HDTV. . . .

[munch]

i'm looking to buy a TV in the next couple of weeks, and i am embarrassingly ignorant towards the benefits of HDTV. i know HDTV is in its infancy, so is it worth buying it right now, or should i wait? and also, what exactly are the benefits of HDTV?

I have found a pretty good deal, a Philips 32PT740H for around 540 w/tax, and i'm not sure if i should get that, or may be a non-HDTV flat screen wega or tau. does anyone have any recommendations. thanks. . . .

[mcwilliams132]

HDTV gives you a sharper, more vibrant, realistic picture. HDTV's been around for a few years now.

You'll need an HDTV reciever/decoder to enjoy HD programnig (so that'll be extra in most cases) or if you have cable...you can sometimes sign up for digital cable and they'll suply you with the HD equipment.

What's your price range? There are many big screen HD models out there for around $1500 or less (panasonic, samsung, rca)....

I don't own one yet but have been oogling over them for a while now.

[chickenhawk]

I don't know if this is true or not, but I read somewhere that once all channels go to HD programming (I think they are required to within the next 5 years or something), non-HDTV's will be obsolete. Except for gaming!!!!!

[MrMaddness]

The picture quality is amazing, but see what your service provider is offering first. Mine still doesn't even have ESPN HD...which is worth getting a HDTV alone, and a lot of other stuff isn't true HD yet.

[Javery]

I would get the HDTV. I have a 16x9 HD-Plasma TV and it is the best purchase I've ever made. As time goes on, more and more networks are going to broadcast in HD - once you get used to it, it is hard to look at regular TV. DVDs look incredible and there's nothing cooler than 16x9 high definition Sopranos in 5.1...

[b3b0p]

Bah! Forget the TV, get a projector. Gaming Big Screen Rules! All you need to get started is a wall and just think how easy it is to move a projector compared to TV.

Chris

[munch]

What's your price range? There are many big screen HD models out there for around $1500 or less (panasonic, samsung, rca)....

my price range is about 600 max, and this is why i am hesitant to get an HDTV. i am wondering if i should jump on it now, or wait a few years for them to go down in price and offer more HDTV programming.

the philips i am looking at is not flat screen, but the picture on it is amazing. i'm just thinking it would be better for me to get a flat tau or wega now, then get an HDTV when i'm finished with my graduate work.

any ideas?

[danh920]

you can pick up a 32 inch flat screen for around that price now, or a 36 inch non-flat

at that price you'll get the component inputs and a nice tv that will do the job for the time being

I'm on a mission myself, trying to get a 36 inch flat screen for uner $700, not having much luck yet, but I think I'll find one before football season

[greendj27]

I would wait a few years. Most programming is not aired in HD yet. Things are slowly transitioning to HD, but it will be a few years before everything is HD. For example, your local broadcast station only offers a few prime time programs in HD, thats it. It is a better picture, but I think the price will continue to drop.

[b3b0p]

You can pick up an Infocus X1 Projector from Circuit City or Best Buy (or Staples, Office Depot, etc...) usually for just a little more then your TV budget. They usually (or used to) have some nice discounts and rebates on them too. You'll be laughing in the faces of the fools who paid the same amount as you and have only 36" tube when you have 60", 80", or *gasp!* 100"+ inch screen! 4 Player Halo or Mario Kart, each person having there own 25" screen is awesome!

[WildWop]

Lurk around in the forums at www.hometheaterspot.com

A lot of industry types post there (calibrators and the like) so you will get a lot of great specific data about the TVs you are looking at, as well as how to get the best performance out of the TV you end up with.

Use that site for future reference, because if your cap is $600, you're not going to get an HDTV worth a damn. The chip inside the TV to upconvert resolutions will be bargain-basement, as will the stretch modes. Also be wary if it says HDTV MONITOR. Monitors need an external converter to watch TV with an HD signal (much like people with regular analog TVs will need when all TV broadcasts become HDTV-only in three years), which cost a good chunk of change.

Go with a Tau or Wega now (or a Toshiba unit, the color depth is generally excellent), and wait for the HDTVs to come down in price when LCoS becomes mass-market.

