 52" HDTV. St us back 2,800 us $'s...For us, that was more than we wanted to spend on a TV but in retrospect, we could have purchased the "non" HDTV capable version for about 6-800 less...

Does it have a great picture...yes. Am I receiving all the benefits of it being HD capable...NO, not until the cable company starts show ALL of it's programs in HD...So....by that time my TV will be 6 or 7 yrs old... 🙄

roadhog said:

As a couple of you mentioned already, plasma and HD are unrelated issues in a TV. It is possible to have plasma that is HD and plasma that is not HD. It is also possible to have HD that is not plasma. HD only refers to the quality (and complexity) of the digital signal that feeds into the TV, be it plasma or not. In the US, the broadcast standard was set to be HD in 2006, but a few months back it was pushed back a few years. I think whoever said 2009 is probably correct, but I can't remember for sure. To get the HD signal, you have to have digital cable service (not basic cable) from your cable company OR satellite TV service. If you have the satellite service, you have to have a different converter than the normal satellite converter. Most satellite companies will make that upgrade for no extra cost, but will then charge you something like 10 extra dollars a month for the HD signal, which, like others have said, only covers a few channels. And sometimes some channels that are normally not HD will carry certain shows in HD anyway (major sporting events, the silly oscars, etc). The picture quality is pretty amazing (especially on the Discovery channel). Big difference. I have a 32" Phillips (not plasma), but I have not sprung for the extra 10 dollars a month to my satellite provider so I get zero benefit from the HD thing. I bought it because I expect to still have it around when they start offering more channels at the least and probably even when everything goes HD in a few years. I think my TV cost 350 us dollars more than a 32" flat screen "normal" TV. Everything I said of course applies to U.S. I'm not sure what is going on in Europe or elsewhere with this stuff.

Does this HDTV signal require a fibre optic connection or can it be stuffed through a co-ax cable with the rest of the menu?

FredC said:

Does this HDTV signal require a fibre optic connection or can it be stuffed through a co-ax cable with the rest of the menu?

I concur with Roadhog...it must be a "digital" signal which we have and it is coming through a co-ax cable I think. The key is A. The program must be BROADCAST in HD and you must have a coverter from the cable company that sends that signal to your HD capable TV....which until 2009 big deal...The superbowl and a few shows are currently broadcast in HD... 🙄

MountainPro said:

Nice one, must have set you back a bit though, financially speaking...how much?

is the picture quailty worth the extra cost? There are no plans for a HDTV standard in the UK yet so we dont buy them much here.

There will be a European meeting on 17th March 2005 regarding standardisation of the parameters to be set out for HDTV. Best idea is not to bother buying.

FredC said:

There will be a European meeting on 17th March 2005 regarding standardisation of the parameters to be set out for HDTV. Best idea is not to bother buying.

I wouldn't bother...If I knew then what I know now that is...So take a lesson from your transatlantic friends and don't do it...That's what we are here for....you learn from our mistakes... 😉

I Have an HDTV and its only a 24 inch. I got a samsung 1080i which is wonderful. I bought it because it was too big for somebody else and got it on clearance. It plays the widescreen format beautifully, and it is hd capable. As of right now, don't even bother with all the HD [censored] because its not worth it. There are only about 12 channels here in the U.S. that are truly HD!! I say get a flat panel lcd that is really bright. just my .02