[munch]

Go with a Tau or Wega now (or a Toshiba unit, the color depth is generally excellent), and wait for the HDTVs to come down in price when LCoS becomes mass-market.

cool, i think that is what i am going to do. HDTV doesn't worth it now, and by the time i get out of grad school the prices are going to be substantially lower.

is there a toshiba you would recommend? i am definitely up for any ideas.

[EggViper]

hdtv's are good to buy if u plan on actually using the feature. i have one and have it hooked up with hdtv programming, progressive scan dvd player, etc. also the xbox takes advantage of the hdtv feature and the gamecube supports progressive scan. otherwise if ur just going to b watching regular cable and stuff theres no need to buy it.

[jrutz]

www.avsforum.com is the best for researching home theater equipment.

I'm also in the market for an HDTV set, and I have two restrictions:

- I want to spend under $1000,
- I need something that will fit in my small Manhattan apartment

I don't want something so extravagant until we move into our house, hopefully later this year. So until then I want to replace my 8 year-old Panasonic TV with something a little more modern (at least S-Video inputs would be nice).

After researching on the above forums, I found that the Zenith c32v37 is really great for the money. It's a little more than what you have bugeted (around $800 from Best Buy), but gets raves from all who own it. Flat scren, with an HDTV receiver built-in. Upconverts 720p to 1080i, but the quality is good.

Jeremy

[b3b0p]

No one listens from the Young Grasshopper. Sigh.

[BigBen]

No one listens from the Young Grasshopper. Sigh.

Very few people have the luxury of having enough space to have a projector. Also, for a good projector setup, you need TOTAL control of the light situation in your room. A little bit of light can totally wash out your picture. From a price/performance ratio, projectors are not bad, but also not practical for most.

[b3b0p]

You would be surprised how much light you can have before it gets washed out and throw ratio varies. I got my projector for an apartment it can't work better!

[mattfoley7]

I'm looking to sell my 36 inch JVC T.V. it's not a flat screen but its not old its about 1 1/2 years and it is still under CC warranty. I'm in the L.A. area so if anyone is interested let me know. my asking price is 400 & 500 w/ the stand. The T.V. is silver and the stand is silver frame with light wood shelves.

[BULL_Ship]

No one listens from the Young Grasshopper. Sigh.

Very few people have the luxury of having enough space to have a projector. Also, for a good projector setup, you need TOTAL control of the light situation in your room. A little bit of light can totally wash out your picture. From a price/performance ratio, projectors are not bad, but also not practical for most.

I think your unfamiliar with the newer variety of projectiors. The new digitals all have short throw lenses and you can get really high lumen ratings for little money. But i stick with my crt for the lightguns. When are they gonna switch to radio frequency because no non crts work with lightguns too well. What if some guy with a plasma or a 90" inch projection wants to play some house of the dead 3

[BULL_Ship]

I'm looking to sell my 36 inch JVC T.V. it's not a flat screen but its not old its about 1 1/2 years and it is still under CC warranty. I'm in the L.A. area so if anyone is interested let me know. my asking price is 400 & 500 w/ the stand. The T.V. is silver and the stand is silver frame with light wood shelves.

Wrong forum and the warrenty is non transferable

[b3b0p]

Yes, you could pick up a CRT (Sony 103xQ or some such beast for ~$600 or less), but the original poster implied he was not into the a/v stuff. So, a digital would be his best solution for not being super picky about blacks and shadow detail and being to just plug and play. It is also close to the same size/weight as a tube too. Which for some takes away some of the reasons for having a projector in the first. I want a CRT, but alas, I can't fit it in my room unless I ceiling mount it.

[WildWop]

http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/televisions/product.asp?model=27af44

The FST Pure line of Trinitron-style Toshibas are nice. I have an older model (three years old) of the one in that link, and the picture is excellent. If you don't have a home theatre setup, the speakers on the FST line were surprisingly good. I had mine at school in a relatively small room, and turning on the pseudo-surround setting on the TV created a decent rear channel.

Mine has a negligible problem with geometry (bending in at the sides) that I could get fixed by having a tech guy come out, but I can't be bothered.

Go through the video settings tutorial that comes with THX certified DVDs (if you have Monsters Inc., that's the one I used) to get the picture looking real sharp.